VANDENBERG **** E FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — Five news reporters and two members of the military who were invited to an event at Vandenberg **** e Force Base in California were briefly detained at gunpoint by security officers who thought they were gate crashers, according to local news reports.
The incident happened Monday ahead of an invitation-only groundbreaking for a new training facility for missile operators at the federal airfield near Santa Barbara, California. Reporters from Noozhawk and KEYT were among those detained, and both outlets published articles detailing the detainment.
In a statement Wednesday, a **** e Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs spokesperson said base protocols will be reviewed.
"Vandenberg takes both installation security and our responsibility to invited media seriously. The journalists involved were accessing the installation at our invitation, and the installation commander has ordered a full review of the media coordination processes," the statement said.
The reporters and military members were part of a convoy being escorted onto the base by uniformed public affairs staff in a government minivan when they were suddenly ordered out of their vehicles with their hands up, according to news reports.

#installation #force #affairs

VANDENBERG ***** E FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — Five news reporters and two members of the military who were invited to an event at Vandenberg ***** e Force Base in California were briefly detained at gunpoint by security officers who thought they were gate crashers, according to local news reports.
The incident happened Monday ahead of an invitation-only groundbreaking for a new training facility for missile operators at the federal airfield near Santa Barbara, California. Reporters from Noozhawk and KEYT were among those detained, and both outlets published articles detailing the detainment.
In a statement Wednesday, a ***** e Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs spokesperson said base protocols will be reviewed.
"Vandenberg takes both installation security and our responsibility to invited media seriously. The journalists involved were accessing the installation at our invitation, and the installation commander has ordered a full review of the media coordination processes," the statement said.
The reporters and military members were part of a convoy being escorted onto the base by uniformed public affairs staff in a government minivan when they were suddenly ordered out of their vehicles with their hands up, according to news reports.

#base #reporters #force #affairs

NORTH CANTON — Groundbreaking for upgrades to Walsh University's Biery Family Baseball Stadium and Tim Mead Field was held on Monday, Aug. 17.
Improvements will include the installation of a synthetic turf infield, updated backstop and outfield netting, a new scoreboard, batting cage and press box enhancements, dugout and seating upgrades and other fan and player amenities.
A leadership gift from Walsh alums Ben and Michelle Biery are making the upgrades possible. The gift is undisclosed, but the university says it represents one of the largest In Cavaliers athletics history.
"Walsh University has been an important part of our family for decades, and this project is about investing in the future of the program and the student-athletes who will wear the Cavalier uniform in the years ahead," Ben Biery, a former Walsh baseball player, said in a university release. "We are honored to help strengthen a field that has meant so much to our family and to so many Walsh baseball players before us."
A formal dedication ceremony at the stadium is expected to be held this fall.

#biery #family #university #stadium

The new installation of the Madden video game series 'Madden 27' was released earlier this week, meaning that the UCLA Bruins in the NFL got to check out their new overal ratings.
We're just now wrapping up the first week of the NFL preseason, with the regular season now under one month away. The season will kick off with a Super Bowl rematch, as the Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9th.
For UCLA fans looking to play with their favorite former Bruins in the meantime, here's the 10 highest-rated UCLA players in the new Madden game. The list is kicked off by Kolton Miller, the Raiders' stalwart at tackle, a reigning Super Bowl champ and the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Who are the 10 highest-rated UCLA Bruins in the new Madden video game?

#season

Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record Q2 revenue of $21.5 million, a 65% year-over-year increase, primarily driven by the integration of CDM and new installations across the legacy business.
Completed the majority of CDM integration, realizing approximately 75% of the targeted $10 million in annualized synergies to date.
Attributed service revenue growth to the inclusion of $7 million from CDM and positive momentum in legacy CRI installs, despite the expiration of some high-margin contracts.
Reported hardware gross margin compression to 17.2% due to product mix, while service margins remained robust at 50.1% despite competitive pricing pressures.

#million #year #legacy #service

Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) just added another name to its growing list of AI infrastructure customers. On August 6, the company announced an expanded partnership with MiTAC Computing Technology Corp., a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corporation, to deploy a fuel cell microgrid at MiTAC's AI server manufacturing campus in Fremont, California. It is a small deal in isolation, but it fits a pattern that has turned Bloom into one of the more talked-about names in the AI power trade.
The MiTAC expansion builds on an existing installation at the company's San Jose facility, and it will run as an islanded microgrid, meaning it operates independent of the local grid entirely. That matters because manufacturers building AI servers are running into the same power bottlenecks as the data centers buying their products. Bloom's Chief Commercial Officer Aman Joshi noted the company now serves nearly two dozen AI infrastructure customers with about 250 megawatts of contracted capacity, up from nearly zero just two years ago. Fuel cells generate power through an electrochemical process rather than combustion, which sidesteps permitting delays, water constraints and noise limits that can slow down traditional generation.
That growth shows up in the numbers too. Bloom's backlog reached $20 billion at the start of 2026, and product orders within that backlog rose 140% year over year, according to ****** ysis from Reuben Gregg Brewer published August 5. The company posted its first billion-dollar revenue quarter, and management raised full-year 2026 guidance to a range of $3.9 billion to $4.2 billion, per ****** ysis from Steven Porrello also published August 5. Wall Street currently expects revenue to more than triple over the next two years, and Bloom was profitable in both the first and second quarters of 2026.
The service portion of that backlog, roughly $14 billion of the $20 billion total, is the more durable piece of the business, since every fuel cell sold locks in an annuity-like service contract. But Brewer's ****** ysis points out that Bloom's overall profitability only turned positive in 2026, after losses in 2024 and 2025 even while the services business alone stayed profitable since 2024.
The stock has also been volatile. Shares are up roughly 500% over the trailing year but have pulled back about 35% from their highs, trading near $218 after touching roughly $345. Brewer argues that much of the good news already appears priced in, and that only aggressive growth investors should consider buying after such a rapid move. Even on a forward basis, Porrello notes the stock trades around 11 times next fiscal year's expected sales, a multiple that still ****** umes the AI buildout keeps accelerating without interruption.

#power #backlog #Analysis

Ahead of City's return to the Principality Stadium for Sunday's Community Shield clash with ***** nal, we rewind back to August 2003, when two worlds collided in the UEFA Cup…
Words: David Clayton
Legendary Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling perhaps summed up Welsh club Total Network Solutions' somewhat bizarre club name in one hilarious moment several years ago.
It wasn't anything to do with their game against City, he was just affectionately highlighting how a football club had been be named after a fibre optic installation company over their original name, Llansantffraid F.C.
They were the first club to adopt their sponsor's name as their club name but were forced to play any European games as TNS due to sponsorship rules.

#ahead #principality #stadium

Florida State football held its second preseason scrimmage on Sunday, Aug. 9, at Doak Campbell Stadium.
It was the second scrimmage of the week for the program, with the first one coming on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The two scrimmages were sandwiched between the program's annual trip to Jacksonville to practice at the University of North Florida.
Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell said the team ran "around 100 plays" and he felt it was a "good day" for his unit.
"I thought it was a good day for practice 10, to see the installation, the situations," Norvell said in a Zoom after the scrimmage. "We had a little bit of a two-minute there at the end, seeing guys work. I thought overall, there was a lot of great film that we're going to be able to evaluate from."
Here are three takeaways from the scrimmage.

#norvell #second #practice #doak

Cleveland Browns Training Camp Recap: Day 9 – No closer to a QB decision (Chris Pokorny) – "Day 9 of Cleveland Browns training camp took place Friday, August 7. Unfortunately, they closed practice to the fans, due to the threat of rain."
Browns fans are ready to include a third QB in the competition (Chris Pokorny) – "The Cleveland Browns are two weeks into training camp, and installation periods are finished. Head coach Todd Monken has maintained all along that he will likely name a starter between QB Deshaun Watson and QB Shedeur Sanders later in training camp, after both players have been evaluated through rotating days of reps."
Browns roster: Team adds another free agent DT following Friday practice (Jared Mueller) – "On Friday, just before practice started, the Cleveland Browns announced a number of changes to their roster due to injuries."
Browns HC Todd Monken talks talent versus fit with OLine decision, starters in question (Jared Mueller) – "The entire focus from the outside looking in with the Cleveland Browns has been about the quarterback position. At practice on Friday, HC Todd Monken reiterated that Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have not separated from each other, despite a noted difference in some snaps on Thursday."
Browns QB competition: 'Signal' that 'QB1' has unofficially been identified (Jared Mueller) – "At this point in time, the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition is up in the air until HC Todd Monken says it isn't. Deshaun Watson may have come in with a leg up, but Shedeur Sanders has reportedly made strides. Neither has seemed to distance themselves in the competition so far, almost two weeks into training, with Monken noting that finishing installs was a priority in the process."

#todd #practice

With a market cap of $347.2 billion, The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) is a leading home improvement retailer, offering a wide range of building materials, home improvement, lawn and garden, décor, and maintenance products through its stores and digital platforms. The company also provides installation and tool and equipment rental services to DIY consumers and professional customers.
Shares of the Atlanta, Georgia-based company have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. HD stock has fallen 8.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 22.2%. Moreover, shares of the company have risen 1.2% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 13% gain.
Jeff Bezos Says He's Selling $1 Billion In Amazon Stock Every Year to Fund Blue Origin — 'It's The Most Important Work I'm Doing'
Apple's New CEO Is Bringing a Familiar Face Back From Retirement. The Shift Is Happening.
Nasdaq Futures Climb as Tech Rally Continues on Palantir Boost, U.S. JOLTS Report and ***** eX Earnings on Tap

#home

With a market cap of $347.2 billion, The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) is a leading home improvement retailer, offering a wide range of building materials, home improvement, lawn and garden, décor, and maintenance products through its stores and digital platforms. The company also provides installation and tool and equipment rental services to DIY consumers and professional customers.
Shares of the Atlanta, Georgia-based company have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. HD stock has fallen 8.6% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 22.2%. Moreover, shares of the company have risen 1.2% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX's 13% gain.
Jeff Bezos Says He's Selling $1 Billion In Amazon Stock Every Year to Fund Blue Origin — 'It's The Most Important Work I'm Doing'
Apple's New CEO Is Bringing a Familiar Face Back From Retirement. The Shift Is Happening.
Nasdaq Futures Climb as Tech Rally Continues on Palantir Boost, U.S. JOLTS Report and **** eX Earnings on Tap

#company #billion #shares #market

President Donald Trump cast doubt in recent days on allegations that Russia is helping Iran target U.S. forces, even as members of his own administration acknowledge Moscow and Beijing are supporting Tehran in other ways.
Trump dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that Russia supplied Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. military installations in the Gulf, saying any ****** istance would have been "very unimpactful" given the damage inflicted on Iran's military.
"We'll find out if that's true. I'll ask Putin. We'll find out," Trump told reporters at the end of July.
Waltz Warns Of Chinese, Russian-fueled 'National Security Threat' Looming Close To Us Shores
President Donald Trump cast doubt in recent days on allegations that Russia is helping Iran target U.S. forces.

#president #donald #we 'll #days

Memory bandwidth and GPU processing power have been a key hardware bottleneck for AI infrastructure advancement. As server designs move to high-density DDR5 standards and High Bandwidth Memory configurations to support AI workloads, specialized memory interface designers like Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) are key to data center design. That said, as semiconductor companies pivot their business models from high-margin IP licensing to direct chip manufacture, investors have started to evaluate gross margin trends and capital intensity instead of just top-line growth.
Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) displayed significant top-line performance on July 27, generating the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history for Q2 2026. Total revenue increased by 20% year-over-year and 15% sequentially to $207.4 million, exceeding the ****** yst forecast of $198.3 million. The product revenue segment, which includes memory interface chips related directly to server and AI data center installations, increased 22% year-over-year to $99.2 million, owing to the rollout of complete DDR5 9600 chipsets and growing server-memory content.
Management supported this momentum with optimistic third-quarter 2026 guidance that projected revenue between $210 million and $216 million, and GAAP diluted EPS of $0.59 to $0.67. This outlook was further bolstered by recent operational achievements, including the early commercial adoption of its DDR5 9600 chipsets and a significant HBM IP design win with a Tier-1 hyperscaler.
Despite record revenue and strong forward guidance, Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) shares fell as much as 20% in the sessions following the earnings announcement, with gross margin developments and evolving financial profiles driving institutional selling. Product gross margin landed in the low-60% area during the quarter, within management's 60% to 65% long-term target, though drifting toward the lower end due to product mix variations and supply chain cost pressures. More significantly, the trailing-twelve-month net margin decreased from 35.5% in the previous year to 31.7%.
Valuation multiples bring further scrutiny to these margin worries. Even after the 20% decline, Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) trades at a high forward price-to-earnings multiple of 24.27x. This marks a considerable premium to more mainstream AI semiconductor leaders like Broadcom (19.92x) and NVIDIA (20x). Trading at such a premium multiple leaves no room for execution delays or continued margin erosion, explaining why the market punished the company even with headline gains.

#memory #year #high

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) said on August 3 that a North Korea-linked adversary injected a malicious dependency into at least 131 Mastra AI framework packages on npm (Node Package Manager). Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) owns GitHub, which acquired npm in 2020 and operates the registry at the center of the attack chain.
This was a developer-supply-chain breach with unusually efficient distribution. Stolen maintainer credentials let the attacker publish poisoned Mastra versions tagged as the latest releases. The malicious easy-day-js dependency then ran during installation, exposing developer machines and build pipelines to credential theft and remote code execution. CrowdStrike found that 87% of identified software-registry threats in the first half of 2026 involved npm packages.
Image by Tawanda Razika from Pixabay
Microsoft's role cuts both ways. GitHub controls the registry infrastructure, and its advisory database powers npm audit, so repeated account takeovers increase the burden to harden publishing and dependency scanning. Yet Microsoft's own June 17 investigation identified more than 140 affected Mastra packages and detailed detections across Defender Antivirus, Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR. The same incident that creates reputational risk for npm also gives Microsoft another reason to sell integrated security.
The more direct demand read-through belongs to CrowdStrike. Its fiscal Q1 2027 revenue grew 26% to $1.39 billion, while annual recurring revenue rose 24% to $5.51 billion. Hedge-fund ownership also increased to 79 portfolios at the end of Q1 2026 from 67 in Q4 2025, according to Insider Monkey's database. The valuation is the restraint: a roughly $190 billion market value equals about 32 times CrowdStrike's $5.91 billion to $5.96 billion fiscal-year revenue guidance. The business must sustain growth near the mid-20% range for that multiple to remain comfortable.

#NASDAQ

Our **** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved non-GAAP operating profitability for the first time in nearly three years, driven by a 20% year-over-year revenue increase and six consecutive quarters of gross margin expansion.
Attributed U.S. residential market softness to a slower tax equity funding environment and uncertainty regarding FEOC definitions, which has constrained installer cash flows and distributor inventory levels.
Expanded U.S. C&I market share to over 50% of rooftop installations, benefiting from being the only major inverter vendor delivering U.S.-manufactured products that meet domestic content and FCC requirements.
Doubled European revenue year-over-year as demand surged ahead of anticipated electricity price hikes and the phase-out of net metering in major markets.

#NVIDIA

Jimmy Fallon spent a portion of Monday's Tonight Show celebrating Trump's defeat in the ongoing Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool saga.
The shallow pool was recently refurbished with a shade of dark blue and outfitted with "advanced nanobubbler technology" to tackle algae blooms that have long plagued the landmark — but algae returned shortly after the multi-million-dollar renovations were complete, and the new sealant started to peel off in chunks that bubbled to the surface.
Late last week, Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro moved to dismiss criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn — one of several people arrested on suspicion of vandalizing the monument — after the Trump administration admitted that the damage to the recently installed blue liner was "the result of flawed installation by the contractor."
Fallon, 51, weighed in on the president's defeat, saying, "Trump is upset because his own Justice Department admitted the reflecting pool damage wasn't caused by vandalism, like he said. It was just a result of shoddy construction work.
"Trump claimed someone used a knife to quickly cut the pool liner the length of three football fields. I can barely use a knife to cut open my Amazon box," the late night host quipped.

#Trump #defeat #algae

Republican Sen. John Kennedy (La.) said Sunday he is unsure whether President Trump truly believes his claims that vandals damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
"I don't know whether he really believes that, or it's part of his political messaging, or he's just thinking out loud," Kennedy told host Kristen Welker on NBC News's "Meet the Press."
"You and I both know the president well," the Louisiana Republican added. "He exists loudly, and he grows anxious when he has an unexpressed thought. I'm not saying he doesn't really believe it, I just don't know."
The Justice Department moved Friday to drop its criminal prosecution of former Olympian David Hearn over allegations he damaged the Reflecting Pool
In a 20-page filing, the Justice Department pinned the damage to the site on a "rushed and botched installation" Atlantic Industrial Coatings carried out this spring and summer to repaint the bottom of the pool. The department also faulted the Interior Department for a "barebones" report about the incident involving Hearn.

#kennedy #reflecting #president #whether

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool, acknowledging the damage to the pool "was the result of flawed installation by the contractor."
Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property charge earlier this month after the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro accused him of allegedly "forcefully and violently" ripping up parts of the pool floor.
Pirro's office said in a filing Friday seeking to drop the case that it only learned of evidence pointing to "a rushed and flawed installation process" after Hearn had been indicted by a grand jury.
Finn Gomez/Getty Images - PHOTO: The drained Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial are seen on the National Mall on July 22, 2026, in Washington, DC.
The filing stated Pirro herself visited the Reflecting Pool on July 17 after it had been fully drained and became aware of significant damage throughout the pool area, which spurred the DOJ to request all documents from the U.S. Interior Department about how the pool was lined.

#pool #lincoln #july #case

FC Barcelona statement – FC Barcelona
The FC Barcelona Board of Directors met Wednesday, 29 July, for an ordinary meeting at the Club's installation, headed by first vice-president Rafael Yuste in the absence of president Joan Laporta, who excused his absence.
More training at St. George's Park – FC Barcelona
Another session for the Barça squad, their fourth in England during their preseason training camp.
INSIDE VIEW | Raphinha joins the group – FC Barcelona
Brazilian arrives in Birmigham while his teammates continue to step up the training.
Alejandro Balde: 'If we can win more trophies, better' – FC Barcelona
Barça defender Alejandro Balde answered fans' questions live from St. George's Park on the FC Barcelona YouTube channel on Wednesday during the squad's preseason training camp in England.
Nuhu Fofana, Blaugrana until 2030 – FC Barcelona
Agreement reached between FC Barcelona and forward Nuhu Fofana to extend his contract for a further four seasons, meaning he is now set to stay with the Club until 30 June 2030.

#alejandro #nuhu

Tobacco Road, built by the late Mike Strantz and one of the most dramatically shaped golf courses found anywhere, has a new sibling. The Matchbox – a 12-hole, par-3 course that embraces the ethos established by Strantz on the property near Pinehurst – opens August 1 in Sanford, North Carolina.
The new short course is the result of a partnership between Carlton/Marshall Golf Design and Mike White, one of the shapers who worked for Strantz on the full-size Tobacco Road layout that opened in 1998 in the Sandhills.
"There's a direct line from our past to the present – and we believe The Matchbox will become a must-play experience in its own right," Mark Stewart, whose family opened Tobacco Road, said in a media release announcing the opening of The Matchbox.
The Matchbox was constructed in just six months near Nos. 12 and 13 of the big course. Holes range from 40 to 105 yards and feature synthetic turf blended into the natural landscape, a choice that allowed the builders to preserve more trees instead of clearing room for grass to grow. The choice of synthetic turf also avoided the installation of irrigation.
Guests can book tee times from the opening date through December.

#matchbox #course #golf #opening

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean authorities ordered civilians to evacuate on Tuesday after a suspected white phosphorus leak at a U.S. military base near the capital, Seoul.
Officials in the city of Pyeongtaek urged nearby residents to move to a safe location and avoid skin exposure after the leak at the Osan Air Base was detected at around 5 p.m. The alert was lifted several hours later following the completion of decontamination work, according to text messages sent out by the city.
The U.S. 51st Fighter Wing said it established a 300-meter cordon around the base "out of an abundance of caution" after experts conducting a routine inspection identified white phosphorus crystallization that left residue inside a munitions crate.
An explosive ordnance disposal unit was deployed and response plans were immediately activated to ensure the munitions remained fully contained, it said in a statement.
The cordon was lifted after emergency response personnel mitigated the situation, allowing the base to return to normal operations, it said. There were "no injuries resulting from this situation and no risk to personnel on or off installation."

#seoul #phosphorus

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has sent a welcome message to fellow countryman and new international manager Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday.
This of course comes fresh off the former midfielder being unveiled as the latest installation on Les Bleus' bench.
It had long been common knowledge that this summer's World Cup would mark the last major tournament overseen by Didier Deschamps as France headmaster.
Following the country's semi-final elimination at the hands of Spain, Deschamps therefore made official the mutual decision for a change at the helm.
The aforementioned Zidane had been rumoured as the leading candidate to replace his former teammate for some time, with the 54-year-old having repeatedly resisted a return to club management to instead wait for his dream role in the French dugout.

#mbapp #tuesday

The NFL offseason is at last coming to an end, and Philadelphia Eagles fans finally have something to look forward to: training camp.
The Eagles, along with 26 other teams across the league, began training camp July 28 and are campaigning to win the NFC East for the third season in a row, a milestone that hasn't happened in the division since they last accomplished it between 2001 and 2004.
Along with that, the Eagles will look to make their third Super Bowl appearance under head coach Nick Siriani after being eliminated in the Wild Card round last season by the San Franciso 49ers.
More: Ranking Eagles' 6 top training camp battles. Why safety is not No. 1
From position battles to the installation of a new offense, this year's training camp is integral if the organization hopes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the third time in team history.

#Eagles #training

As the Minnesota Vikings get ready for the start of training camp, one thing the Vikings' offensive coaching staff is likely preparing for is continuing the installation of the offense. That carries added importance this season if the Vikings have a new starting quarterback, particularly in the passing game, but the run game is also likely to get a bit of a makeover with the addition of ****** istant head coach Frank Smith, who is focusing on the run game.
Kevin O'Connell is an offshoot of the McVay branch of the Shanahan coaching tree while Frank Smith worked under Mike McDaniel in Miami, who is an offshoot of the Kyle Shanahan branch. McDaniel specialized in the run game working under Kyle Shanahan and Frank Smith will bring a lot of those concepts to Minnesota. I won't go into the Shanahan coaching tree history, which you can get it here, but there is a lot of overlap between various offshoots, even as each of them evolve too.
A core feature of the Shanahan offense is the wide zone run scheme. When you see all the offensive linemen take a drop or bucket step and then all block horizontally in the same direction, that is zone blocking. In wide zone, the running back aims for the ****** of the tight end or if there is no tight end on the play side, then the outside leg of the tackle. The back then reads the defensive end and makes his cut after 3-5 steps. If he moves inside, the back bounces the run outside, if he pursues outside, the back bends it back inside, if the hole is open, he bangs through. Below is a classic outside zone play, called on 1st and 10.
This isn't new for the Vikings or Kevin O'Connell's scheme. It's been a staple for years. In fact, it's not all that different than 'super power left' power sweeps we used to run in pee-wee football back in the 1970s
And if you watch the play, it didn't fool the Bengals defense. The defensive formation was toward the play side, countering the double tight-end set, the linebackers flow toward the run immediately, there is even a backside defensive back blitzing to try and get to Mason behind the line of scrimmage. The play was successful because it was well blocked and Mason didn't hesitate, but the play design itself didn't do much to tilt the outcome in the Vikings' favor.

#shanahan #game

The Red Sea heated up as the rising front in the U.S.-Iran war as Houthi rebels on Sunday attacked two refinery and export sites on Saudi Arabia's west coast. U.S. supplied Patriot missiles reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles targeting oil installations in Yanbu. Damage to the Saudi refinery in Jizan was unconfirmed, but Al Jazeera reported a large column of smoke following the attack.
In Iran, as of Sunday morning, no new air attacks by U.S. or Israeli forces were reported since Friday.
But the Houthi-Saudi escalation appears set to make the Red Sea's choke-point effect on oil prices, supplies and tanker day rates central to the coming week's market action. Another focal point will be the Federal Reserve and its stance on rate hikes.
But the most prominent discussions will probably involve the balance sheets and artificial intelligence-related spending levels of Magnificent 7 names Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META), all of which report during the week.
Shares of Alphabet (GOOGL) dived nearly 8% and broke critical technical support last week as spending levels and guidance disappointed investors. That played a large role in dragging the Nasdaq below its early June lows, setting the stage for the index to dive to a test of support at its 200-day moving average.

#reported #large

Growth in last-mile delivery for big and bulky e-commerce items has slowed by half because stagnant home sales mean people are ordering fewer large-ticket discretionary items like furniture and appliances, cutting into profit margins, according to a report from Armstrong & ******* ociates and the National Home Delivery ******* ociation.
Armstrong & ******* ociates estimated the $10.6 billion market for residential delivery of oversized and heavyweight items will grow at a 5.1% compound annual rate through 2027, down from 10.6% over the past eight years, reaching an estimated value of $12.3 billion. Winning service providers will be those that can best execute core, commoditized services such as white-glove delivery, time-definite, returns and in-home ******* embly.
The expansion continues to be driven by major retailers and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Wayfair, Home Depot and Lowe's, which have made large-format products central to their online offerings. Many third-party logistics providers (3PLs) support them, primarily utilizing independent contractors and freight brokerage operations, but the work is more complex and cost-intensive than for final-mile couriers in parcel networks who simply drop off packages at doorsteps, or in mailboxes.
As more consumers purchase ******* bersome products online, carriers face growing pressure to provide not just transportation to the curb, but a premium, in-home delivery experience that may include setup, installation, and even haul-away services, while keeping costs under control, the report said.
Demand for exercise equipment, mattresses, furniture and other large items is closely tied to switches in living locations. When people and businesses move, they tend to upgrade items, or add new ones to fill larger ******* es.

#home #associates #furniture

In May, President Donald Trump said in an interview he was eager to open the vault at Fort Knox to ensure the U.S. reserves of gold—valued at more than $600 billion—were still there.
Trump was doubling down on plans he and Elon Musk, then-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made last year, calling on an audit of the reserves to delve into conspiracies that gold had been stolen.
Now, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is offering **** urance the cache of gold is indeed safe and sound—but is completely inconsequential to the value of the dollar today.
"The treasurer has been to Fort Knox," Bessent said in a recent Fox News appearance. "I am happy to say all gold is present and accounted for. The U.S. has the largest pile of gold in the world, over a trillion dollars at current market value."
Established in 1918 in Kentucky, Fort Knox was a key military installation for the U.S. through both World Wars and the Vietnam War. The Fort Knox Bullion Depository was added years later, holding much of the U.S. gold reserves beginning in 1937. Today it holds about 147.3 million ounces, worth about $608 billion, according to the U.S. Mint.

#World

Giverny Capital ******* et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ******* et Management highlighted Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP). Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP) is a construction company that engages in the installation of insulation for residential and commercial builders. On July 21, 2026, Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP) closed at $222.09 per share. One-month return of Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP) was -0.54%, and its shares gained 6.77% over the past 52 weeks. Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP) has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion.
Giverny Capital ******* et Management stated the following regarding Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"This push and pull between greed and fear creates itchy trigger fingers. Installed Building Products, Inc. (NYSE:IBP), reported mildly disappointing earnings and lost 28% of its value. IBP's primary business is installing fiberglass insulation into new home construction, and it has a large presence in the Northeast. Home construction overall is sluggish, and the Northeast had its harshest winter in years, making construction delays common. IBP's weaker volumes were not surprising, but the stock cratered. We expect IBP's shrewd management will respond to the lower valuation by buying back stock."

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Renewable energy developer Avantus said its Aratina 1 solar-plus-storage project has entered commercial operation in California. The 200-MW/500-MWh installation in Kern County has long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) and Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), a pair of community choice aggregators.Avantus on July 20 said the company will have a controlling stake in Aratina 1 and will operate the facility. The company said the project is among several **** ets it will oversee as it expands from a clean energy developer to an independent power producer (IPP)."Aratina 1 coming online marks a major milestone for Avantus as an independent power producer, providing reliable clean power to California communities for decades to come," said Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus. "I'm incredibly proud of what Team Avantus built here. Their expertise across development, construction, financing and operations, and the trust our financing and CCA partners have placed in us, are the foundation we're building our long-term IPP model on.""The Aratina project is a powerful example of how community choice energy turns climate goals into real projects on the ground," said Robert Shaw, CEO of 3CE. "Our long-term commitment to 120 MW from this facility will deliver clean, affordable power to our customers while supporting California's transition away from fossil fuels. We're grateful to partner with Avantus on a project that strengthens grid reliability and invests in the Central Coast's clean energy future."
Avantus said a consortium of lenders, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Truist Securities, ING Capital, and Mizuho, provided financing of more than $500 million for Aratina 1. The project also secured a $300-million tax equity commitment from Truist Bank. Officials said the project created about 500 jobs at peak construction."The clean power generated from the Aratina project gets us one step closer to our climate goals. New projects like this are critical in increasing statewide clean capacity and reliability as we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and move towards an all-electric future," said Monica Padilla, CEO of SVCE.Avantus on Monday said that Aratina 2, the second phase of the Aratina Solar Center, located adjacent to Aratina 1, is currently under construction. Aratina 2 recently closed more than $525 million in financing and is targeting commercial operation before year-end. The Aratina Solar Center when complete will represent a combined 350 MW of solar and 952 MWh of energy storage.Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. The company is backed by strategic investment from KKR and EIG. The company earlier this year closed a financing package of more than $300 million for a project in Arizona.Avantus and Clean Power Alliance, another community choice aggregator, earlier in July announced a 20-year PPA for the Rexford 2 solar-plus-s

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. equities experienced a strong recovery in Q2 2026, with the S&P 500 Index gaining 15.2%, marking its best quarter since 2020. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) regained market optimism in the quarter, leading the Information Technology and Industrials sectors upward, and Energy and Utilities lagged because of falling oil and gas prices. In June, the Federal Reserve maintained steady interest rates, but the meeting had a hawkish tone. As AI transitions into its agentic phase, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology. The Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell 2500 Growth Index in the quarter. The Industrials and Information Technology sectors contributed to the relative performance, whereas Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors detracted. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund highlighted Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) as a notable contributor. Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) is a civil contracting company focused on site development and infrastructure services. On July 20, 2026, Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) closed at $69.25 per share. One-month return of Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) was -4.78%, and YTD its shares gained 186.39%. Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) has a market capitalization of $1.38 billion.
Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund stated the following regarding Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNL) provides infrastructure services across residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and state markets, including water, sewer, and stormwater installations, as well as grading, site clearing, erosion control, paving, and other related site services. The company benefits from demand for essential infrastructure work and has continued to expand its capabilities through organic growth and recent acquisitions. During the quarter, shares contributed positively to performance after the company reported strong first-quarter results that were consistent with management's recent positive commentary. Investor sentiment was further supported by robust organic growth, continued momentum in its mature Raleigh market, and the view that full-year guidance may prove conservative given the company's current operating trajectory."

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