3 hours ago
Even with legions of adoring fans across the globe, Dolly Parton never let the spotlight change who she was.
From choosing a small, private funeral over a lavish send-off to asking well-wishers to skip flowers and gifts in favor of donating to her Imagination Library, the 80-year-old country music icon, who died on August 25, stayed grounded in what mattered most to her: people, not possessions. Given that, it's no surprise the final thing she asked of her sister was something simple and heartfelt.
"The last thing Dolly asked me for was prayer," Stella Parton, 77, told Gayle King in an interview with CBS Mornings posted on Thursday, September 10.
Mega
Stella also said she sensed her sister had found peace before she passed. She explained that she'd always been able to read Dolly's emotions just from her expression, even after long stretches without seeing her in person — whether she was in pain, upset, joyful, or simply worn out, it showed on her face. The two, she said, had always shared a tight-knit bond as siblings.
#even #thing #asked #library
From choosing a small, private funeral over a lavish send-off to asking well-wishers to skip flowers and gifts in favor of donating to her Imagination Library, the 80-year-old country music icon, who died on August 25, stayed grounded in what mattered most to her: people, not possessions. Given that, it's no surprise the final thing she asked of her sister was something simple and heartfelt.
"The last thing Dolly asked me for was prayer," Stella Parton, 77, told Gayle King in an interview with CBS Mornings posted on Thursday, September 10.
Mega
Stella also said she sensed her sister had found peace before she passed. She explained that she'd always been able to read Dolly's emotions just from her expression, even after long stretches without seeing her in person — whether she was in pain, upset, joyful, or simply worn out, it showed on her face. The two, she said, had always shared a tight-knit bond as siblings.
#even #thing #asked #library
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2 days ago
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) raised the price of Apple TV in the U.S. to $14.99 a month from $12.99 and increased the individual Apple One bundle to $21.95 a month from $19.95, CNBC reported.
Apple TV launched in 2019 at $4.99 a month and has since added significant content, including the film "F1" and a fourth season of "Ted Lasso." The move follows a $1-a-month increase to Apple Music in July, which Apple attributed to licensing costs. Apple reported $30.7 billion in services revenue for its fiscal third quarter, up 12% year over year. The segment's gross margin fell more than a percentage point sequentially, which the company blamed on product mix and foreign exchange headwinds.
The higher price shows a genuinely larger content library, not just a margin grab. Apple TV launched with limited programming at $4.99 a month. It now includes award-winning originals like "Severance" and blockbuster films like "F1" and gives Apple a stronger case that the price increase tracks real value added rather than outpacing what subscribers get.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is raising prices in step with the rest of the industry, not standing out as an outlier. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock have all raised their own prices recently, reducing the competitive and reputational risk that price-sensitive subscribers abandon Apple TV specifically for a cheaper alternative.
Services remains a genuine growth engine with real momentum behind it. Revenue in the segment grew 12% to $30.7 billion in the fiscal third quarter, and price increases across Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple One bundles all flow directly into that high-margin, recurring revenue line, reinforcing one of Apple's most valuable businesses beyond hardware sales.
#Margin #aapl #Services
Apple TV launched in 2019 at $4.99 a month and has since added significant content, including the film "F1" and a fourth season of "Ted Lasso." The move follows a $1-a-month increase to Apple Music in July, which Apple attributed to licensing costs. Apple reported $30.7 billion in services revenue for its fiscal third quarter, up 12% year over year. The segment's gross margin fell more than a percentage point sequentially, which the company blamed on product mix and foreign exchange headwinds.
The higher price shows a genuinely larger content library, not just a margin grab. Apple TV launched with limited programming at $4.99 a month. It now includes award-winning originals like "Severance" and blockbuster films like "F1" and gives Apple a stronger case that the price increase tracks real value added rather than outpacing what subscribers get.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is raising prices in step with the rest of the industry, not standing out as an outlier. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock have all raised their own prices recently, reducing the competitive and reputational risk that price-sensitive subscribers abandon Apple TV specifically for a cheaper alternative.
Services remains a genuine growth engine with real momentum behind it. Revenue in the segment grew 12% to $30.7 billion in the fiscal third quarter, and price increases across Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple One bundles all flow directly into that high-margin, recurring revenue line, reinforcing one of Apple's most valuable businesses beyond hardware sales.
#Margin #aapl #Services
5 days ago
It may have taken a long time for ESPN Unlimited to finally come to YouTube TV, but sports fans are quickly discovering that it was worth the wait, especially for college football fans.
When Disney and Google engaged in a bitter carriage dispute last fall, ESPN access on YouTube TV was at the center of it all. It was the rare time that games were actually missed during the middle of the football season. But when the two sides finally came to an agreement, ESPN Unlimited access was granted to YouTube TV subscribers.
However, that access was delayed due to the technological challenges of integrating the entire ESPN Unlimited platform into YouTube TV and, likewise, the requirements on ESPN's side to grant web access directly on ESPN.
Thankfully, the full system is ready to go in time for the 2026 football season. And as the college football season kicked off in full on Friday night and Saturday, fans were amazed at what they were experiencing with a full library of live sports available in one place at one time.
YouTube TV has long been favored as the MVPD platform for sports fans because of the litany of sports options, multiview features, and ease of use. But the ESPN Unlimited integration takes it to a new level.
#unlimited #Football #access
When Disney and Google engaged in a bitter carriage dispute last fall, ESPN access on YouTube TV was at the center of it all. It was the rare time that games were actually missed during the middle of the football season. But when the two sides finally came to an agreement, ESPN Unlimited access was granted to YouTube TV subscribers.
However, that access was delayed due to the technological challenges of integrating the entire ESPN Unlimited platform into YouTube TV and, likewise, the requirements on ESPN's side to grant web access directly on ESPN.
Thankfully, the full system is ready to go in time for the 2026 football season. And as the college football season kicked off in full on Friday night and Saturday, fans were amazed at what they were experiencing with a full library of live sports available in one place at one time.
YouTube TV has long been favored as the MVPD platform for sports fans because of the litany of sports options, multiview features, and ease of use. But the ESPN Unlimited integration takes it to a new level.
#unlimited #Football #access
8 days ago
The cause of death for "All That" child actress Christy Knowings has been released weeks she died at 46.
Knowings died Aug. 11, four days after she was admitted to a hospital, according to a death certificate obtained by People on Sept. 2. Her cause of death was reportedly cardiac arrest, with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and status asthmaticus, or severe asthma, listed as contributing conditions.
Respiratory failure occurs when the blood doesn't have enough oxygen or or there is too much carbon dioxide present, according to the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus.
"Christy was a multi-talented lady," her manager, Al Hill, told Variety in an Aug. 13 statement. "Whether it was singing, acting, dancing, she was always creating. Always professional and dedicated to her work."
A relative of Knowings previously told TMZ that the actress was hospitalized following an asthma attack on Friday, Aug. 7, and put on life support.
#cause #failure
Knowings died Aug. 11, four days after she was admitted to a hospital, according to a death certificate obtained by People on Sept. 2. Her cause of death was reportedly cardiac arrest, with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and status asthmaticus, or severe asthma, listed as contributing conditions.
Respiratory failure occurs when the blood doesn't have enough oxygen or or there is too much carbon dioxide present, according to the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus.
"Christy was a multi-talented lady," her manager, Al Hill, told Variety in an Aug. 13 statement. "Whether it was singing, acting, dancing, she was always creating. Always professional and dedicated to her work."
A relative of Knowings previously told TMZ that the actress was hospitalized following an asthma attack on Friday, Aug. 7, and put on life support.
#cause #failure
8 days ago
Dollywood has shared how it plans to honor "dreamer-in-chief" Dolly Parton after her death at the age of 80.
Raised in rural Sevier County, Dolly Parton helped transform the theme park into the area's top employer and a major tourist destination.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, park officials announced plans to introduce a new character named the Dream Maker, inspired by Parton's Imagination Library. A chapel located inside the park will also feature a new waterfall and stained glass windows reflecting her deep faith.
Visitors will be able to leave messages about Parton at designated kiosks, while further additions are coming to The Dolly Parton Experience, a multibuilding ***** e containing exhibits dedicated to her life and career.
Fans will have new ways to show their love for the iconic singer and songwriter (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
#dolly #park #plans
Raised in rural Sevier County, Dolly Parton helped transform the theme park into the area's top employer and a major tourist destination.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, park officials announced plans to introduce a new character named the Dream Maker, inspired by Parton's Imagination Library. A chapel located inside the park will also feature a new waterfall and stained glass windows reflecting her deep faith.
Visitors will be able to leave messages about Parton at designated kiosks, while further additions are coming to The Dolly Parton Experience, a multibuilding ***** e containing exhibits dedicated to her life and career.
Fans will have new ways to show their love for the iconic singer and songwriter (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
#dolly #park #plans
10 days ago
If you're as obsessed with beauty history as I am, there's a 99.9% chance you follow Erin Parsons.
The makeup-artist-turned-content-creator has amassed nearly 8 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, not just for her vintage beauty tutorials, but also for deep dives into the archaeology of makeup. Be it demonstrating makeup techniques across eras—like the Victorian age using actual recipes from the period—or sharing her treasure trove of antique cosmetics, Parsons' content is a crash course in makeup history.
Now, she's expanded her universe with The Makeup Archive, a nonprofit digital museum featuring over 1,500 pieces from her personal collection that span from the 17th century through the 2010s. Three years in the making, the project came to life with the help of archivist Holly McGraw, who helped Parsons comb through 3,000 items to build the archive.
"Through my videos, and through how many views and how much engagement, [it's clear] that people are interested in beauty history," Parsons told host Jessica Matlin during a recent episode of the Fat Mascara podcast. "There's more to it than someone just putting on a red lipstick."
Parsons in front of the library of The Makeup Archive
Credit: Luisa Opalesky; Courtesy of Erin Parsons
#content
The makeup-artist-turned-content-creator has amassed nearly 8 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, not just for her vintage beauty tutorials, but also for deep dives into the archaeology of makeup. Be it demonstrating makeup techniques across eras—like the Victorian age using actual recipes from the period—or sharing her treasure trove of antique cosmetics, Parsons' content is a crash course in makeup history.
Now, she's expanded her universe with The Makeup Archive, a nonprofit digital museum featuring over 1,500 pieces from her personal collection that span from the 17th century through the 2010s. Three years in the making, the project came to life with the help of archivist Holly McGraw, who helped Parsons comb through 3,000 items to build the archive.
"Through my videos, and through how many views and how much engagement, [it's clear] that people are interested in beauty history," Parsons told host Jessica Matlin during a recent episode of the Fat Mascara podcast. "There's more to it than someone just putting on a red lipstick."
Parsons in front of the library of The Makeup Archive
Credit: Luisa Opalesky; Courtesy of Erin Parsons
#content
10 days ago
A Nashville charter school has removed books featuring LGBT themes from its elementary school libraries months after a Christian teacher was disciplined for refusing to read one of the books to students, a decision the school later cleared from the teacher's record.
The Tennessee Star reported Friday that, according to the First Liberty Institute — a nonprofit legal organization — the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Nashville has taken out books that promote same-sex marriage.
"We are thrilled that KIPP Nashville voluntarily removed books that could run afoul of parents' rights under the Constitution and Tennessee law," Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, said in a Thursday statement.
"It is paramount that religious views be respected in schools," Martin said.
Utah Library Confirms Lgbtq 'Pride' Book For Its 'Smallest Patrons' Is Kept Easily Accessible
#liberty
The Tennessee Star reported Friday that, according to the First Liberty Institute — a nonprofit legal organization — the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Nashville has taken out books that promote same-sex marriage.
"We are thrilled that KIPP Nashville voluntarily removed books that could run afoul of parents' rights under the Constitution and Tennessee law," Cliff Martin, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, said in a Thursday statement.
"It is paramount that religious views be respected in schools," Martin said.
Utah Library Confirms Lgbtq 'Pride' Book For Its 'Smallest Patrons' Is Kept Easily Accessible
#liberty
10 days ago
Knox College will welcome nearly 60 competitive Scrabble players to Galesburg for a three-day, rated tournament over Labor Day weekend, bringing participants from around the world to campus before students return for the academic term.
The Midwest Showdown Scrabble tournament will be held Sept. 5-7 in the Lincoln Room at Knox College, according to a community announcement. Organized by Galesburg Scrabble, the event marks the fifth officially sanctioned Scrabble tournament hosted in Galesburg and the first held at Knox College.
Galesburg Scrabble meets from 6-8 p.m. each Tuesday at Galesburg Public Library. Mayor Peter Schwartzman and tournament co-director Darla Krejci helped bring the event to the city and serve as tournament directors.
"Darla is interested in tourism to support the city, and as mayor, I'm interested in bringing people to Galesburg and supporting a game I love," Schwartzman said. "There is nothing better than a tournament in your backyard."
Players will compete across three divisions determined by skill, rating and lexicon. Each participant will play seven matches during the tournament's opening round. The top eight finishers in each division will advance to the next round of competition before the top four move on to the championship showdown.
#scrabble #players #mayor
The Midwest Showdown Scrabble tournament will be held Sept. 5-7 in the Lincoln Room at Knox College, according to a community announcement. Organized by Galesburg Scrabble, the event marks the fifth officially sanctioned Scrabble tournament hosted in Galesburg and the first held at Knox College.
Galesburg Scrabble meets from 6-8 p.m. each Tuesday at Galesburg Public Library. Mayor Peter Schwartzman and tournament co-director Darla Krejci helped bring the event to the city and serve as tournament directors.
"Darla is interested in tourism to support the city, and as mayor, I'm interested in bringing people to Galesburg and supporting a game I love," Schwartzman said. "There is nothing better than a tournament in your backyard."
Players will compete across three divisions determined by skill, rating and lexicon. Each participant will play seven matches during the tournament's opening round. The top eight finishers in each division will advance to the next round of competition before the top four move on to the championship showdown.
#scrabble #players #mayor
11 days ago
Diana, Princess of Wales, is known for many things, from her philanthropy and very public marriage to and split from the now King Charles III to her motherhood with William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and tragic death nearly 30 years ago, on Aug. 31, 1997. In addition to her many accomplishments, life events and milestones, though, Princess Diana is also forever known for her sense of fashion that garnered considerable attention throughout her life and has continued to make her a fashion icon today.
Even among Diana fans and royal watchers, many of her most famous looks have only been seen on TV, on the covers of magazines or in old photographs, but now, a brand-new exhibit coming to the United States this year will allow guests to get an up-close look in person at some of the late princess's most celebrated items. The exhibit, ***** led "Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving," will open at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Nov. 7 and will feature more than 700 artifacts from Princess Diana's life.
Among the items to be on display are Princess Diana's beloved "black sheep" sweater, the long black gown she wore when dancing with John Travolta, her wedding slippers and her "final goodbye" dress—the final gown she tried on before her death, revealed to the public for the first time—among many others.
In addition to these items of clothing, this exhibit will feature various handbags, shoes, jewelry, historical documents, handwritten letters, myriad personal possessions and more. Certain artifacts will be exclusive to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, but the "Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving" exhibit will go on tour elsewhere after departing The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on May 31, 2027. Tickets for the exhibit can be purchased on the Ronald Reagan Foundation website and are available now.
This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
#ronald
Even among Diana fans and royal watchers, many of her most famous looks have only been seen on TV, on the covers of magazines or in old photographs, but now, a brand-new exhibit coming to the United States this year will allow guests to get an up-close look in person at some of the late princess's most celebrated items. The exhibit, ***** led "Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving," will open at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Nov. 7 and will feature more than 700 artifacts from Princess Diana's life.
Among the items to be on display are Princess Diana's beloved "black sheep" sweater, the long black gown she wore when dancing with John Travolta, her wedding slippers and her "final goodbye" dress—the final gown she tried on before her death, revealed to the public for the first time—among many others.
In addition to these items of clothing, this exhibit will feature various handbags, shoes, jewelry, historical documents, handwritten letters, myriad personal possessions and more. Certain artifacts will be exclusive to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, but the "Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving" exhibit will go on tour elsewhere after departing The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on May 31, 2027. Tickets for the exhibit can be purchased on the Ronald Reagan Foundation website and are available now.
This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
#ronald
12 days ago
One child in Denver called her "The Book Queen".
Another in Alabama calls her "Ms Dolly".
Across the globe in Australia, a toddler with speech delays delighted her family with her first word - "orange" - after she and her twin sister received a free book in the post about colours. It came from Imagination Library, the literacy programme begun by late global superstar Dolly Parton.
Parton, who died this week aged 80, launched the philanthropic effort in 1995 to honour her father - whose difficult Appalachian upbringing never allowed him to finish school or learn to read and write.
"He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams," wrote Parton in an open letter on Imagination Library's website.
#across
Another in Alabama calls her "Ms Dolly".
Across the globe in Australia, a toddler with speech delays delighted her family with her first word - "orange" - after she and her twin sister received a free book in the post about colours. It came from Imagination Library, the literacy programme begun by late global superstar Dolly Parton.
Parton, who died this week aged 80, launched the philanthropic effort in 1995 to honour her father - whose difficult Appalachian upbringing never allowed him to finish school or learn to read and write.
"He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams," wrote Parton in an open letter on Imagination Library's website.
#across
13 days ago
Dolly Parton, known for her timeless hits, sparkling personality, razor-sharp wit and iconic image, was also a deeply committed philanthropist.
In fact, she donated so much of her money in her lifetime that some estimate she would have become a billionaire without her charitable giving.
The Grammy winner, after all, held the rights to wildly successful songs, a theme park and book **** les under her illustrious name.
"I try to leave my heart open, and my ears and my eyes," she told Consequence of Sound in 2023.
Her donations across the decades amount to countless millions. Since her death, her family has written: "In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library".
#parton #grammy #since
In fact, she donated so much of her money in her lifetime that some estimate she would have become a billionaire without her charitable giving.
The Grammy winner, after all, held the rights to wildly successful songs, a theme park and book **** les under her illustrious name.
"I try to leave my heart open, and my ears and my eyes," she told Consequence of Sound in 2023.
Her donations across the decades amount to countless millions. Since her death, her family has written: "In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library".
#parton #grammy #since
14 days ago
To nine-year-old Zenaida, it wasn't Dolly Parton's storied country music career that made her so great.
It's the entertainment icon's beloved Imagination Library book donation program that has had the biggest impact on the young girl's life.
"These are the first books I learned how to read," Zenaida told AFP late Wednesday, flipping through Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" children's book at a makeshift memorial in the singer-songwriter's hometown at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Parton's extraordinarily successful book project was born of personal anguish: her own father grew up illiterate in rural Tennessee.
But thanks to the Imagination Library, millions of children like Zenaida in the United States and around the world have received a literacy boost from Parton herself: books that arrive by mail, for free, from birth until age five.
#zenaida #book #books #wednesday
It's the entertainment icon's beloved Imagination Library book donation program that has had the biggest impact on the young girl's life.
"These are the first books I learned how to read," Zenaida told AFP late Wednesday, flipping through Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" children's book at a makeshift memorial in the singer-songwriter's hometown at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Parton's extraordinarily successful book project was born of personal anguish: her own father grew up illiterate in rural Tennessee.
But thanks to the Imagination Library, millions of children like Zenaida in the United States and around the world have received a literacy boost from Parton herself: books that arrive by mail, for free, from birth until age five.
#zenaida #book #books #wednesday
14 days ago
King Charles has revealed his plans to return to London, a day after his son Prince Harry touched down in the UK.
The Sussexes officially landed on British soil on Wednesday, marking the beginning of their next family chapter after living abroad in the US for the past six years. Meanwhile, Charles retreated from the royal spotlight earlier this month for his annual summer break in Balmoral with the royal family.
Amid the news that the Prince and Princess of Wales have officially left Balmoral after a week with the King and Queen, it's now been revealed the monarch will travel back to London next week for a special engagement at his beloved home, Clarence House.
Clarence House (@ Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Charles is expected to meet the Pakistan National Cricket Team at his royal residence on Wednesday, 2 September. Clarence House is where the King has called home with Queen Camilla in central London for the past 23 years since 2003.
#House #wednesday #balmoral
The Sussexes officially landed on British soil on Wednesday, marking the beginning of their next family chapter after living abroad in the US for the past six years. Meanwhile, Charles retreated from the royal spotlight earlier this month for his annual summer break in Balmoral with the royal family.
Amid the news that the Prince and Princess of Wales have officially left Balmoral after a week with the King and Queen, it's now been revealed the monarch will travel back to London next week for a special engagement at his beloved home, Clarence House.
Clarence House (@ Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Charles is expected to meet the Pakistan National Cricket Team at his royal residence on Wednesday, 2 September. Clarence House is where the King has called home with Queen Camilla in central London for the past 23 years since 2003.
#House #wednesday #balmoral
15 days ago
A Childless Woman Who Made Children Her Cause
Credit: Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Dolly Parton never had children of her own, but few entertainers built a more enduring legacy around helping young people. Through the Dollywood Foundation, Parton supported education, literacy and other child-focused initiatives, including a 1991 program that helped reduce a Tennessee high-school's dropout rate from 35% to 6% by offering students a $500 graduation incentive.
Her most famous effort, however, is the Imagination Library, launched in 1995 in honor of her father, who never learned to read. The program grew from a local project into an international literacy initiative, providing children with free, age-appropriate books every month.
Parton once explained her decision not to have children by saying, "God didn't let me have children so everybody's children could be mine." That philosophy became particularly meaningful through her philanthropy, which treated access to books and education as something every child should have.
#parton #program
Credit: Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA
Dolly Parton never had children of her own, but few entertainers built a more enduring legacy around helping young people. Through the Dollywood Foundation, Parton supported education, literacy and other child-focused initiatives, including a 1991 program that helped reduce a Tennessee high-school's dropout rate from 35% to 6% by offering students a $500 graduation incentive.
Her most famous effort, however, is the Imagination Library, launched in 1995 in honor of her father, who never learned to read. The program grew from a local project into an international literacy initiative, providing children with free, age-appropriate books every month.
Parton once explained her decision not to have children by saying, "God didn't let me have children so everybody's children could be mine." That philosophy became particularly meaningful through her philanthropy, which treated access to books and education as something every child should have.
#parton #program
15 days ago
Some stars are remembered for their talent, while others are admired for the human they are beyond their work. Dolly Parton stands out for both, leaving an international redditor curious about what made her so beloved. Following the country star's death on August 25, the redditor asked a simple question in a thread on r/NoStupidQuestions: what did the singer do to become so universally appreciated?
People flooded the comments to explain exactly why the star was considered an absolute treasure. Commenters share a list of reasons why her legacy goes far beyond hit songs and blockbuster movies.
Although the country superstar escaped a childhood of extreme poverty and achieved global success, she dedicated a significant portion of her wealth to uplifting her native East Tennessee. People highlight how her business ventures served as a lifeline for a struggling region.
Aside from local economic stimulus, the singer built an educational foundation that touched millions of families across the globe. Commenters admire how she heavily incentivized graduation rates and established a major book distribution network for children under 5 called the Imagination Library.
Celebrities often struggle to maintain an authentic persona off-camera, yet Parton earned a reputation for treating everyone with genuine respect behind closed doors, deflecting cruel interview questions and casually lifting up other artists.
#people #commenters #redditor #august
People flooded the comments to explain exactly why the star was considered an absolute treasure. Commenters share a list of reasons why her legacy goes far beyond hit songs and blockbuster movies.
Although the country superstar escaped a childhood of extreme poverty and achieved global success, she dedicated a significant portion of her wealth to uplifting her native East Tennessee. People highlight how her business ventures served as a lifeline for a struggling region.
Aside from local economic stimulus, the singer built an educational foundation that touched millions of families across the globe. Commenters admire how she heavily incentivized graduation rates and established a major book distribution network for children under 5 called the Imagination Library.
Celebrities often struggle to maintain an authentic persona off-camera, yet Parton earned a reputation for treating everyone with genuine respect behind closed doors, deflecting cruel interview questions and casually lifting up other artists.
#people #commenters #redditor #august
15 days ago
When news broke yesterday that Dolly Parton had died, one of the first people I thought of was my friend's 8-year-old daughter. To her, Parton wasn't simply a country star from her parents' generation. She was one of her own heroes.
The girl had recently chosen Parton for a major school project about changemakers: people who had made a positive contribution to the world. She loved Parton's music, but what impressed her most was the Imagination Library and the millions of books Parton had provided to children. Her fascination even helped inspire the family's summer trip to Dollywood.
Then my 71-year-old dad texted me about how sad he was.
"Everybody — and I mean every one of us — loved her," he wrote. "Who else has done that? Particularly in these times. We are all mourning this one. It hits hard."
He and my friend's daughter are separated by more than six decades and discovered Parton in completely different ways. Yet somehow, the superstar belonged equally to both of them.
#people #year #imagination
The girl had recently chosen Parton for a major school project about changemakers: people who had made a positive contribution to the world. She loved Parton's music, but what impressed her most was the Imagination Library and the millions of books Parton had provided to children. Her fascination even helped inspire the family's summer trip to Dollywood.
Then my 71-year-old dad texted me about how sad he was.
"Everybody — and I mean every one of us — loved her," he wrote. "Who else has done that? Particularly in these times. We are all mourning this one. It hits hard."
He and my friend's daughter are separated by more than six decades and discovered Parton in completely different ways. Yet somehow, the superstar belonged equally to both of them.
#people #year #imagination
15 days ago
J.K. Rowling had the perfect response after a critic crossed the line on her Dolly Parton tribute. The Harry Potter author fired back at multiple X users who attacked her heartfelt message honoring the late country legend.
J.K. Rowling responded on X (formerly Twitter) after critics attacked her tribute to Dolly Parton. Rowling had praised the late country legend following her death at 80 from cancer.
She wrote, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity." Rowling added, "Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck." She concluded, "RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
Many X users criticized Rowling's tribute given Parton's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Rowling's allegedly anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure in recent years. One critic responded to the tribute by writing, "It should have been you."
Rowling then shared that comment with her followers and fired back directly. She wrote, "Top tips for wishing death on people in public, b4byfirefly." She continued, "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio." The critic subsequently locked their account after Rowling's response gained traction.
#rowling
J.K. Rowling responded on X (formerly Twitter) after critics attacked her tribute to Dolly Parton. Rowling had praised the late country legend following her death at 80 from cancer.
She wrote, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity." Rowling added, "Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck." She concluded, "RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
Many X users criticized Rowling's tribute given Parton's advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Rowling's allegedly anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure in recent years. One critic responded to the tribute by writing, "It should have been you."
Rowling then shared that comment with her followers and fired back directly. She wrote, "Top tips for wishing death on people in public, b4byfirefly." She continued, "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio." The critic subsequently locked their account after Rowling's response gained traction.
#rowling
16 days ago
J.K. Rowling fired back after a critic commented, "It should have been you," on her tribute to Dolly Parton, calling out the post for publicly "wishing death" on her.
Earlier on Tuesday, the "Harry Potter" author, whose anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure, took to X to pay tribute to the late country legend, who died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Like many in the industry, Rowling had nothing but praise for the singer, actress and philanthropist, writing, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
However, given Parton's prior status as a devoted advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, many on X took umbrage with Rowling's message about the "9 to 5" star.
One scathing response appeared to catch Rowling's attention, as she shared the comment with her followers: "It should have been you."
"Top tips for wishing death on people in public," the author wrote alongside a screenshot of the critic's message. "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio."
#tribute
Earlier on Tuesday, the "Harry Potter" author, whose anti-trans views have made her a controversial figure, took to X to pay tribute to the late country legend, who died at 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Like many in the industry, Rowling had nothing but praise for the singer, actress and philanthropist, writing, "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was the best contribution to child literacy ever made by a celebrity. Our paths crossed once, in the '90s, backstage at a talk show, and I was completely tongue-tied and starstruck. RIP Dolly. You were a complete, irreplaceable one-off."
However, given Parton's prior status as a devoted advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, many on X took umbrage with Rowling's message about the "9 to 5" star.
One scathing response appeared to catch Rowling's attention, as she shared the comment with her followers: "It should have been you."
"Top tips for wishing death on people in public," the author wrote alongside a screenshot of the critic's message. "Blocking the target is useless if you've signposted your real name and university in your bio."
#tribute
16 days ago
The on-demand library it was built on is no longer the story management leads with, and the quality measure it now sets beside view hours is one the company will not detail.
Netflix (NFLX) has fallen 34.4% over the past twelve months while the S&P 500 returned 21.0%, though it is still 18.1% higher than it was twenty-four months ago. The bigger change is not in the price: the company has moved its lead story off the on-demand library it was built on and the quality side of its engagement case out of public view.
Management Used To Describe The Company Narrowly
In earlier calls management described the company narrowly: it was in the subscription entertainment business, and its core strategy was giving members exclusive first-run movies. That is no longer the whole of it. In the July 2026 call management says the definition of TV has broadened and its own has changed with it. The core TV series and film still take the vast majority of programming spend; what management foregrounds alongside them is live programming, cloud games, video podcasts, and carrying content partner TF1's local programming inside Netflix for French members. Management itself calls the expansions evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Five Percent Of Spend, One Percent Of Hours
#percent
Netflix (NFLX) has fallen 34.4% over the past twelve months while the S&P 500 returned 21.0%, though it is still 18.1% higher than it was twenty-four months ago. The bigger change is not in the price: the company has moved its lead story off the on-demand library it was built on and the quality side of its engagement case out of public view.
Management Used To Describe The Company Narrowly
In earlier calls management described the company narrowly: it was in the subscription entertainment business, and its core strategy was giving members exclusive first-run movies. That is no longer the whole of it. In the July 2026 call management says the definition of TV has broadened and its own has changed with it. The core TV series and film still take the vast majority of programming spend; what management foregrounds alongside them is live programming, cloud games, video podcasts, and carrying content partner TF1's local programming inside Netflix for French members. Management itself calls the expansions evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Five Percent Of Spend, One Percent Of Hours
#percent
16 days ago
Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its "Global Growth Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. The SGA Global Growth Portfolio returned 7.4% gross and 7.2% net, compared with 14.9% for the MSCI ACWI and 19.8% for the MSCI ACWI Growth Index. Momentum leadership and enthusiasm around AI infrastructure drove markets, with semiconductor, memory, and hardware stocks accounting for much of the gain. Although the portfolio owned AI beneficiaries, broader holdings lagged despite fundamentals, as median revenue and EPS growth reached 12% and 14% and more than 60% of the holdings beat expectations. SGA believes valuation compression reflects sentiment rather than weaker business quality, leaving the portfolio near its widest discount to the market since inception. The firm continues to favor durable compounders and expects 16% revenue growth and 20% earnings growth over three years. Also, please check the Fund's top five holdings to see its best picks for 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), a leading subscription-based streaming entertainment platform, detracted from performance during the quarter. On August 21, 2026, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) closed at $79.59 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $331.41 billion. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) posted a one‑month return of 13.05%, while its shares lost 34.66% over the past 52 weeks.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) was a detractor from returns during the quarter after the stock came under pressure despite reporting solid first quarter results in April. Revenue grew 16% year-over-year, or 14% excluding FX, and operating income rose 18%, supported by strong growth in APAC and Latin America. Second quarter revenue guidance came in roughly 1% below expectations and EBIT guidance was 5% light due to content amortization timing. Management maintained full-year guidance of 11% to 13% revenue growth (excluding FX) and approximately 20% profit growth rather than raising it, which disappointed some investors who had anticipated a lift following the recent price hike and the removal of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal overhang. With the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition now behind it, management can refocus on the core business and deploy excess free cash flow toward AI investment and buybacks, including a new $25 billion authorization. The company continues to expand its mobile and content initiatives, while evaluating longer-term opportunities in advertising and AI-driven production tools. Over the long term, Netflix benefits from a recurring subscription model with low churn and demonstrated pricing power, supported by a broad and growing content library and meaningful global growth opportu
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, SGA Global Growth Strategy highlighted Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), a leading subscription-based streaming entertainment platform, detracted from performance during the quarter. On August 21, 2026, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) closed at $79.59 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $331.41 billion. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) posted a one‑month return of 13.05%, while its shares lost 34.66% over the past 52 weeks.
SGA Global Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) was a detractor from returns during the quarter after the stock came under pressure despite reporting solid first quarter results in April. Revenue grew 16% year-over-year, or 14% excluding FX, and operating income rose 18%, supported by strong growth in APAC and Latin America. Second quarter revenue guidance came in roughly 1% below expectations and EBIT guidance was 5% light due to content amortization timing. Management maintained full-year guidance of 11% to 13% revenue growth (excluding FX) and approximately 20% profit growth rather than raising it, which disappointed some investors who had anticipated a lift following the recent price hike and the removal of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal overhang. With the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition now behind it, management can refocus on the core business and deploy excess free cash flow toward AI investment and buybacks, including a new $25 billion authorization. The company continues to expand its mobile and content initiatives, while evaluating longer-term opportunities in advertising and AI-driven production tools. Over the long term, Netflix benefits from a recurring subscription model with low churn and demonstrated pricing power, supported by a broad and growing content library and meaningful global growth opportu
16 days ago
A new exhibition on Princess Diana in Washington, D.C., will bring together 700 artifacts related to the late Princess of Wales
The exhibit will bring together Diana's dress from her famous dance with John Travolta and the gown that Nancy Reagan wore for the state dinner at the White House
Renae Plant of the Princess Diana Museum tells PEOPLE, "This shows a trajectory of her life from her birth to when she sadly passed away. One by one, I have put this together"
The story of Princess Diana, told through more than 700 artifacts, is coming to the nation's capital in the fall, PEOPLE reveals.
Held at the Ronald Reagan Library in Washington, D.C., from November 7 to May 2027, a new exhibition called Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving showcases everything from dresses to handwritten letters and childhood treasures.
#princess #life #people
The exhibit will bring together Diana's dress from her famous dance with John Travolta and the gown that Nancy Reagan wore for the state dinner at the White House
Renae Plant of the Princess Diana Museum tells PEOPLE, "This shows a trajectory of her life from her birth to when she sadly passed away. One by one, I have put this together"
The story of Princess Diana, told through more than 700 artifacts, is coming to the nation's capital in the fall, PEOPLE reveals.
Held at the Ronald Reagan Library in Washington, D.C., from November 7 to May 2027, a new exhibition called Princess Diana: Love Life Legacy — A Life of Giving showcases everything from dresses to handwritten letters and childhood treasures.
#princess #life #people
17 days ago
"Reading Rainbow" host Mychal Threets is sharing an update after seeking help for his mental health.
Threets, a librarian and social media personality known for promoting "library joy," said in a video shared on Threads that he had returned home following his hospitalization under a five-day psychiatric hold.
"I just wanted to apologize for worrying so many people," Threets said. "I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold. I haven't been okay for what feels like a very, very long time. I am not OK. But I have hope I will get to OK."
James Patterson and joyful librarian Mychal Threets talk new librarians and book bans
Threets thanked the doctors, nurses and mental health workers who cared for him during his hospital stay, telling them, "You saved my life."
#threets #mychal
Threets, a librarian and social media personality known for promoting "library joy," said in a video shared on Threads that he had returned home following his hospitalization under a five-day psychiatric hold.
"I just wanted to apologize for worrying so many people," Threets said. "I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold. I haven't been okay for what feels like a very, very long time. I am not OK. But I have hope I will get to OK."
James Patterson and joyful librarian Mychal Threets talk new librarians and book bans
Threets thanked the doctors, nurses and mental health workers who cared for him during his hospital stay, telling them, "You saved my life."
#threets #mychal
17 days ago
The enduring bond between Sarah Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has long fascinated the public, not just because of their royal status, but due to their decision to continue sharing a home years after their split.
Fergie famously dubbed them "the happiest divorced couple," backed by a surprising choice behind palace doors. Though one of the driving forces behind their divorce was Sarah's need to pursue commercial work, a job forbidden to working royals, she chose not to push for a massive financial payout from Queen Elizabeth II.
Sarah and Andrew maintained a close bond even after their divorce in 1996 (@ Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Instead, her only request from the monarch was her ongoing friendship. In an interview with Harpers Bazaar in 2007, Sarah recalled that she asked for "friendship, not money."
Sarah said: "When I met with Her Majesty about it, she asked, 'What do you require, Sarah?' and I said, 'Your friendship,' which I think amazed her because everyone said I would demand a big settlement. But I wanted to be able to say, 'Her Majesty is my friend.'
#bond #divorce #asked
Fergie famously dubbed them "the happiest divorced couple," backed by a surprising choice behind palace doors. Though one of the driving forces behind their divorce was Sarah's need to pursue commercial work, a job forbidden to working royals, she chose not to push for a massive financial payout from Queen Elizabeth II.
Sarah and Andrew maintained a close bond even after their divorce in 1996 (@ Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Instead, her only request from the monarch was her ongoing friendship. In an interview with Harpers Bazaar in 2007, Sarah recalled that she asked for "friendship, not money."
Sarah said: "When I met with Her Majesty about it, she asked, 'What do you require, Sarah?' and I said, 'Your friendship,' which I think amazed her because everyone said I would demand a big settlement. But I wanted to be able to say, 'Her Majesty is my friend.'
#bond #divorce #asked
17 days ago
Queen Camilla reportedly felt she had "won that particular fight" after closing the popularity gap with Kate Middleton. The Queen is said to have gained confidence during her four-day U.S. tour with King Charles, with a source claiming the trip changed her perspective on her public standing. The alleged rivalry was reportedly less about royal protocol and more about public attention, headlines, and long-term affection for the two royals.
According to a RadarOnline report, Queen Camilla reportedly returned from her recent U.S. visit feeling victorious after what was described as a shift in her public standing. The four-day trip included appearances alongside King Charles, President Donald Trump, and Melania Trump, as well as a gathering with Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker at the New York Public Library.
One royal source claimed Camilla came home with "a renewed sense of confidence" about her place within the monarchy. Meanwhile, an insider claimed Kate Middleton had long represented a difficult benchmark for Camilla because of the Princess of Wales' popularity.
The source said Middleton attracted "a level of excitement and affection" that often overshadowed other members of the Royal Family. However, the reception Camilla received during her U.S. visit reportedly changed her perspective. The insider claimed she felt people were "genuinely interested in her," rather than simply viewing her as King Charles' wife. They added that Queen Camilla now believed she had "established her own place" in the public's affection.
Still, another Palace source suggested Camilla's confidence came after years of intense public scrutiny. The insider said she never forgot "how uncertain her position once was." They added that she had watched Kate become admired "almost effortlessly."
#charles #source
According to a RadarOnline report, Queen Camilla reportedly returned from her recent U.S. visit feeling victorious after what was described as a shift in her public standing. The four-day trip included appearances alongside King Charles, President Donald Trump, and Melania Trump, as well as a gathering with Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker at the New York Public Library.
One royal source claimed Camilla came home with "a renewed sense of confidence" about her place within the monarchy. Meanwhile, an insider claimed Kate Middleton had long represented a difficult benchmark for Camilla because of the Princess of Wales' popularity.
The source said Middleton attracted "a level of excitement and affection" that often overshadowed other members of the Royal Family. However, the reception Camilla received during her U.S. visit reportedly changed her perspective. The insider claimed she felt people were "genuinely interested in her," rather than simply viewing her as King Charles' wife. They added that Queen Camilla now believed she had "established her own place" in the public's affection.
Still, another Palace source suggested Camilla's confidence came after years of intense public scrutiny. The insider said she never forgot "how uncertain her position once was." They added that she had watched Kate become admired "almost effortlessly."
#charles #source
17 days ago
Investors today must choose between the established social influence of Reddit (NYSE:RDDT) and the experimental computing potential of Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI). Which of these tech-driven businesses represents the better addition to your portfolio?
Reddit uses its massive library of human conversation to drive advertising and licensing revenue. Rigetti develops advanced hardware designed to solve problems too complex for standard computers. This comparison explores whether you should favor a profitable community platform or a speculative leap into the next generation of digital infrastructure.
Reddit operates a vast platform of over 45,000 active communities where users share information and opinions. The company primarily makes money through digital advertising, but it also generates revenue by licensing its data to companies like Google parent Alphabet for training artificial intelligence. Customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business, as its top ten largest advertisers accounted for approximately 21% of revenue in 2025.
Reddit experienced a significant financial transformation recently. In its 2025 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $2.2 billion, representing growth of 69.4% compared to the previous year. The company also turned profitable, reporting net income of $529.7 million, which equals a net margin of 24.1%.
The company maintains a very strong liquidity position. As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is zero, and the current ratio is 11.6x. A current ratio measures a company's ability to cover short-term debts with short-term ******* ets, with higher numbers suggesting more flexibility. Free cash flow, which is cash from operations minus capital expenditures, was $684.2 million in FY 2025. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented 49.7% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.
#flow #licensing
Reddit uses its massive library of human conversation to drive advertising and licensing revenue. Rigetti develops advanced hardware designed to solve problems too complex for standard computers. This comparison explores whether you should favor a profitable community platform or a speculative leap into the next generation of digital infrastructure.
Reddit operates a vast platform of over 45,000 active communities where users share information and opinions. The company primarily makes money through digital advertising, but it also generates revenue by licensing its data to companies like Google parent Alphabet for training artificial intelligence. Customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business, as its top ten largest advertisers accounted for approximately 21% of revenue in 2025.
Reddit experienced a significant financial transformation recently. In its 2025 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $2.2 billion, representing growth of 69.4% compared to the previous year. The company also turned profitable, reporting net income of $529.7 million, which equals a net margin of 24.1%.
The company maintains a very strong liquidity position. As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is zero, and the current ratio is 11.6x. A current ratio measures a company's ability to cover short-term debts with short-term ******* ets, with higher numbers suggesting more flexibility. Free cash flow, which is cash from operations minus capital expenditures, was $684.2 million in FY 2025. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented 49.7% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.
#flow #licensing
1 month ago
Last week, David Ellison's Paramount Skydance agreed to delay the closing of its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery until June 2027 as it confronts a legal challenge from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general. The delay gives the companies more time to defend the transaction in court. It also gives almost everything that threatens the transaction more time to get worse.
Paramount already faces an imposing collection of headwinds: shifting legal counsel, declining cable subscriptions, a fragile architecture of financing and an impending "ticking fee" that will increase the cost of delay. But the company's greatest challenge in the year ahead may be time itself. As Vince Lombardi reportedly said after a close loss: "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." Hollywood has seen this movie before, and only a decade ago.
AT&T announced its agreement to acquire Time Warner in October 2016. The Justice Department sued to block the transaction in November 2017, forcing the companies into a lengthy legal battle before AT&T finally completed the acquisition in June 2018.
While AT&T and Time Warner fought in court and then struggled to integrate their operations, an emboldened Disney moved with greater strategic clarity. Disney announced its agreement to acquire most of 21st Century Fox in December 2017, completed the acquisition in March 2019 and launched Disney+ that November. HBO Max did not launch until May 2020.
The significance was not merely that Disney's service arrived six months earlier. Disney had used the Fox acquisition to strengthen its content library, ******* ume control of Hulu and build a clear consumer proposition around Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
#time #acquisition
Paramount already faces an imposing collection of headwinds: shifting legal counsel, declining cable subscriptions, a fragile architecture of financing and an impending "ticking fee" that will increase the cost of delay. But the company's greatest challenge in the year ahead may be time itself. As Vince Lombardi reportedly said after a close loss: "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time." Hollywood has seen this movie before, and only a decade ago.
AT&T announced its agreement to acquire Time Warner in October 2016. The Justice Department sued to block the transaction in November 2017, forcing the companies into a lengthy legal battle before AT&T finally completed the acquisition in June 2018.
While AT&T and Time Warner fought in court and then struggled to integrate their operations, an emboldened Disney moved with greater strategic clarity. Disney announced its agreement to acquire most of 21st Century Fox in December 2017, completed the acquisition in March 2019 and launched Disney+ that November. HBO Max did not launch until May 2020.
The significance was not merely that Disney's service arrived six months earlier. Disney had used the Fox acquisition to strengthen its content library, ******* ume control of Hulu and build a clear consumer proposition around Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.
#time #acquisition
1 month ago
In 2007, actor and comedian Robin Williams traveled to Kuwait for an appearance at Camp Arifjan.
Williams was doing his best to entertain the troops when they suddenly stopped paying attention to the stage. They immediately shifted their focus behind them to render honors as the American flag was lowered. Williams wasn't so much offended as mildly perplexed. At first, he didn't understand what was going on.
Related: Bob Hope entertained the troops from WWII to Desert Storm
Once the service members explained it to Williams, he brought it back to why he traveled 8,000 miles from home.
"Sort of reminds you why we're here, doesn't it?" Williams replied, according to a 2014 Defense Department article.
Here are seven celebrities who were committed to showing their appreciation for the United States military.
Bob Hope (middle) and his USO troupe visit a hospital ward in the South Pacific in 1944. (Library of Congress)
We start with the OG of military entertainers. Hope performed for troops domestically and overseas for five decades, beginning with a performance at March Field in California in 1941. Hope, whose "Road to…" films with Bing Crosby became popular with moviegoers, never tired of traveling to see troops.
His 57 tours with the United Service Organizations conveyed his appreciation to his adopted country. Born in London in 1903, Hope moved to America at an early age. He became a U.S. citizen when he was 17 years old.
"He brought such enthusiasm, brought your life back to you," Navy Seabee Ron Ronning said of Hope's last USO show during the Vietnam War in late 1972. "You felt like you were renewed."
Hope died on July 27, 2003, at the age of 100.
Country singer/songwriter Toby Keith salutes more than 1,000 service members who came to see his concert at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 27, 2009. (U.S. Army/Capt. Michael Greenberger)
Lee Greenwood has "God Bless the USA," perhaps the quintessential patriotic song. Few singers, though, compiled a music catalog that honored the military quite like Keith.
The "American Soldier," "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue," and "Call a Marine" singer participated in 18 USO tours. By one estimate, he performed in front of 250,000-plus troops in 17 countries. When mortar fire interrupted a set in Afghanistan, Keith left the stage. He and troops sprinted about a hundred yards to a concrete bunker. There, he signed autographs until he could return to doing what he did best.
"I've met so many great, brave service men and women over the years and had so many wonderful experiences, that I can barely remember them all," Keith said in 2012. "… I won't ever stop doing my part to extend my thanks."
Keith died in 2024 at the age of 62.
#williams
Williams was doing his best to entertain the troops when they suddenly stopped paying attention to the stage. They immediately shifted their focus behind them to render honors as the American flag was lowered. Williams wasn't so much offended as mildly perplexed. At first, he didn't understand what was going on.
Related: Bob Hope entertained the troops from WWII to Desert Storm
Once the service members explained it to Williams, he brought it back to why he traveled 8,000 miles from home.
"Sort of reminds you why we're here, doesn't it?" Williams replied, according to a 2014 Defense Department article.
Here are seven celebrities who were committed to showing their appreciation for the United States military.
Bob Hope (middle) and his USO troupe visit a hospital ward in the South Pacific in 1944. (Library of Congress)
We start with the OG of military entertainers. Hope performed for troops domestically and overseas for five decades, beginning with a performance at March Field in California in 1941. Hope, whose "Road to…" films with Bing Crosby became popular with moviegoers, never tired of traveling to see troops.
His 57 tours with the United Service Organizations conveyed his appreciation to his adopted country. Born in London in 1903, Hope moved to America at an early age. He became a U.S. citizen when he was 17 years old.
"He brought such enthusiasm, brought your life back to you," Navy Seabee Ron Ronning said of Hope's last USO show during the Vietnam War in late 1972. "You felt like you were renewed."
Hope died on July 27, 2003, at the age of 100.
Country singer/songwriter Toby Keith salutes more than 1,000 service members who came to see his concert at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 27, 2009. (U.S. Army/Capt. Michael Greenberger)
Lee Greenwood has "God Bless the USA," perhaps the quintessential patriotic song. Few singers, though, compiled a music catalog that honored the military quite like Keith.
The "American Soldier," "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue," and "Call a Marine" singer participated in 18 USO tours. By one estimate, he performed in front of 250,000-plus troops in 17 countries. When mortar fire interrupted a set in Afghanistan, Keith left the stage. He and troops sprinted about a hundred yards to a concrete bunker. There, he signed autographs until he could return to doing what he did best.
"I've met so many great, brave service men and women over the years and had so many wonderful experiences, that I can barely remember them all," Keith said in 2012. "… I won't ever stop doing my part to extend my thanks."
Keith died in 2024 at the age of 62.
#williams
1 month ago
Circle—the company behind USDC (the digital dollar used by millions worldwide for payments, savings, and international transfers)—just bought the blockchain patent library IBM spent more than a decade building. The deal, announced July 27, hands Circle over 1,000 blockchain patents issued by IBM worldwide.
Patents are legal rights that give the holder exclusive control over a specific invention. If you hold a patent on a method for processing transactions on a blockchain—the shared digital ledger where crypto activity is permanently recorded and can't be altered—you get to decide who else uses it and on what terms. IBM had been building that kind of leverage since its mid-2010s enterprise blockchain push.
By December 2025, patent ******* ytics firm PatSnap credited IBM with 790 U.S. blockchain patents—more than any other American company, with Bank of America a distant second at roughly 200. Circle, which received its first-ever patent in December 2023 (covering parallel blockchain data processing—a technique for verifying multiple groups of transactions simultaneously), went from essentially zero to the top of the U.S. rankings overnight.
"The portfolio comprises over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide, spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations," Circle said in its official announcement.
Circle plans to put them to work across its entire stack. "The expanded IP position directly supports Circle's foundation for building the internet financial system, including USDC, Circle Payments Network, Arc, and a growing suite of onchain products and agentic financial tools," the company added. Arc is Circle's own payment-focused blockchain built for institutional finance. The agentic tools are AI-powered software programs that can execute financial transactions autonomously—no human required for each step.
#building
Patents are legal rights that give the holder exclusive control over a specific invention. If you hold a patent on a method for processing transactions on a blockchain—the shared digital ledger where crypto activity is permanently recorded and can't be altered—you get to decide who else uses it and on what terms. IBM had been building that kind of leverage since its mid-2010s enterprise blockchain push.
By December 2025, patent ******* ytics firm PatSnap credited IBM with 790 U.S. blockchain patents—more than any other American company, with Bank of America a distant second at roughly 200. Circle, which received its first-ever patent in December 2023 (covering parallel blockchain data processing—a technique for verifying multiple groups of transactions simultaneously), went from essentially zero to the top of the U.S. rankings overnight.
"The portfolio comprises over 680 patent families and nearly 1,000 issued patents worldwide, spanning foundational blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure, supply chain verification, and secure cloud operations," Circle said in its official announcement.
Circle plans to put them to work across its entire stack. "The expanded IP position directly supports Circle's foundation for building the internet financial system, including USDC, Circle Payments Network, Arc, and a growing suite of onchain products and agentic financial tools," the company added. Arc is Circle's own payment-focused blockchain built for institutional finance. The agentic tools are AI-powered software programs that can execute financial transactions autonomously—no human required for each step.
#building
2 months ago
More than a decade after a Texas woman was found stabbed roughly 100 times in her apartment, a real estate agent is behind bars without bond, facing capital murder charges.
Mayra Velasquez, 42, was booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center July 17 in the killing of Irasema Chavez, according to the Arlington Police Department and county jail records.
Chavez, 32, was found dead Jan. 20, 2012, inside her second-floor apartment in the 2700 block of South Collins Street. Investigators said there were no obvious signs of forced entry, raising the possibility that Chavez knew the person who killed her or willingly opened the door.
Dna Cracks 40-Year Cold Case Mystery With Arrest In Library Worker's Savage Slaying: Police
Mayra Velasquez, 42, has been charged with murder in the 2012 killing of 32-year-old Irasema Chavez.
#mayra #velasquez #irasema #county
Mayra Velasquez, 42, was booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center July 17 in the killing of Irasema Chavez, according to the Arlington Police Department and county jail records.
Chavez, 32, was found dead Jan. 20, 2012, inside her second-floor apartment in the 2700 block of South Collins Street. Investigators said there were no obvious signs of forced entry, raising the possibility that Chavez knew the person who killed her or willingly opened the door.
Dna Cracks 40-Year Cold Case Mystery With Arrest In Library Worker's Savage Slaying: Police
Mayra Velasquez, 42, has been charged with murder in the 2012 killing of 32-year-old Irasema Chavez.
#mayra #velasquez #irasema #county
2 months ago
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the 10 Best Stocks to Buy in 2026 According to Billionaire D.E. Shaw.
2026 hasn't been kind to AI GPU giant NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s shares, as they are up by a modest 9.6% year-to-date. With the shares currently trading around the $207 mark, Bank of America discussed the firm on July 8th as it reiterated a Buy rating and a $350 share price target. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) was in the news recently after ***** eX announced its Grok 4.5 model and revealed that it was trained on tens of thousands of NVIDIA AI chips. Throughout the year, even though rivals such as Google and Amazon have touted their custom AI chips, NVIDIA's products have remained the leaders when it comes to performance.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s own GR00T made inroads into the robotics sector recently after the firm announced a collaboration with Hugging Face to integrate its physical AI capabilities into the LeRobot open source robotics library. The partnership will allow users to consolidate human data, model fine tuning and behavior validation in a single platform.
Antipodes Global Strategy discussed NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"The opportunity in NVIDIA has been created from the market's extrapolation of near-term AI uncertainty, despite a structural demand inflection for the world's dominant AI infrastructure provider. On our estimates NVDA trades on a 2027 multiple of 13x. Management now guides at least $1 trillion in AI infrastructure demand through 2027 — double the $500bn signalled twelve months ago — and frames this as a floor with NVDA the main beneficiary underpinned by the CUDA installed base. Revenue is also diversifying beyond hyperscalers, with sovereign clouds, enterprise, and robotics growing while the SaaS-to-agentic transition represents a further enterprise IT monetisation opportunity."
2026 hasn't been kind to AI GPU giant NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s shares, as they are up by a modest 9.6% year-to-date. With the shares currently trading around the $207 mark, Bank of America discussed the firm on July 8th as it reiterated a Buy rating and a $350 share price target. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) was in the news recently after ***** eX announced its Grok 4.5 model and revealed that it was trained on tens of thousands of NVIDIA AI chips. Throughout the year, even though rivals such as Google and Amazon have touted their custom AI chips, NVIDIA's products have remained the leaders when it comes to performance.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s own GR00T made inroads into the robotics sector recently after the firm announced a collaboration with Hugging Face to integrate its physical AI capabilities into the LeRobot open source robotics library. The partnership will allow users to consolidate human data, model fine tuning and behavior validation in a single platform.
Antipodes Global Strategy discussed NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"The opportunity in NVIDIA has been created from the market's extrapolation of near-term AI uncertainty, despite a structural demand inflection for the world's dominant AI infrastructure provider. On our estimates NVDA trades on a 2027 multiple of 13x. Management now guides at least $1 trillion in AI infrastructure demand through 2027 — double the $500bn signalled twelve months ago — and frames this as a floor with NVDA the main beneficiary underpinned by the CUDA installed base. Revenue is also diversifying beyond hyperscalers, with sovereign clouds, enterprise, and robotics growing while the SaaS-to-agentic transition represents a further enterprise IT monetisation opportunity."
