ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: A candle with the Pope Francis image, flowers and candles left by the ... [+] faithfuls are seen below the sculpture of St. John Paul II at the main entry of the Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is being treated for a double pneumonia on February 20, 2025 in Rome, Italy. According to a press release issued by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday evening, Pope Francis clinical condition is showing slight improvement, he has no fever and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Friday with bronchitis, and was subsequently treated for a respiratory tract infection.(Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe pope is seriously ill with double pneumonia. What does that mean?Double pneumonia, also called bilateral pneumonia, means both lungs are infected. When things are worse, you might hear multi-lobar, meaning multiple parts of your lungs are infected.In pneumonia, the lung sacs where air is exchanged, called alveoli, become inflamed and filled with pus and fluid. This can cause your blood oxygen to go down and might cause you to need breathing support of oxygen or, in severe cases, mechanical support on a ventilator.Symptoms most often include cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and fever. Pleurisy, or pain when you breathe, is common. Older people might be too weak to have much of a cough or fever, or just have a new and unexplained confusion or become less alert.The pope has underlying lung diseases that increase his risk of pneumonia. He had part of a lung removed for infection in 1957 and a previous hospitalization for pneumonia in 2023. Pope Francis has asthmatic bronchitisrecurrent bronchitis triggered by allergies.The pope also has bronchiectasis, which is the widening of the bronchi, or tubes that carry air to your lungs. This leads to pooling of mucous and increased infections from the bacteria and secretions not being cleared normally. Many things, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autoimmune illnesses, immunodeficiency, and cystic fibrosis, can cause bronchiectasis.Treatment For PneumoniaWe know no specifics about the popes antibiotic therapy. Typically, the choice of antibiotics is guided by culturing a sputum sample and testing it against a variety of antibiotics to see which will kill the bugs that have grown in the culture. Some hospitals have newer technologies like the BioFire FilmArray pneumonia panel, a bacterial polymerase chain reaction assay, which can detect some viruses and atypical organisms like Mycoplasma. Ideally, you want to use the most specific antibiotic possible to limit toxicities and the emergence of more resistant bacteria.A report about the popes progress said, the drug therapy [that] was strengthened after the multiple infections were diagnosed. Hes also been receiving oxygen through a simple nasal cannula. Unfortunately, he needed steroids to reduce the lung inflammation or help with asthma. Steroids raise blood sugar and can necessitate insulin for diabetes. It also contributes to the growth of more difficult-to-treat organisms like fungi.What To Expect For The Popes RecoveryThe pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14. He was said to have a complex respiratory infection, involving bacteria, virus and other organisms. The good news is that he did not have a bloodstream infection or sepsis, which has a mortality rate as high as 50%.The popes physicians indicated that he was not a not-terribly-compliant patient in the past and was a workaholic. There are concerns, too, because the pope is overweight and sedentary, which can cause weakness and complications. His difficulty raising secretions and clearing his lungs is a particular concernIf all goes well, Pope Francis is expected to stay in the hospital for another week.Prognosis Of PneumoniaPneumonia is serious at any age, but particularly for young children or the elderly, who have weaker immune systems. Other than childbirth, its the most common cause of hospital admissions in the U.S., with a million hospitalizations and 50,000 deaths.Pneumonia is the eighth leading cause of death and is the leading infectious cause of death in the United States. Hospital-acquired pneumonia has a higher death rate than that acquired in the community. Compared to CAP, HAPs mortality rate was 11.1% vs. 5.1% in one study.While the pope is improving, he has a long way to go. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have numerous side effects, including liver inflammation, bone marrow suppression, and debilitating (and sometimes deadly) diarrhea from Clostridium difficile.Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of PneumoniaThere are a few things you can readily do to stay healthier. First, stay current on immunizations, including COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal pneumonia vaccines. The flu shot reduces the risk of subsequent pneumonia by 25-53%. Pneumococcal or Staph pneumonia commonly follow influenza. Effective vaccines against pneumococcal pneumonia are available. Please get them!Influenza and COVID-19 are both airborne viruses, so masking can markedly reduce your risk of infection, particularly if you wear an N95, KF94s (S. Korean), or KN95s (Chinese). Look for a reputable dealer and learn how to spot fake masks that are not protective.If you do become ill, particularly if you are elderly, or if you notice a family member with worsening shortness of breath, fever or low body temperature, or confusion, please seek medical care immediately.

Beautiful planet in space. Earth-like planet and a star. Realistic exoplanet illuminated by the sun.gettyCarl Sagan described the Earth, as imaged by Voyager1 at a distance of 6billionkilometers, as a pale blue dot. This description is a consequence of the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the atmosphere, in conjunction with the reflection and scattering across the expanse of the ocean. The pale blue color symbolizes the cradle of life, yet it wasnt always so.While chlorophylls are universal pigments used by plants, cyanobacteria use additional pigments called phycobilins to absorb light energy. But this pigment is not very efficient under todays environmental conditions, so why cyanobacteria evolved this trait has remained a bit of a biological mystery. A new study published by an international team of researchers led by Taro Matsuo, an astrophysicist at Nagoya University in Japan, argues that this evolutionary trend made sense 3 billion years when Earths oceans had a different color.Microscopy view of filamentous cyanobacteria. Often also labelled (incorrectly as they are not ... [+] closely related) as blue-green algae.gettyThe researchers simulated early Earth and how its primordial environment affected the color of the planets oceans.Earths early atmosphere was dominated by water vapor and carbon dioxide, forming an acid environment and accelerating weathering and erosion on the still barren land. Large amounts of iron were washed out, flooding the oceans. Depending on its ionic charge, dissolved iron causes color variations ranging from brown to grey to green. Based on the simulation, triple-charged iron was likely the most common element in solution, resulting in predominantly green oceans.In this environment the evolution of the phycobilins pigments makes sense, as the cyanobacteria were able to harvest light energy not absorbed by the green water.Earths green oceans likely lasted from around 3 billion years to 600 million years ago. Over this vast time span, cyanobacteria used the energy harvested from the sun to split water into its component hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen finally started accumulating in the atmosphere between 2.4 billion years to 400 million years ago. The free oxygen reacted with the dissolved iron, forming ironstone formations. As iron was constantly removed from the oceans, they started to change color, finally becoming blue. The blue oceans favored algae using chlorophyll, eventually leading to the evolution of green plants.The open access study, "Archaean green-light environments drove the evolution of cyanobacterias light-harvesting system," was published in the journal nature ecology & evolution.

Cutting corners: The software engineering job market has experienced a significant downturn, with job openings hitting a five-year low, according to an analysis of data from Indeed by Practical Engineer. The statistics reveal a stark 35 percent decrease in software developer job listings compared to five years ago, marking a dramatic shift in the industry's employment landscape. This decline is particularly noteworthy when compared to other sectors. While the overall job market has seen a 10 percent increase in listings since February 2020, software development positions have plummeted. This contrasts sharply with growth in areas such as construction (25 percent), accounting (24 percent), and electrical engineering (20 percent).The software development sector has also experienced very volatile fluctuations in recent years. Job listings more than doubled during the pandemic-era boom of 2021 and 2022, outpacing all other industries. However, this surge was followed by an equally dramatic fall, with current vacancy numbers 3.5 times lower than their mid-2022 peak.Several factors contribute to this decline. The end of zero-percent interest rates has had a significant impact on the tech industry, affecting hiring practices, venture capital funding, and the survival of tech startups. However, this alone doesn't explain the hiring slowdown and layoffs at highly profitable Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Google, according to author Gergely Orosz.He posits that many companies may still be adjusting after over-recruiting in 2021-2022, leading to a more cautious approach to hiring.Additionally, the rise of generative AI and LLMs may be influencing the job market. These technologies have shown particular promise in coding 75 percent of engineers reported the use of AI coding tools in a recent survey. Some speculate that companies might be adopting a "wait and see" approach, assessing the potential productivity gains from these tools before expanding their engineering teams. // Related StoriesSalesforce's recent decision to keep its software engineering headcount flat while reporting a 30 percent productivity gain from AI tools exemplifies this trend. However, this also raises questions about product development and market fit, as the company simultaneously plans to hire additional salespeople.The emergence of highly efficient small teams at companies like Linear and Bluesky challenges traditional notions of engineering team size. These companies have achieved significant user bases and product adoption with remarkably small engineering teams, suggesting a potential shift toward leaner, more efficient development processes.Orosz also points out that Indeed's data may not provide a complete picture of the job market. The platform may be losing popularity for posting software engineering jobs, particularly among startups and some Big Tech companies. For instance, Microsoft lists more software-related jobs on its own site than are reflected in Indeed's data.So, while the Indeed data should be considered directionally correct, indicating a genuine decrease in developer job listings, it may not fully represent hiring trends in startups or accurately track Big Tech hiring. Still, it is clear that the software engineering job market is undergoing significant changes, influenced by economic factors, technological advancements, and evolving company strategies.

Facepalm: The black screen and system instability woes have been raging for some time now not just on the RTX 50 series, but also on some 40- and 30-series cards. Nvidia first acknowledged the problems over a week ago following the 572.16 driver release, but a fix is still nowhere in sight. The latest statement on the issue came from an Nvidia staff member named Manuel in the GeForce driver feedback thread. Manuel says that they're still investigating whether the issues will require a driver update or a straight VBIOS flash for the RTX 50 cards.The problems appear to have started when Nvidia's latest 570 driver branch first launched. Issues range from minor stuttering and crashes in games to full-blown blue screens of death. While the RTX 50 series seems to be bearing the brunt, a few 40- and 30-series owners are reporting similar woes after updating.Adding to frustrations, the latest 572.47 drivers that added support for the RTX 5070 Ti arrived with a paltry set of bug fixes. It contained only a single fix relating to display stability after waking from sleep mode.Some users have managed to temporarily work around the problem by capping the display refresh rate to a lowly 60Hz, which is just sad for these monstrous GPUs. Others have reported that downgrading to PCIe 4.0 has also helped.As for the cause, the jury is still out, but it likely boils down to a combination of shoddy drivers and potential firmware bugs in the new RTX 50 silicon. Some have theorized that the PCIe 5.0 implementation could be the culprit, which would necessitate a VBIOS update from Nvidia. // Related StoriesAll this is far from ideal considering the ongoing price and availability situation surrounding these GPUs. Finding the cards in stock continues to be a battle.This isn't the sole problem affecting the new lineup either. Team Green has had a bit of a rocky road with Blackwell so far, with problems ranging from melting power connectors to GPUs shipping with fewer ROP units than advertised.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsId rather pass on the ultrawide cameraLack of mmWave and UWB doesnt bother meIm not too particular about wireless charging speedsApple Intelligence makes it worth itNot the best $600 phone, butThe iPhone 16e launched earlier this week, but its far from what we had initially thought of it. For starters, it is not a successor to the iPhone SE (2022).The changes to the design werent exactly unexpected, and through a series of leaks over the several past months, we were persistently reminded of the overhaul the iPhone SE would undergo. Despite setting our expectations already, the iPhone 16e was able to drive some strong reactions, mostly disappointment, at launch. The $600 price tag and cutbacks in some seemingly crucial areas were the likely culprits.Recommended VideosI, personally, set out with a mission to count its flaws, carefully comparing it with the other iPhones you can buy for the same price. But after clearly observing my thoughts and clearing out my biases, I feel the iPhone 16e is an entirely different phone not a new SE. And for this reason, it deserves a fair chance, especially for what it offers rather than what it lacks. So, here are the reasons, why, despite wanting to hate the iPhone 16e, I failed.RelatedAppleI test dozens of phone cameras each year as part of my job. When I do, it becomes imperative to test every camera unit on the phone, and gauge its quality against the others. But when Im shooting photos for myself, I rarely find myself willingly choosing for the ultrawide camera.There are a few reasons for that. First, most phones, irrespective of their price, cheap out on the quality of the ultrawide camera while focusing on the primary and the telephoto cameras. Take for instance the 12MP ultrawide angle camera on the regular iPhone 16. It not only has a lower resolution count than the 48MP main camera, but the sensor inside is also physically smaller. That immediately leads to less sharp images, with losses mounting as we subject the camera to lower light.iPhone 15 Pro Max wide-angle Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsSecondly, ultrawide cameras have evolved the least in recent years. One pressing issue that brands have shied away from fixing is the wonky perspective. This makes the images look unnatural, and I would rather limit my span of view than slaughtering scenic views for the sake of accommodating more.Its not entirely useless, especially since autofocus on the iPhone 16s ultrawide-angle camera enables macro mode. But giving up on the feature is a compromise Im willing to make at that price.What concerns me more about the iPhone 16es camera is the lack of the same features as the base iPhone 16, primarily, the improved photographic styles we saw as part of the iPhone 16 series. Instead, the iPhone 16e gets the older version, which is limited and must be set from system settings instead of within the camera, making the whole process less intuitive.As for the actual camera quality, I would want to try the camera first before doling out a verdict.Jesse Hollington / Digital TrendsWith the iPhone 16e, Apple moved away from using Qualcomms 5G modems to using its in-house C1 chip. While Apple claims the new modem leads to lower battery drain while hitting triple-digit megabit speeds, the C1 is effectively less capable than the Qualcomm X71 modem that powers the iPhone 16 and the 16 Pro. The most evident disadvantage of the new modem is that it lacks support for mmWave spectrum, which uses higher frequency waves and, in theory, allows for faster data transfer rates, even in densely packed regions.The lack of mmWave can seem a deal-breaker until you learn about its limitations. The high frequency spectrum has a shorter range than traditional sub-6GHz networks, and, therefore, requires a larger number of substations to keep the network running. This eventually leads to higher operational expenses, which is why most careers in the U.S., besides AT&T, have invested in lower frequencies, primarily focusing on the mid-band spectrum, which is a subset of the sub-6GHZ spectrum. If youre outside the U.S., chances are most careers havent even deployed their networks in the higher bands.So, while mmWave has practical advantage especially if youre chasing Gigabit speeds on your 5G connection, you would probably be fine if the iPhone 16e runs at 200Mbps instead I know I would be.Using the Find My app to find an AirTag in an Apple TV remote case is more accurate. Phil Nickinson / Digital TrendsThe other key feature missing from the iPhone 16e is a dedicated chip for ultra wide band (UWB) that is otherwise present on all phones since the iPhone 11. UWB is a short communication tech that operates at frequencies lower than other wireless communications like Wi-Fi, which makes it immune to interference. On the iPhone specifically, UWB helps with faster AirDrop connections and precisely maneuvering to AirTags or other Apple devices through the Find My app.Its unquestionably groundbreaking, but its still not indispensable. Unless you live in a smart home where UWB helps you with your digital keys or have dozens of Apple devices where you are tired of waiting for the right device to pop up on the AirDrop menu, I would say UWB is not that big of a deal. And if youre an Android user who has only one foot into the Apple ecosystem, you probably dont need to worry about it.Perhaps, when I witness a future where UWB becomes more dependable while we rely on machines to interact with each other without human discretion, I would change my stance on UWB. Until then, I am perfectly fine without it.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsApple has particularly outraged a lot of people by skipping MagSafe from the iPhone 16e. That means while the new iPhone has wireless charging, it lacks magnets that can be used to anchor it to a wireless charger or attach a panoply of accessories such as wallets. That also means wireless charging is limited to a paltry 7.5W instead of 25W as on the rest of the iPhone 16 series.Although it was initially speculated that Apple ditched MagSafe to ensure magnets do not interfere with the new modems performance, the company refuted this. The only other reasonable explanation for omitting magnets was so Apple could cut manufacturing costs. If you think of it like that, it does seem outrageous.However, if youre like me and mostly top up your iPhone with a cable instead, the lack of MagSafe isnt a deal-breaker. Further, case manufacturers have stepped up and circumvented the need for internal magnets by offering MagSafe-compatible cases for older iPhones or even Android phones without MagSafe Samsung being the latest one to skip internal magnets yet support the faster Qi2 wireless charging standard, and there are plenty of affordable options, too, to bring MagSafe-like functionality to any phone, not just the expensive ones.In essence, using a case instead of relying on MagSafe has one major drawback, i.e., you dont get access to the fastest wireless charging speeds. But in all honestly, Im not among those who will be bogged down by this. Thats because I use the magnetic charging functionality mostly while at my desk or sleeping. In both scenarios, the objective is not to charge the phone but utilize MagSafe primarily for the iPhones StandBy mode. So, my requirements can be fulfilled by simply using a case, even without inherent MagSafe support on the iPhone 16e.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsDespite its shortcomings in other areas, the iPhone 16e comes with an A18 processor from Apple. It isnt identical to the eponymous chip that runs iPhone 16 and 16 Pro phones, but uses a slightly less powerful CPU. Despite that, the A18 is equipped to run Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence, and that is enough to get me hyped up for the phone.Its worth arguing that Apple Intelligence has been underwhelming its current applications are limited to cleaning up your notes and emails and offering (wild) summaries of notifications. But I feel hopeful for its applications a few years later assuming anyone who buys the iPhone 16e would keep it for a few years. I primarily envision Siri maturing into a truly intelligent assistant and future versions of iOS getting actually good at predicting your next steps and making the experience truly enhanced with AI beyond regurgitating a sequence of words it learned from somewhere on the internet. It would be especially exciting to see how Apple Intelligence or AI, in general makes technology more personalized and useful for people who dont truly enjoy fiddling with it.AppleAs someone who gets to access the latest and the best technology mostly for free as part of my job, I have developed a general sense of aversion to gadgets that are short of the best. But I reckon these may not fit the broader audience.While theres no questing that the iPhone 16e is full of compromises, it sells the dream of making features like Apple Intelligence and the latest iOS experience accessible to plenty more people who just want a good and functional phone that lasts several years. Yes, its not the most compelling phone for $600 youll find much better options such as the OnePlus 13R, which offers brilliant value, a brighter display, significantly better battery. But if you want an iPhone one that you would want to stick with for years, the iPhone 16e is highly compelling.If you want to buy your first iPhone to experiment, theres probably no better phone than this one.Editors Recommendations

Late in 2024, a comprehensive study published in the British Journal of Opthalmology claimed that the global prevalence of childhood myopia is substantial. Based on the current trends, it predicted that by 2050, the number of children and young people with near-sightedness issues will stand roughly at 740 million. The trends are concerning, but at the same, the scientific community is also puzzled about the role of increasing screen exposure and how it affects our eye health. Well, it seems there is a relationship between daily screen time and the prevalence of myopic vision in users across the world. Recommended VideosAs per a meta analysis published in the JAMA journal, there is a correlation between increasing screen time on a per-hour basis and the risks of myopia going up by 21% in users of smart devices such as phones and large-screen electronics.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThe report, which analyzed over 45 studies covering over 0.3 million subjects, notes that there is a notable dose-response link between a persons daily screen time especially following a 1-hour increment and their odds of developing myopia. Myopia risk increased significantly from 1 to 4 hours of screen time and then rose more gradually thereafter, claim the experts behind the study.1Password / AgileBitsNotably, the risks of myopia increase significantly when we look at the combined effect of screen time from multiple devices (such as mobiles, computers, and TVs) compared to display exposure from only a single category of devices. Moreover, a significant association was observed between myopia risks and rising screen time in all age groups, including 2 to 7 years, 8 to 18 years, and 19 years and older. Notably, the researchers found that the odds of near-sightedness increased if the daily screen time was more than 1 hour, but it slowed when the numbers went beyond four hours per day. Moreover, a certain kind of safety threshold was observed if the daily screen time falls under the one-hour bracket. There are, however, a few cautionary aspects associated with the latest study, particularly when it comes to decreasing the risks of myopia.Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsSimply reducing screen time in favor of traditional near-vision activities may not be an effective prevention strategy, the experts say. Instead, they recommend a hybrid approach where near-vision screen time numbers are reduced and the amount of time spent outdoor is increased. Another study published in the Journal of Opthalmology in 2022 also highlighted the rise in myopia with a correlation based on exposure to screens, especially for near vision scenario. It is also worth nothing that myopia is not solely caused by staring at a screen for long time. It is associated with lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors, as well. Notably, another research published earlier in 2025 claimed that reducing screen time can yield better mental wellness results than anti-depressants.So, how can a person control myopia risks tied to daily screen usage? Scientific research suggests spending more time outdoors can reduce the risk of myopia onset, but it is not conclusive. Solutions such as bifocal spectacle lenses, EDOF contact lenses, and orthokeratology lenses are linked with moderate reduction in the advancement of myopic vision. Refractive surgery is another option, but the most promising strategy seems to be atropine solution for myopia control with the highest efficacy. The best approach, however, is to consult with a certified health care professional and find the apt solution for vision-related issues.Editors Recommendations

The new album from the duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter reveals the sweep of the pairs country-meets-soul sound while reflecting on the power of love.

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2025-02-22T16:33:01Z Read in app There's so much to see and do in Florida's Tampa Bay area. John Coletti/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Although I wasn't raised in Florida, I've been exploring the Tampa Bay area as a local for 19 years.The area is full of unique activities that can connect visitors to nature and local culture.I suggest going on a boat cruise or checking out the Manatee Viewing Center or Ybor City.I can't call myself a born-and-raised Floridian, but I've lived in Tampa for 19 years and have been exploring the state as a local for half my life.Although I love to travel outside the area, the Florida Gulf Coast has so many gems and is more than just sugar-sand beaches.The Tampa Bay area is a treasure trove of adventure, offering extraordinary opportunities to discover the wonders of Florida nature and lively local culture.Here are six of my favorite things to do around Tampa Bay that feel uniquely Florida. Connect with Tampa's Latin culture and cigar history in Ybor City.Ybor City has some incredible Latin food. Alisha dos Santos Tampa's Latin quarter Ybor City was known as the "Cigar Capital of the World" in the early 1900s because of its large concentration of cigar producers.Today, you can tour the area's last remaining cigar factory operating in the US: J.C. Newman Cigar Company's El Reloj.Ybor City is also famous for its historic charm, lively nightlife, and Cuban influence. You can even set your feet on Cuban soil at Ybor City's Parque Amigos de Jose Marti, a tiny piece of land donated from Cuba in the 1950s.While here, try an authentic Cuban sandwich at the century-old La Segunda Bakery or the Columbia Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Florida that's also considered to be the largest Spanish restaurant in the world.A classic Tampa Cuban sandwich consists of Cuban mojo pork, Spanish ham, Italian salami, German mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese on Cuban bread.Learn how to party like a pirate at Tampa's annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest.Gasparilla Pirate Fest has one of the largest parades in the US. Alisha dos Santos A Tampa tradition about as old as the Cuban sandwich, Gasparilla Pirate Fest takes over Tampa every January.The historic festival celebrates the mythical pirate Jos Gaspar with a merry pirate invasion: a parade of more than 100 themed floats led by a fully-rigged pirate ship.Go on a day trip to watch mermaids perform in at Weeki Wachee Springs.The Weeki Wachee mermaid show is pretty cool. Alisha dos Santos An Old Florida roadside attraction and an enchanting natural wonder, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is a day-trip destination about an hour north of Tampa.Visitors have been drawn to Weeki Wachee for decades to watch live mermaid shows in an underwater theater where spring water flows from the aquifer deep below.Kayaking down the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee River is also an incredible adventure with mesmerizing blue-green waters and occasional manatee sightings.See how manatees keep warm in the winter at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center.You can see wildlife at the Manatee Viewing Center. Alisha dos Santos On the south shore of Tampa Bay, a unique winter manatee refuge provides vital protection for Florida's cold-sensitive sea cows.Each winter, Tampa Electric welcomes visitors to watch manatees from boardwalk trails around its power station in Apollo Beach, which discharges warm water that manatees require for survival.The Manatee Viewing Center is free to visit and open seasonally from November through mid-April.Take a boat ride through downtown Tampa.The best views of the Tampa skyline are from the water. Alisha dos Santos My favorite way to see my city is from the water. Downtown Tampa's skyline really shines during a sunset cruise, but any time of day is a good time to be on the water in Tampa Bay.Your time on the water will be well spent whether you hop on downtown Tampa's Pirate Water Taxi, take a culinary journey on a Craft dining river cruise, or climb aboard The Lost Pearl pirate ship.Explore weird, wacky, wonderful Florida art with a day trip to FloridaRAMA.FloridaRAMA is across the bay from Tampa. Alisha dos Santos Located just across the bay from Tampa, St. Petersburg is an art lover's playground.It's home to stunning collections of works by renowned artists, including Salvador Dal and Dale Chihuly and home to FloridaRAMA, a unique immersive art museum.FloridaRAMA is an interactive, artist-made wonderland that celebrates local folklore.Its playful exhibits turn art into an adventure where you can explore mysterious Florida narratives centered on the retro-futuristic Mermaid Star Motel.

Warren Buffett published his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders on Saturday.The investor touched on Berkshire's tax payments and urged the government to spend wisely.Buffett applauded Todd Combs for turning around Geico and praised Greg Abel's decisiveness.Warren Buffett underlined the massive scale of Berkshire Hathaway's tax payments, urged the government to spend the money wisely, and hailed two of his successors in his annual letter to shareholders on Saturday.The 94-year-old investing icon wrote that his conglomerate paid zero income tax in 1965 the year he took control of the company."That sort of economic behavior may be understandable for glamorous startups, but it's a blinking yellow light when it happens at a venerable pillar of American industry," Buffett said. "Berkshire was headed for the ash can."But in 2024, Berkshire paid $26.8 billion the most of any US company in history and about 5% of total American corporate income taxes paid that year, Buffett said. The company has now paid in aggregate more than $101 billion of income tax to the US Treasury, he added.Buffett urged the federal government to use the money to alleviate poverty and warned officials against overspending or destabilizing the dollar."Spend it wisely," he wrote. "Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part."The billionaire philanthropist also said: "Paper money can see its value evaporate if fiscal folly prevails. In some countries, this reckless practice has become habitual, and, in our country's short history, the US has come close to the edge. Fixed-coupon bonds provide no protection against runaway currency."Geico, stocks, and cashThe Berkshire CEO praised one of his deputies, Todd Combs, for revitalizing Geico since taking over as the insurer's CEO in 2020.Geico's pre-tax underwriting earnings more than doubled last year to $7.8 billion, Berkshire's annual report showed on Saturday. The auto insurer earned higher average premiums per policy, saw lower claims frequencies, and operated more efficiently."Geico was a long-held gem that needed major repolishing," Buffett said, hailing last year's results as "spectacular" while emphasizing there was still work to be done. Todd Combs is CEO of Geico, the insurer owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Drew Angerer/Getty Images As a whole, Berkshire's operating income jumped 27% to $47.4 billion last year, even as earnings declined at 53% of its 189 operating businesses.Buffett and his team sold a net $6.7 billion of stocks last quarter. For the full year, they bought $9.2 billion of stocks and sold $143 billion worth, meaning they offloaded $134 billion of stocks on a net basis.They didn't buy back any Berkshire stock in the fourth quarter. Their share repurchases for the year were only $2.9 billion, compared to $9.2 billion in 2023 and $7.9 billion in 2022.The growth in operating earnings, stock sales, and lack of buybacks fueled an increase in Berkshire's cash pile to a record $334 billion as of December 31 (or $321 billion if you subtract $12.8 billion of payables for purchases of Treasury bills). That's roughly double the $168 billion of cash it held at the end of 2023.In his letter, Buffett said that Greg Abel, his planned successor as CEO, has "vividly shown his ability to act" when opportunities to scoop up bargains arise.Buffett also underscored that Berkshire's vast scale means it can take an entire year to exit a position in its stock portfolio. "We can't come and go on a dime," he wrote.The "Oracle of Omaha" also joked about his lack of ability in many other fields besides investing in great businesses."Lacking such assets as athletic excellence, a wonderful voice, medical or legal skills or, for that matter, any special talents, I have had to rely on equities throughout my life," he said.