Peloton reduced the price of its digital-only memberships and launched on Amazon Fire TV and Apple Watch apps so members can access workouts outside of owning a Peloton bike.

The high-end exercise bike company announced the app additions on Wednesday. Peloton is also dropping its pricing for digital memberships from $19 to $13 a month, according to CNBC.

Peloton wants to be everywhere you are, from your wrist to your phone or tablet, or even to your TV, to make your workout experience even better, the blog post reads.

For Apple Watch users, the Peloton app will provide metrics like heart rate and pace and distance. You will also be able to see how much time remains on your Peloton workout.

The Amazon Fire TV integration will allow users to directly access the Peloton app onto their smart TV to take a variety of classes like strength, yoga, stretching, and more.

Digital Trends reached out to Peloton to find out if more app integrations will happen in the future such as for Android smartwatches or other smart TVs and well update this story once we hear back.

The digital membership is leaps and bounds cheaper than owning a Peloton bike, which starts at $2,245, plus an additional $39 a month to access 24-hour cycling classes. CNBC reports that the company is looking to move away from having its core user base as cyclers to cater to a broader fitness audience with more accessible price points.

While the company is known for its high-end luxury bikes and devoted fitness following, one of its holiday commercials has gone viral, and not necessarily for a good reason. Many people have called the 30-second clip sexist and that it has a distinct theme of the husband subtly telling his wife to lose weight. Peloton has since responded to the backlash of the ad, saying it was meant to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey.

Peloton has revolutionized exercise bikes and fitness tech, bringing all the tech of an in-class spinning experience into your living room. Its by and large the most expensive bike on the market, but with it, you get 24-hour access to studio cycling classes.

Excerpt from:
Peloton adds Fire TV and Apple Watch integration while reducing pricing - Digital Trends

Your plans have arrived. This week, you can browse tons of unique designs at Sticker Drop and Workshop, find a perfect gift for a loved one at Tempe Festival of the Arts, or sample some of the best tamales the Valley has to offer at Tamale Festival.For more things to do, visit Phoenix New Times calendar.

Talk storytelling with Michelle Malonzo.

Piper Center

Once a month, literature nerds descend on the Reading Room at Valley Bar, 130 North Central Avenue. This month, theyll be discussing who gets to tell which stories, and why. The free Get Lit: Who Can Tell a Storysalon with Michelle Malonzo happens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. Expect a lively discussion about who gets to tell the stories of marginalized experience.

Can authors tell these stories if they havent lived them? Does doing research make it acceptable? What about being an ally? And when does a book about marginalized experience raise awareness, rather than simply profiting from it? Register online if youre attending, so organizers know how many people to expect. Lynn Trimble

The Valleys hip-hop scene is a tight-knit group, with MCs and other artists regularly banding together to uplift and celebrate the community. This holiday season, several constituents are going one step further by hosting a combination concert and toy drive. The charitable event will feature performances from a slew of local and regional rappers and singers, including J-Luv and Blaze Rock, AkReshon, Joe Louis, Prophetiko, and Rap Van Damme. And all you need to get in the door? An unopened present. Talk about another gift that keeps on giving.

The 21-and over concert is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, at Yucca Tap Room, 29 West Southern Avenue in Tempe. Chris Coplan

It's time to celebrate 10 years.

RPM Orchestra

The RPM Orchestra are marking their 10-year anniversary with an immersive performance at Langmade Project Space, 1345 West McKinley Street. Its happening at 10:15 p.m. on December 6, after most of the First Friday art shows have closed up for the night. The quintet perform proto-Industrial Americana music and create original soundtracks for silent films.

Theyre ramping it up for First Friday, by screening two experimental films and adding a stilt-walking percussion performance to the mix. Even ritual troupe Arcane Collective will be part of the action, and youll also get to experience a sonic performance featuring sounds recorded in Civic Space Park. The performance is pay what you wish. Visit RPM Orchestra on Facebook. Lynn Trimble

Get your sticker fix.

Wasted Ink Zine Distro

You can never have too many stickers. So mark your calendar for Friday, December 6. Thats when Wasted Ink Zine Distro will be celebrating five years on the local lit scene with a sticker drop and workshop. Look for designs by diverse zine creators and other artists, which make fabulous additions to everything from books to bikes.

The free event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Hive, 2222 North 16th Street. Youll find six zine creators tabling in the courtyard, where you can also enjoy food and conversation with fellow sticker geeks. Explore art inside the nearby gallery, or shop local businesses at The Hive while youre there. Lynn Trimble

This holiday season, you could watch movies with a mischievous man-elf, a cranky old man visited by ghosts, or the one with Jimmy Stewart. For a change of pace, consider catching a screening of the 1974 slasher flick Black Christmas. Here, a gaggle of young sorority girls are threatened by the deranged phone calls of a certifiable psycho killer. But then they all come together to teach him the true meaning of Christmas just kidding, its a bloody horror movie, sillies. God bless us, everyone!

The screening is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6, at FilmBar, 815 North Second Street. Tickets are $10. Chris Coplan

Having fun along Mill Avenue.

Lynn Trimble

Tempe Festival of the Arts returns to Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe on Friday, December 6. Thats your first chance to explore more than 300 artist booths, featuring works in more than a dozen mediums including painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and more. Look for local artists while youre there, and bring your holiday shopping list. Friday festival hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Festival offerings include a kids zone complete with a youth art exhibition and hands-on art activities, plus live music, street performers, and a chalk art competition. Fourteen artists will be making chalk on Fourth Avenue west of Mill Avenue, inspired by the theme a stitch in time. Admission is free. Lynn Trimble

Weaam Abbas artwork from a World Refugee Day exhibit.

Lynn Trimble

If youre eager to support businesses owned by local immigrants and refugees, block out some time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 7. Thats when Local First Arizona and several community partners are presenting a free event called World Bazaar Phoenix. The event brings together artisans who make jewelry, clothing, baskets, and accessories, so you can shop local with global flair.

Youll experience live music and dance from Africa, Asia, and Latin America while you shop. More than 50 vendors are participating, so its an easy way to tick off all those names on your holiday gift list. Bring extra money for food and drink. Lynn Trimble

The Grinch was spotted at the APS Electric Light Parade in the past.

New Times Archive

The Valley doesnt have regular snowfall to mark the holiday season. We do, however, have the APS Electric Light Parade. For its 33rd edition, parade promoters have chosen the theme of Walking in a Desert Wonderland, which seems perfect given temperatures average a brisk 70 degrees. The parade begins at Central and Montebello avenues, heads south to Camelback Road, and turns left at Seventh Street before winding down on Indian School Road. Or, skip the festivities and just check out the pre-parade gathering, where youll peruse the floats up close and personal.

The parade begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 7. The pre-parade party, meanwhile, is set for 5:30 p.m. at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 North Central Avenue. Chris Coplan

Tamales are the cornerstone of the holiday season.

Shutterstock

Tamales check every box for the perfect meal. Theyre steeped in rich tradition, tasty whether filled with pork or portobello, and super-convenient to eat. Food Citys ownTamale Festivalis the perfect way to celebrate this dynamic food. The event will not only feature dozens of local tamale vendors, but Food City is previewing several new flavors set to debut in time for this holiday season. And when youre not eating tamales by the handful, enjoy performances by local ballet folklorico dancers and mariachi bands.

The totally free festival is set for Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8, at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 201 West Washington Street. Festivities run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Chris Coplan

Libraries long have been a place to get your geek on, thanks to their wealth of lendable media and ephemera covering a multitude of subject matters. So it seems fitting that the Velma Teague Library, 7010 North 58th Avenue in Glendale, would host an event like LibCon West, an afternoon-long geek extravaganza happening on Saturday, December 7.

Various geeky activities will be offered, including programming focusing on gaming, fandom, and cosplay. The pirates of The DREAD Fleet will also present a live show, and local bands Dratini on the Rocks and the Driftwood Quintet will perform geek-oriented music selections. Vendors, special guests, and a scavenger hunt is also planned. The con will cap off with a Lightsaber Walk led by the Jedi of Syndicate Saber through the streets of downtown Glendale.

The nerdy fun starts at noon and goes until 5 p.m. Admission is free. Benjamin Leatherman

2000 Foot Turtle doing their thing on stage.

Mirna Estrada

For most cities, early December isnt ideal for family-style gatherings (unless wintry hellscapes are your bag). But this is Phoenix, and so its only natural the team at The Trunk Space would host the annualWinter Fest. That day, over a dozen bands will hit the stage, including 2000 Foot Turtle, DOMS, No Lungs, Just Another Day, Tullis, and Commiserate, with several sets featuring a joyous selection of holiday tunes. Then, enjoy the local artists, tasty treats, and other family-friendly activities. Have fun with your massive snowstorms, the rest of America.

The fest is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, at 1124 North Third Street. Tickets are $6, and kids 12 and under get in free. Chris Coplan

Cast for Black Nativity.

Black Theatre Troupe

American poet Langston Hughes transformed the traditional Nativity story for the stage. Hughes Black Nativity, first performed Off-Broadway in 1961, features an all-black cast performing traditional Christmas carols with a gospel twist.

Black Theatre Troupe will perform its original production of Black Nativityat 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. The performance is a lively celebration of hope, joy, and liberation. Its part of a 12-show run that continues through Sunday, December 22. Black Theatre Troupe performs at the Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 East Washington Street. Tickets to the show are $41. Lynn Trimble

A little girl named Rosie was forced to leave her violin behind during World War II as her family fled the ravages of war. Decades later, the German immigrant founded Rosies House, a nonprofit that provides free music education for youth living in the inner city in Phoenix. Children develop character and music skills through various music classes, including choir, piano, mariachi, strings, and more.

Every holiday season, they perform a free concert for the community. Its a way for young musicians to share what theyve learned and experienced the thrill of hearing a live audience reaction. This years Annual Holiday Concert takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. Its happening inside Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park. Lynn Trimble

Passengers on the Titanic were thinking big back in 1912 when they set off on the journey that ended in tragedy. Their ship was billed as unsinkable. But an iceberg proved that theory wrong, leaving more than 1,500 passengers dead in its wake. Theres an exhibition that tells the Titanics story of its sinking and the lives of those on board through artifacts and other objects.

SeeTitanic: The Artifact Exhibitionat Odysea in the Desert, 9500 East Via de Ventura in Scottsdale. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, December 9. Timed tickets are available online. Adult tickets are $20.95 online or $24.95 at the door. The last admission is 45 minutes before closing. Lynn Trimble

Add a little poetry to your life.

Rinky Dink Press

Rinky Dink Pressis celebrating its third birthday this month with the launch of 10 new micro-collections. Each one has a different author whose work you can fit inside your pocket, so youre never far from poetic inspiration. The launch happens at Trans Am Caf,1506 Grand Avenue, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 9.

The evening includes readings by six poets, plus select alumni writers from prior collections. The party is free, but youll need $1 for every tiny collection you want to take home. Feel free to wear your party hat. But fair warning: PBS will be filming the event. Lynn Trimble

Perhaps youve been fooled by the festive decorations or the touching finale, but Home Aloneis more of a horror flick than a holiday classic. Not because poor Kevin McCallister is left all alone to fend for himself against nasty burglars. No, its because of how utterly prepared he is to thwart Harry and Marv in the most violent means possible. That little bugger is a demon who shouldve been abandoned far sooner.

Could this analysis help with this weeks Home Alonetrivia? Guess youll find out starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, at Growler USA, 5415 East High Street. Register your team, or Old Man Marley will eat your fingers or something. Chris Coplan

If food is what you know, then write about it.

Julio C?sar Morales

Writing experts often recommend writing what you know. For most people, food is right up there. Its a fraught topic for some this time of year, as picky eaters gather around holiday dinner tables and doting cooks insist that everyone take a second helping. For others, family gatherings around food bring moments of discovery or joy.

Whatever your relationship with family and food, writing is one way to explore your thoughts and feelings a bit deeper this time of year. Duane Roen is teaching a workshop called Writing About Family and Food from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11. Its taking place inside Library Room B at Tempe Public Library, 3500 South Rural Road in Tempe. The workshop is free, and no registration is required. Lynn Trimble

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.

Jim Louvau

The Phoenix Suns recently detailed longstanding plans for a $230 million renovation to Talking Stick Resort Arena, complete with a new scoreboard, sound system, and fancy sports bar. Does the teams record merit such an investment? Sitting near the middle of the Western Conference, our boys could achieve a .500 record for the first time in years. Will said renovation ever improve the Suns chances of one day securing a much-lauded championship? Stranger things have certainly happened.

Contemplate these questions and more when the Suns do battle with the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, at 201 East Jefferson Street. Chris Coplan

View post:
The Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week - Phoenix New Times

Welcome to your first look at what Netflix has in store for you for the final month of 2019. This ongoing post will be looking into everything scheduled to release on Netflix in the US throughout December 2019.

As always, Netflix gives but it also loses plenty of titles. Two big Disney titles are due to depart throughout December including Star Wars Episode 8 and Thor Ragnarok. Well also see the departure of the entire BBC Earth library and BBCs Merlin.

For more information on all the Netflix Originals coming in December (there are a lot) then we recommend reading our extended guide.

Note: this list now includes most of what Netflix officially announced to release on the platform. Well continue to update daily with newly announced titles.

Note: full list of December 1st additions.

V-Wars arrives on December 5th

The Two Popes Picture: Netflix

You Season 2

See original here:
Whats Coming to Netflix in December 2019 - What's on Netflix

10. Green Bay Packers (9-3): "I'm not as high on Green Bay as everybody else is. The Packers offense gains 140 yards LESS per game on the road this season -- that's the worst in the NFL, and a disturbing stat. They're 28th in total defense. When you get to December this is when the best coaching staffs start to take over and I'm not sure Matt Lafleur is an elite coach. Can they play well when they're on the road and uncomfortable? They're not as good on the road and they're not as good against physical teams."

9. Buffalo Bills (9-3): "This is NOT a Super Bowl team but it's a great story. They know who they are and they know what they're not. They figured out what their quarterback does very well and they let him do that. They're number 3 in total defense, number 3 in scoring defense, and do a good job forcing you into field goals. The ceiling is obviously low because of the offensive side of the ball but I do believe they're better the Packers today because they know their identity and Green Bay doesn't."

8. New England Patriots (10-2): They're 22nd in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage -- that is a 'Where's Gronk?' problem. You can't settle for field goals against teams like Baltimore and Kansas City going forward. They've been held to 22 points or less in their last four games so people have film on it and know there is no deep threat out there. They're incredibly well-coached and resourceful, and I love their special teams and defense, but limitations over the top have them at eight."

7. Houston Texans (8-4): Houston is the current state of football in America -- there are so many things I don't like but they're so dynamic at quarterback and so gifted at wide receiver that I put them a slot ahead of the Patriots. They're too Deshaun Watson-dependent but I think they have elite perimeter talent that makes up for coaching snafus and some defensive line limitations."

6. Minnesota Vikings (8-4): "I thought Monday Night Football was a pretty good loss. Adam Thielen didn't play but will return and usually you'll have Dalvin Cook in the fourth quarter. They're 6th in rushing, fourth in yards per play, and they're explosive and go over the top. I'm not a huge Kirk Cousins fan but I think he's efficient and he's quarterbacking the best roster in the NFL."

5. New Orleans Saints (10-2): "They're the New England Patriots of the NFC. They can't beat you over the top, they have a dynamic 40-year-old quarterback who is not going to beat you with athletic ability, but it'll be 'Death by 1,000 Cuts'. They're smart, they're resourceful, but they lack a pop over the top, and I think that will be their undoing this weekend against the 49ers."

4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4): "Watch out for the Chiefs right now, HERE THEY COME. They've had offensive line issues, 'Patrick Mahomes is hurt' issues, and they've had wide receiver injuries, but the band is all back now and they're healthy. They're fourth in total offense and took the Raiders out of that game in about five minutes. They have not lost a game by more than 7 points all year despite a series of injuries to crucial pieces on offense."

3. San Francisco 49ers (10-2): This is a power running team who can play keepaway, and it's why they can play with a team like Baltimore. We know their defense is good but this team is second in the NFL in rushing. What I like about them is when the weather starts to get crappy in December and January, San Francisco will be able to go on the road and run the football, and not rely on the defensive line to be special for 35 minutes. I like how they don't have to rely on Jimmy Garoppolo either."

2. Seattle Seahawks (10-2): I like Seattle to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Their roster is good -- it isn't special -- but their coach, quarterback, and GM are all 'A+' and the Josh Gordon, Quandre Diggs, and Jadeveon Clowney additions were great moves. They lead the NFC in takeaways, they're first in the two minute offense, and even though they don't have the talent as San Fran and New Orleans, Pete Carroll teams always start to pick it up in December."

1. Baltimore Ravens (10-2): "The NFL is playing catch up. The massive fixtures at tight end, Lamar Jackson, excellent head coach -- they were 2-2 and solved a problem by going out and getting Marcus Peters. I don't think anyone else can duplicate what San Francisco did and go toe-to-toe with Baltimore simply on talent alone. The Ravens are the best team in the NFL."

See more here:
Herd Hierarchy: Colin Cowherd Ranks the 10 Best NFL Teams After Week 13 - Fox Sports Radio

Iconic Chureito pagoda during cherry blossom season with mt. Fuji, Fuji Five lakes, Japan

In less than a month we will be in a new year, and for many of us, that means a reload of our vacation days. If youve got kids, it means another spring break and assorted school vacations. For all of us, it means another spring, fall, summer and winter, so no matter what your leisure preferences, schedule or the type of travel you enjoy, it means another year full of exciting possibilities.

Some destinations never get old, and when you look at consumer surveys of dream trips, Italy is usually at the top of the list, always popular and hard to argue against. Hawaii is another evergreen dream destination. At the opposite end of the spectrum are places that become like candles, burning brightly but quickly. Just a few months ago USA Today ran this headline: Iceland was the hottest tourist destination: what happened? In this case, one of the explanations is that visitors who were lured by the proximity (Europes closest country) and the many (accurately) gorgeous Instagram photos they had seen, went with little knowledge of cuisine (eh) or just how expensive it was (very).

But for as long as I have been covering travel, a quarter of a century, there has always been an Iceland of the moment, a place that gets hot from media buzz rather than concrete reasons. If you havent been to Italy or Hawaii, by all means go, but if you are looking for something new, consider the places that are emerging as the new timely hotspots. There are limitless great possibilities when it comes to travel and you should go wherever your heart takes you - its not a Place A is better than Place B thing. But there is also an argument for being ahead of the curve, and when you see lists of heavily over-touristed spots such as Venice, Bali and Barcelona, you cant help but wish you had gone years ago - when they first became hot.

Im thinking about rationales to go to certain places now, so I look at each of these through the lens of why? and try to find a logical reason why a destination suddenly comes into vogue. In many cases its because of improvements to lodging or infrastructure that makes them more enjoyable, comfortable, safer or easier to visit. It can also be a decline of the appeal of direct competitors, or a general societal trend that the destination happens to be in sync with. It can be the most practical of all travel reasons - budget. But in every one of these cases, the logical explanation likely means the spot is better to visit than it has been previously, and thats a good reason to go. So, based on critical observations and insights, these are the 5 Hottest Destinations of 2020, as picked by me.

Vibrant Tokyo is one of the world's great cities, but there's a lot more to see in Japan.

Japan: The hottest of all the red-hot destinations, Japan has broken tourism records the past couple of years in a row and has been enjoying a perfect storm of tourism appeals that have elevated it onto the cover of just about every travel magazine. The big one is the 2020 Olympic Games, and after they view the countrys photogenic culture on TV, spectators will want to go. Japan has also benefited in just the past few years from an explosion of interest in its amazing skiing, arguably the best in the world, and certainly the snowiest. This has spiked interest in once off-season winter travel, and it shows no sign of slowing as Western brand resorts from Park Hyatt, Hilton, Club Med and Ritz-Carlton pour into Japans ski resorts. Many other new luxury hotels have opened both in and far beyond Tokyo, and more are coming, including the citys second Four Seasons.

Japan has also benefited enormously from the recent rise of interest in all things culinary, and while still very unrepresented in this country beyond generally mediocre sushi and to a lesser degree ramen, Japanese cuisine is incredibly varied, artistic, and like skiing, arguably the worlds best. Its also an easier place to get to then ever before, with more and faster direct flights and a big expansion of Tokyos nearer and more user-friendly Haneda airport. In a world increasingly rocked by violence, protests and disease outbreaks, it remains one of the safest places you can go, both from a crime and health perspective. Finally, for those seeking out a vibrant Pacific Rim urban experience, Tokyo will likely pick up traffic lost by Hong Kong and its authoritarian crisis (as will Singapore and Taipei).

Jaffa historical Old Town and Tel Aviv city modern skyline, Israel

Israel: 2018 broke the countrys record for visitation from the U.S., and this looks to be another all-time year: after the first half of 2019, the pace was 8.3% ahead of last year. Several new luxury hotels opened (most notably the Setai Tel Aviv in a 12th century fortress) and at least 17 more new hotels are under construction in the small nation. The Tel Aviv airport is getting a major expansion, just about every upscale tour operator is expanding into the region, and for example, Audley and Backroads both just announced the additions of their first Israel itineraries - based on customer requests. Attractions include religious sites, history, ruins (the Masada fortress s a UNESCO World Heritage Site), beach resorts and outdoor activities/adventure, another hot and growing travel market segment. The culinary trend in travel is raising many countries stature, but Middle Eastern and Israeli food is especially hot right now.

India's Lake Palaces are gorgeous, and while some are major tourist attractions, others have been ... [+] turned into luxury hotels.

India: Long popular for top tourism sites like the Taj Mahal, there has been a lot of growth in other attractions, such as Tiger safaris (read why you should go here) and the mountains, as India is often overlooked when people think Himalayas. The explosion of interest in yoga in recent years has also helped, and like Israel and Japan, India is riding high on the wave of culinary interest. But the biggest driver may be the amazing hotel scene, as India is home to the very best on earth: I personally would put its homegrown chains Oberoi, Leela and Taj ahead of many of the marquee Western luxury brands, but they are here too. The urban hotels are over the top and the ones outside cities occupy drop dead gorgeous lake palaces and ancient fortresses. Ive written here at Forbes before about what makes Indias hotels so great, but they keep growing and getting better. Oberoi, simply as good as hospitality brands get, has expanded into river cruises, all the best tour operators have flocked here, and in India you have the creme de la creme of every option: luxury trains, luxury cruises, and more luxury hotels than you can imagine.

Turtle Beach, Culebrita, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: Not only has the islands tourism infrastructure rebounded from the devastating hurricanes - several major resorts saw $100 million-plus rebuilds with incredible spas and facilities - but it has expanded fast. The island will soon have thousands more hotel rooms than it did before the disaster, including a new Four Seasons, JW Marriott, Waldorf, and many others. It is arguably the top golf destination in the Caribbean, and the courses have been fully restored. It is the easiest destination in the Caribbean to get to, has benefitted from the rollback of the ease of visiting Cuba, and many travelers have chosen to visit specifically to use their tourism dollars to help out fellow citizens who have been ignored by the federal government. Im planning to be one of those.

For a small country, Portugal has many distinct regions, and its Azores Islands are suddenly a hot ... [+] spot.

Portugal: Along with Iceland, Portugal has already been one of the hottest destinations for several years, but it has a more convincing story and more staying power. Convenience? Check, its the closest country in continental Europe. Value? Check, Portugal was always one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe, and while the move to the Euro reduced its edge, it has proven to be a place where dollars still go far. The food is amazing (and cheap), the wine is amazing (and cheap), the weather is very good, and it has several desirable and unique regions for a relatively small country.

When I started in travel, most visitors just went to Lisbon and the surrounding beach towns. But the recent growth has been spurred by the Duoro River Valley and Porto, a charming small city, to the north, wine country where major new hotels and luxury resorts have opened like wildfire, from Six Senses to Thailand-based Anantaras first foray into Europe. Portugal has always been one of the continents top golf destinations, but like skiing in Japan, American consumers were slow to realize that. It also has the very unique network of government owned pousadas, historic and colorful building such as castles, churches and monasteries that have been preserved by being turned into Inns, and staying in these is one of the best ways to experience the country. Its a concept you wont find a elsewhere (except in neighboring Spain where they are called paradors). There are still swaths of the country that have escaped notice but are picking up momentum, and most recently, interest has surged in Portugals two unique and very different Atlantic island destinations, Madeira and the Azores island group.

Portugal managed to remain a hidden gem for decades, and now that is has been thrust front and center into the spotlight, it still offers plenty of opportunities for second, third, fourth and fifth visits. Ive been several times and still havent gotten offshore. But I will, maybe in 2020.

Thats just scratching the surface, and I heartily advocate numerous spots in South America, Southern Africa, and elsewhere that are emerging, though they havent quite reached the hot level these five have. But theres always 2021.

Safe travels!

Continued here:
5 Hottest Places To Travel In 2020 For Your Best Vacations - Forbes

Mortal Kombat debuted as a Midway arcade game in 1992 and has since become a cultural phenomenon among the millennial generation. Countless iterations of the video game have been released across varioussystems from Super Nintendo to Gamecube to Playstation. But its 1995 movie adaptation, while making for horrifying nostalgia, did not do the source material justice.

RELATED:10 Characters We Hope To See In James Wan's Mortal Kombat Movie

The YouTube series Mortal Kombat: Legacy did marginally better than the first adaptation, but still wasn't quite what fans wanted. The MK universe has another chance with the slated 2021 reboot. Here are five things we want to see in it and five we don't.

At its heart, Mortal Kombat is exactly that: a fight for life. That's why the characters' signature moves, while cheesy and outlandish, carry such value among the fans. Sonya Blade's deadly thighs and Johnny Cage's split into an uppercut punch come off as absurd but make for incredible visuals to get the audience excited.

Pageantry has always been a vital factor in any fighting culture, like with the wrestlers of Lucha libre. Why not give the people what they want? It just so happens to be an unreasonable flying kick.

The point of MK is to be violent. The finishing moves aren't called fatalities for nothing. Especially in the latest versions of the game for Playstation, the blood and violence are beyond gory; they're disgusting. But that's what makes Mortal Kombat such a fan favorite.

To water it down for a palatable rating to appeal to parents takes the fun out of watching opponents fight to the death and walk it off. What would be the point of Scorpion's classic, "Get over here," without ripping out a heart?

Sub-Zero and Scorpion are by far the two most popular and well-known characters of the MK franchise. Their polar opposites rivalry makes fascinating fodder for that story fire. With the Sub-Zero mantle taken by two different characters, Bi Han and Kuai Liang, and the continued search for vengeance against Scorpion, Bi Han's killer, there is much to work with.

Not to mention it allows the introduction of Noob Saibot, a character included in Mortal Kombat II as a costume swap. There are so many different ways to go with Scorpion and Sub-Zero.

Throughout the years the MK video games have introduced countless characters each with unique personalities and capabilities. The original cast continues to captivate the audience's attention, but additions like Skarlet and D'Vorah have further enhanced the game's mythology.

The new characters introduced in later iterations of the game offer the reboot writers a chance to delve into rich stories and play with its development in relation to the original source material. To bring in a promising character simply for fanservice without purpose would be a waste.

The audience is ready to see women warriors treated with the same respect as their male counterparts. Characters like Jade, Mileena, and Kitana have always been drawn as Femme Fatales with skimpy costumes and all. Of course, if they were fighting in real life, those costumes wouldn't work in combat for one second.

RELATED:5 Things The Mortal Kombat Remake Needs (& 5 Mistakes It Should Avoid)

They offer no protection and frankly ride up in places that would make it hard to properly perform half the moves they do. The reboot should take inspiration from the original costumes, but make them sensible for a modern audience.

The Mortal Kombat 11 video game introduced a time-traveling element to story mode that let players interact with previous versions of the game throughout its history. Instances of sending objects back through time were also featured in MK9.

But for the reboot, it would be best to establish the main timeline first before trying to go full Barry Allen and messing with it. Time travel presents an interesting twist to the Mortal Kombat premise, but the writers would do best to save it for a sequel.

The reboot announcements have already established the likes of Mileena and even Nitara, a vampire who first appeared in the Deadly Alliance game and a couple of others, but who hasn't been a part of the canon from the very start.

Kitana's casting has yet to be announced for the MK reboot. Her role is crucial to the story as she starts as the adopted daughter of Shao Khan who changes allegiances to the Earthrealm fighters, much like a Gamora and Thanos situation. Fans hope to see her actress announced soon.

In more recent versions of the game, the stories included Cassie Cage (Sonya and Johnny's daughter), Kung Jin (younger cousin of Kung Lao), Takeda Takahashi (Kenji's son) and Jacqui Briggs (Jax's daughter). For the MK reboot movie, there is no need to include these characters.

RELATED:Mortal Kombat 11: 10 Characters We'd Love to See as DLC

The main cast needs to be established before adding on their kids born into this crazy world of an interdimensional fighting tournament. Before there can be a Cassie, there needs to be a Sonya and Johnny relationship to make it happen.

It's safe to say that the 1995 film's failure was subpar fight sequences and downright dismal graphics. One could argue the limitation of technology in the 90s accounted for terrible visual effects but that is the same era that gave us Jurassic Park with lifelike dinosaurs.

However, standards for visuals what they are today, there's no excuse for abysmal special effects. The plethora of action flicks seen throughout the last two decades also indicate that genuinely good fight scenes are achievable as well.

The villain Shinnok was introduced to the MK world in the 1997 game Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero. Though the Elder God is arguably an inherently cool character, it's best to stick with the bad guys the fanbase knows and loves best: Shang Tsung and Shao Khan.

For a reboot movie that is reintroducing the franchise toits old audience and hopefully making it known to a new generation, sticking with the classic villains is the smart choice. Shinnok's appearance in a first reboot film would be too soon.

NEXT:10 Fatalities We Hope To See In The R-Rated Mortal Kombat Movie

NextThe Vampire Diaries: 10 Things Even Diehard Fans Dont Know About Elena

Meagan Cahuasqui is a Latinx writer, poet, traveler, and reader. She holds a B.A. in creative writing from UCF and an M.B.A. in marketing from NSU. When shes not engaged in the aforementioned activities, she can be found yelling and crying at her TV over fictional people that break her heart.

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Mortal Kombat: 5 Things We Want to See in the Reboot (& 5 We Don't) - Screen Rant

Mobile processor unveilings tend to focus on speed bumps and little else. And while the Snapdragon 865 unveiled at Qualcomm's annual tech summit will certainly improve upon the performance of its predecessor, the new chipset's real benefits will impact the best phones way beyond just sheer speed.

For starters, there's 5G connectivity, as the Snapdragon 865 works with an X55 5G modem to support the faster speeds of 5G networks as they're built out by network operators. But Qualcomm is also promising improvements for mobile photography, artificial intelligence and gaming that will be powered by the Snapdragon 855.

You won't see these improvements until the first three months of 2020, when the first Android phones featuring the Snapdragon 865 will arrive. True to form, Qualcomm isn't announcing which phones those will be, though some phone makers like Xiaomi, Oppo and Motorola have committed to using the chip. And if history is any guide Samsungs upcoming Galaxy S11 should be the first phone with Snapdragon 865 inside, since Qualcomms top-tier processor usually debuts in Samsungs flagship.

Here's what you can expect from a Snapdragon 865-powered phone.

It's understandable why Qualcomm wants to emphasize what the Snapdragon 865 brings to mobile photography. After all, snapping photos has become one of the main things we do with our phones. Consumers buy camera phones, Alex Katouzian, senior vice president and general manager, mobile at Qualcomm, said during this weeks Qualcomm tech summit. They don't just buy a phone.

With Qualcomm's new processor, the best camera phones running Android are about to get more sophisticated. For instance, when you're capturing 4K video and take a still shot by pressing the shutter button, you get a 64-megapixel shot instead of a lower resolution photo as you would now.

The Spectra 480 image signal processor on the Snapdragon 865 is capable of 2 gigapixel-per-second speeds, meaning it can process images faster while consuming less power. That opens up new features you wouldn't have thought possible for a smartphone-sized camera a few years back.

Qualcomm says phones with the Spectra 480 ISP will be able to capture 4K HDR shots with more than a billion shades of color. And there's enough processing power to shoot limitless amounts of slow-motion HD video at 960 frames per second. That means you can train your camera on someone and just leave slow-motion running instead of timing your video capture to the exact moment you want to slow down.

According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 865's image processor can also support 8K video at 30 frames per second, and while the results looked pretty impressive on an 8K monitor in Qualcomm's demo room, I'm not sure the effect will translate when you're watching things on a smartphone-sized screen.

More impressive is the ability to support 200-megapixel cameras. That last feature isn't vaporware, Judd Heape, Qualcomm's senior director of product management for camera, told the audience at Qualcomm's tech summit here: Qualcomm has teamed up with sensor makers to develop these larger image sensors and those will be available next year. That news sounds particularly relevant in light of the rumor that the Galaxy S11 will feature a 108-megapixel camera when it ships next spring.

Working with the AI engine on the Snapdragon 865 more on that feature in a moment the processor's ISP will be able to identify backgrounds, people and objects, treating each thing individually for a customized photo. A demo by a company called Morpho showed off how AI segmentation in which different parts of a photo are identified (your face, hair, backgrounds and more. By separating out those segments, they can be enhanced individually rather than a picture wide enhancement that can cost you finer details

Qualcomm says the new processor also supports Dolby Vision video capture for professional-quality HDR footage that captures and preserves brightness, contrast and color in your videos; playback will work on all types of devices, even those that aren't equipped with Dolby Vision.

It was impressing watching footage captured with Dolby Vision compared to those same shots captured by an ordinary camera. In poorly lit settings, backlighting washed out some of the details in the video, but those still stood out in the Dolby Vision-captured footage.

The proof will lie in the photos Snapdragon 865-equipped phones ultimately produce, but we're excited about seeing all these features in action as phone makers continue to push the envelope of what smartphone cameras can do.

By including a 5G modem with last year's Snapdragon 855, Qualcomm established itself as one of the leaders in pushing the new networking standard. That's continuing with the Snapdragon 865, which features an Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF system. Qualcomm didnt integrate the modem into the chipset, like it did with the lower-tier Snapdragon 765 introduced this week, but it hopes that its modem-to-RF antenna approach the company designs system RF, RF front end and modem as one system provides consistent performance and fast speeds.

In fact, Qualcomm says the modem can reach peak speeds of up to 7.5 Gbps, which far outpaces the 1 Gbps-plus speeds that 5G networks based on millimeter-wave can reach, and it's not a maximum networks built on lower-band spectrum are going to approach anytime soon. But Qualcomm is hoping to emphasize that its modem can handle whatever speeds 5G networks deliver. And it's also capable of hopping onto other networks like LTE and 3G when those signals are the only ones available, unlike last year's X50 modem, which required phones to include a separate LTE modem to handle other types of networks.

The X55 modem included with the Snapdragon 865 supports multiple technologies used to build out 5G networks, so the hope is that it will lead to more phones capable of working the next-generation network. And with technologies like Qualcomm's Smart Transmit, Signal Boost and Wideband Envelope Tracking, the carrier looks to maintain fast data speeds while avoiding some of the overheating and battery draining problems that initial 5G-capable phones encountered.

OK, we should talk about performance a little bit, because it's getting a boost with the Snapdragon 865. The Kryo 585 CPU used by the Snapdragon 865 promises up to a 25% performance improvement over what we saw from the Snapdragon 855 this year; power efficiency will also improve by 25% with the Kryo CPU in the Snapdragon 865.

The Kryo 585 features four CPUs in its performance core based on Arm's Cortex-A77; the prime CPU is a 2.84Ghz chips, and it's assisted by a trio of 2.4GHz performance cores. The efficiency core features four cores based on the Arm Cortex A-55.

Likewise, the Adreno 650 GPU should also deliver up to a 25% boost in graphics rendering from the previous generation. That should mean faster Android flagships than ever before.

But will they be fast enough to catch the iPhone? The Snapdragon 855-powered OnePlus 7 Pro posted a Geekbench 5 multicore score of 2,802 when we tested that phone last year. That's an impressive result, but it was still behind the 3,509 score that the A13 Bionic-powered iPhone 11 Pro tallied. A 25% improvement delivered by the Snapdragon 865 would just about close that gap, but keep in mind that the OnePlus 7 Pro came packed with 12GB of RAM, which helped goose its result. What's more, Apple is doubtlessly working on the A14 processor for next year's iPhone 12, which will move the performance bar even further.

Qualcomm's processor improvements aren't just about speed. Each generation of the Snapdragon also looks to consume less power when boosting performance, and to that end the Kryo 585 inside the Snapdragon 865 can deliver a 25% improvement in power efficiency.

The bottom line is that phones running on a Snapdragon 865 are going to outperform this year's top handsets. But that's not the story Qualcomm is emphasizing with its new processor.

Qualcomm is really ramping up the processing power for the Snapdragon's 835 on-board artificial intelligence. The new chipset features Qualcomm's 5th-generation AI Engine, which is capable of delivering 15 trillion operations per second (TOPS), twice what the AI engine on the Snapdragon 855 could do. The chipset's Hexagon 698's Tensor Accelerator is more powerful, too, delivering a 4x performance improvement over its predecessor while consuming 35% less power.

That should put AI to work in more areas. One potential feature touted by Qualcomm is the ability to translate your speech into another language using both text and speech. During a session detailing the AI changes to the Snapdragon 865, Ziad Asghar, vice of product management of AI and strategy for Qualcomm, demonstrated live transcription in which he spoke in English which was translated to text in real-time while also being translated into Mandarin. That happened on the device itself, with no information being translated to the cloud. The demo proved to be just as impressive when I saw my own speech being transcribed on screen in real time on a Snapdragon 865 reference device only to be immediately translated into Chinese characters.

Voice detection should also be more accurate thanks to AI improvements, making it easier to speak with a phone's onboard assistant without having to shout or repeat yourself. In another demo showing off the AI Engine's contextual awareness, the Snapdragon 865 was able to identify different types of ambient noise a busy airport, a city street and so on and then use that info to adjust the assistant's ability to hear your commands.

You'll see improvements in apps running on Snapdragon 865-powered devices, too Snap appeared at Qualcomm's tech summit to show off Snapchat producing image effects at four times its current speed.

Qualcomm is touting "desktop-quality gaming" on mobile devices with the Snapdragon 865. Whether the new chipset can deliver that remains to be seen, though some in-person demos on smartphone-sized screen depicted some impressive graphics. And Qualcomm is certainly promising some big improvements for mobile gaming.

The new processor is capable of supporting displays with a 144-Hz refresh rate. Right now, top gaming-focused phones offer a 120-Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and minimal lag, so that's quite a leap forward. Qualcomm's also working with game makers to boost the performance of their apps on Snapdragon-based devices; the company specifically spoke about working with the makers of that first-person multiplayer shooter to enable 90-Hz refresh rates for the game a trend Qualcomm sees continuing into next year with other games.

Other gaming improvements are additions to Snapdragon Elite Gaming, an array of hardware and software optimizations and features introduced by Qualcomm that focus on gaming. A Game Color Plus feature with the Snapdragon 865 is expected to enhance details, ramp up color saturation and offer local tone mapping for better graphics on all games, with no additional development work required. Besides the faster graphics rendering from the Adreno 650 GPU, a hardware feature called Adreno HDR Fast Blend can bolster games with heavy blending of layers, deliver up to twice the performance lift for some operations. (Think games with a lot of smoke and fire, which will now enjoy higher frame rates during graphically intense scenes.)

Qualcomm says Snapdragon 865 will support Desktop Forward Rendering, making it the first mobile platform on Android to do so. That lets game makers use desktop-quality lighting and post-processing effects in their mobile offerings. An on-stage demo showed off a pinball game, where the version enhanced by Desktop Forward Rendering depicted the ball's shadow, the glare of flashing lights and even the reflections of the ball on mirrors within the pinball machine.

With Snapdragon 865, you'll also be able to use a new feature called Adreno Updateable GPU Drivers to download GPU driver updates directly from an app store for better control over how you mobile game performs. That's a gaming feature desktop gamers enjoy for customizing their experience, and it will be as simple for mobile users as heading to Google Play to download drivers.

It's no surprise that the Snapdragon 865 chipset supports the emerging Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard, which promises better performance particularly in areas where a lot of devices are clamoring for Wi-Fi connectivity. Qualcomm says features on its processing platform will make Snapdragon 865-powered devices capable of Wi-Fi speeds approach 1.8 Gbps, even with other devices on a wireless network.

The Snapdragon 855 introduced 8x8 multiuser MIMO on downloads, meaning eight devices could simultaneously download data from an access point with no performance hit. With the Snapdragon 865, that features comes to uplink, so multiple devices will be able to upload data as well handy if you're in a crowded environment and need to upload a video.

Those are just some of the initial features we've heard about the Snapdragon 865, which also includes a Qualcomm aptX Voice feature for improved audio. Support for aptX Adaptive and Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus should mean less latency and better battery life for wireless headphones connecting to Snapdragon 865-powered devices good news since phone makers seems committed to wiping out the headphone jack from their handsets.

Link:
Snapdragon 865 revealed: 6 ways it will transform flagship phones - Tom's Guide

Avalon Allen December 3rd, 2019 - 2:35 PM

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, will be released in theaters on December 20, 2019, marking the final addition to the newStar Warstrilogy that began in 2015. The Force Awakenshigh-quality CGI and special effects starkly contrasts that of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, which came out in 1977 and marked the beginning of this iconic and absurdlyfinancially successful franchise. Unlike its other releases, the very first Star Wars was not a highly anticipated film in fact it was famously regarded as a huge career risk for creator George Lucas in his filmmaking career. 42 years later, lets look back on the initial reception to the movie that began it all.

The creation of A New Hope,or simplyStar Wars,was famously riddled with problems and doubt towards its success. The 2004 documentary Empire of Dreams provides a great dissection of many of these issues, and the reservations people felt about the movie. George Lucas initially came up with the idea for a space-fantasy film soon after releasing his directorial debut THX 1138 (1971), a social science-fiction movie that was a financial flop which Lucas believed was the result of its bleak story being unable to reach an audience. As a result, he wanted to make an adventurous, optimistic space odyssey that would be accessible to the masses.

He wouldnt start writing the script for what would eventually become Star Wars until January 1973. Lucas pulled from inspirations like Flash Gordon, the Vietnam War, Camelot lore, and Akira Kurosawas 1958 adventure filmThe Hidden Fortress . However, many of the major studios refused to budget his movie, including United Artists, Universal Pictures, and (ironically) Disney. In June 1973, Lucas managed to convince 20th Century Fox to fund his idea. Star Wars was also cursed with a long and difficult production that went way over budget. Despite Lucass passion for the movie, many of his crew members didnt take it seriously and doubted that it would do well financially or critically. In 1977, Lucas showed an early version of the film. The audience was comprised of Fox executives and several other directors, including Lucas fellow Movie Brats Brian De Palma, John Milius, and Steven Spielberg the last of whom was the only filmmaker to actually enjoy Star Wars.

Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977 to fewer than 32 theaters. Despite the many detractors, doubters, and critics, the film was an instantaneous and record-breaking success. Lucas has stated how he spent most of the release day in a sound studio, only to leave for his lunch break and find floods of people waiting outside Manns Chinese Theater so that they could see his movie. With all of its earnings adjusted to inflation, the movie is the second highest-grossing film in the United States with estimated ticket sales being $178,119,600. The film was extremely well-received by critics and audiences. Famed movie reviewer Roger Ebert described it as an out-of-the-body experience and commented that the magic of Star Wars is only dramatized by the special effects; the movies heart is in its endearingly human (and non-human) people. After its release, everyone involved with Star Wars found that their careers sky-rocketed. Even members of the films technical staff like model makers were being asked for autographs. The films also cemented the careers of its main cast: Carrie Fischer, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill.

An important aspect of Hollywood that Star Wars revolutionized was merchandising. Displaying true innovation and hindsight, George Lucas recognized the importance of promoting not just a movie, but the objects and products made in connection with it. He formed a partnership with Kenner Toy Company, who agreed to produce a line of action figures for the film. Due to the franchises fantastic and creative world building, fans eagerly wanted to immerse themselves in the universe Star Wars set up. Merchandise especially action figures allowed them to do this.

Kenner was unprepared for the incomparable popularityStar Wars attracted, and wasnt properly stocked with enough action figures. Instead, they sold an Early Bird Certificate Package which was basically an IOU that could eventually be exchanged for four action figures. Lucas created a movie so popular that he managed to make a profit not even on actual merchandise, but solely on the promise of it. He earned so much from the toy sales alone that he was able to use that wealth to independently finance Star Warss next two sequels:The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. By 1978, Kenner managed to sell 40 million units of toys. The films incredible success would inspire future big-budget franchises to invest in toys based on their films characters, in turn creating an industry based on movie-inspired items. Even to this day, Star Wars commodities like t-shirts and decorations are a common staple in every modern nerds house.

Though recent Star Wars additions havent generated responses quite as ecstatic as the original movies, as exemplified with the divisive prequel films or The Last Jedi, its a franchise that still remains as profitable and popular as ever. Regardless of what you think about its newer additions, the powerful impact and legacy Star Wars left will always be an undeniable game-changer for the history of cinema. Truly the Force was strong with this film.

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Looking Back on the Production and Impact of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope - mxdwn.com

In the markets, a corporation's fortunes may turn on a dime; more often, they turn on a quarter -- a reporting quarter, that is. The narrative Dollar Tree(NASDAQ: DLTR) provided last quarter of improving health in its Family Dollar segment was completely forgotten as a reduced full-year outlook became the dominant story line. Shares of theconsumer staples giant withered by as much as 17% on Tuesday following the company's release of fiscal third-quarter 2019 earnings. Let's unpack the last three months and trace the roots of investor displeasure, bearing in mind that allcomparative numbers refer to those of the prior-year quarter.

Data source: Dollar Tree. EPS = earnings per share.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dollar Tree's fourth-quarter outlook anticipates a bit of stumbling at year-end. The company expects low-single-digit comps growth next quarter, resulting in expected revenue of$6.33 billion to $6.44 billion. At the midpoint of this range, the fourth quarter's top line will advance by just 2.8% over the prior-year period.

Management quantified the fourth-quarter impact of trade import tariffs under Sections 301-310 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, more commonly referred to as Section 301 tariffs. Dollar Tree estimates that Section 301 tariffs imposed on its imports from China will inflate its cost of goods sold by $19 million, or $0.06 per share, in the final three months of the year. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS, including this impact, is expected to land between $1.70 and $1.80.

At the midpoint of this range, EPS will fall below diluted EPS of $1.93 achieved in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (after adjusting for a number of one-time charges the company incurred during that period). The expected tariff impact accounts for one-third of the drop of $0.18 between last year's fourth-quarter EPS and the midpoint of the current projected range. The rather weak fourth-quarter sales growth and some additional expected margin obstacles are supplying the rest of the differential.

The company characterizes these obstacles as "additional pressure on merchandise margin based on lower-margin consumables growing faster than originally forecast; payroll cost pressure in distribution centers; and increased run rates for repairs and maintenance, utilities, and depreciation."

The year-end weakness also affects Dollar Tree's full-year forecast. Management tightened its fiscal 2019 revenue expectation to a range of $23.62 billion to $23.74 billion from a previous range of$23.57 billion to $23.79 billion. Diluted EPS for the 12-month period is now projected to land between $4.66 and $4.76. This is well below the $5.45 in fiscal 2018 adjusted EPS. Moreover, just last quarter, management raised the EPS targetto a range of $4.90 to $5.11 from an original projection of$4.77 to $5.07.

How did Dollar Tree's profit picture erode so quickly? Slower retail shelf growth is a prime culprit. Essentially, as the company has focused on closing underperforming Family Dollar stores this year, its net store openings have curbed significantly. The organization expanded total selling square footage by 3% in fiscal 2018,but is on pace to increase retail selling space by just 1.1% this year.

Without brisk net store additions, Dollar Tree must rely on same-store sales for most of its revenue growth. But as comps have remained soft in the low-single-digit range, the dollar store specialist has lost the ability to easily absorb rising cost pressures. Of course, management has mostly stabilized the Family Dollar business in 2019, so the pace of net store openings should presumably rise again in the coming quarters, supporting revenue and providing much-needed operating leverage. But that's likely of meager solace to shareholders checking on their DLTR positions, awash in red, today.

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Dollar Tree Constricts Its Earnings Outlook, and Shares Follow Suit - Nasdaq

We want to be right in there as a known team, a team on the map, not just this little team that got promoted in 1993 into the Football League.

Thats Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth, talking to us as part of the latest in our Footballs Front Linesseries on Saturday.

The Chairboys specialise in punching above their weight, reaching the semi-finals in both the FA Cup and League Cup in the last two decades.

But, like many other Football League clubs, theyve been flirting with an uncertain financial future for years almost through no real fault of their own.

Wycombes losses were estimated at around 600k a year, spending beyond their means merely just to stay afloat rather than on exuberant new additions.

Adams Park is in dire need of some TLC. They dont have an academy. The floodlights are a poor quality. The training ground was described a glorified metal shed with a couple of football pitches next to it in a recent report by The Athletic.

In 2014 they escaped relegation from League Two by the skin of their teeth, a final day win at Torquay enough to leapfrog Bristol Rovers and preserve their Football League status.

And Ainsworth is under no illusion as to how damaging a situation that could have been for the Buckinghamshire club.

Action Images - Reuters

We nearly went out of business. Ainsworth confesses. We nearly went out the league, we didnt know if the wages were going to get paid at times.

The Supporters Trust made sure they were paid every month and that was fantastic, but we were losing money hand over fist.

Five-and-a-half seasons on and seven years into Ainsworths tenure he is now the longest serving manager in Englands top five leagues its safe to say Wycombe are now moving in an altogether different direction.

And fast.

The Chairboys, despite starting pre-season with just nine players and having their playing budget cut by 30%, are sitting pretty at the top of League One and fantasising of the Championship.

They have never reached the second tier of English football but, having dispatched historic clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth already this campaign, that dream could soon become a reality.

But even more crucial than any league position, they are now deft free after prospective new American owners The Couhigs settled any outstanding payments.

Before passing the 75% threshold required for a takeover mandate in late October, the Louisiana-based investors paid off their 2.2m debts and supplied a further 1m for other means.

It is testament to their popularity that an approach by a blockbuster consortium containing Dennis Bergkamp and Ronald Koeman, among others, wasnt seriously considered.

Thats because Peter Couhig, the prospective Chief Finance Officer, isnt your average owner.

Wycombe fans were really worried about being bought by overseas owners, Phil Catchpole, match commentator for BBC Three Counties Radio, told us.

You hear so many horrible stories and things that go wrong. But the Couhigs have come in and these guys are just fans.

Theyve had three months on the ground here before the vote went through and the best thing about them for me is that theyre in the bar, on the terrace, hanging about in the town.

Theyre with the fans, theyre not on the old prawn sandwiches. Theyre proper football people and theyve really connected with the people of Wycombe.

Couhigs infectious personality was emphasised on Saturday, mobbed by adoring fans as he led us through the bar area to watch the pre-match entertainment.

As we listened to a performance of The Wanderer, a song by Ainsworths own band the Cold Blooded Hearts,Couhig tells me of the instant rapport he struck up with both the Wycombe boss and the local area.

YouTube / Wycombe Wanderers

Weve got a rock and roll gaffer, Couhig says, beaming. Louisiana is a very musical place, so hooking up with Gareth was a no brainer.

We looked at a lot of different clubs but Wycombe had something special going on.

The difference between a really solid League One and League Two player and someone in the Championship or Premier League is really more opportunity than talent level.

When we look at other clubs that have done what theyve done in similar circumstances, like Sheffield United, I really dont believe theres a cap on what we [Wycombe] can do.

Action Images

Wycombe now have owners, a manager and a bristling playing squad all firing on all cylinders.

Ainsworth was heavily linked with the recent Lincoln City vacancy and reportedly has several Championship suitors, but seems set on adding a fairytale finish to the project he has masterminded at Adams Park.

Including his three years as a player he has now completed a decade at Wycombe, developing from veteran winger into one of the most sought-after managers in England.

To be top of the league going into the end of November is remarkable, Phil Slatter, co-host ofThe Wanderer podcast, says.

Theres no way we could envisage being in the top six, let alone top of the table.

A lot of it is down to Gareth Ainsworth, his mentality, his attitude, the players hes brought in.

He went through a very dark stage a few years ago when we were nearly relegated and learnt an awful lot from that experience.

He wants to manage in the Championship and be ambitious and his dream is to do that here.

PA:Press Association

Wycombe also boast the likes of Adebayo Akinfenwa, Joe Jacobson and captain Matt Bloomfield; a trio Phil Catchpole calls the generals.

Between them they boast over 800 league appearances in Wycombe blue and are still making telling contributions well into their mid-30s.

Jacobson, fresh after making his 500th appearance for the club last week, scored a nerveless late winner from the penalty spot on Saturday to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory over Doncaster.

Jacobson, who admits there was a strange atmosphere in the summer prior to the takeover, says Ainsworth makes it impossible for the players not to feel motivated.

PA:Empics Sport

He makes it so simple that you cant help but run through a brick wall for him, the Welshman tells us.

Like I said weve got a lot of players here that all buy into what he wants to do and its working so far.

There is now a tangible positivity from top to bottom, spearheaded by the insatiable Ainsworth.

The 46-year-old has combined inspirational man-management with a pragmatic financial approach when so many clubs around them are bending the rules.

Action Images - Reuters

This club has been crying out for the Couhigs, and not just finance wise, Ainsworth eulogises.

Theres not going to be millions of pounds available, were not going to turn suddenly into the Sunderlands or Portmouths of this world in this league, no chance. Were going to do it right.

Its not going to be overnight, its going to take some time. Weve got a long term plan, were just probably going a little bit ahead of the curve at the moment on the pitch. Im happy with that.

With sustainability achieved and a core group all singing from the same hymn sheet, who knows what the future holds for these perennial overachievers?

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Underdog story is an overused term but here it doesnt remotely do it justice - Dream Team FC