Sosuke Aizen, the former captain of the 5th Division in the Gotei 13, is a cunning and manipulative soul reaper who orchestrated one of the most shocking betrayals in the Soul Society's history. With his cool demeanor and calculating mind, Aizen quickly rose to become one of the most formidable foes that Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends have ever faced.The Nasdaq Composite is a tech-centric index that tracks the performance of more than 3,000 stocks listed on the exchange. Just this week, the Nasdaq, the S&P 500 , and the Dow Jones Industrial Average all climbed to record heights, the latest in a long line of all-time highs hit this year. The ongoing rally has a great many stocks at or near new record highs, leaving some investors to wonder whether there's still upside ahead. Those concerns are unfounded, according to Wall Street, which remains remarkably bullish. As we close out the year, forecasts for 2025 continue to ratchet higher. While these targets are focused on the broader S&P 500, they can be instructive. Analysts at Goldman Sachs predict the S&P 500 will hit 6,500 in December 2025, representing gains of roughly 7% compared to Thursday's closing price. Not to be outdone, Bank of America issued a year-end price target of 6,666 for 2025, or upside of 10% from its current level. Just this week, Wells Fargo issued the most bullish forecast yet, calling for the benchmark index to hit 7,007 next year, representing potential gains of about 15%. Despite the recent run-up, opportunities abound. Let's take a look at two Nasdaq stocks with additional upside of up to 115%, according to certain Wall Street analysts. Sirius XM Holdings: Implied upside of 59% The first Nasdaq stock with significant potential upside is Sirius XM Holdings ( SIRI 4.58% ) . The company dominates satellite radio services in North America, with 34 million paying subscribers. Its customer base jumps to 150 million when you include its ad-supported Pandora music streaming service, so its audience is unmatched. However, the recent economic downturn and a complicated merger took a toll. Decades-high inflation forced cash-strapped consumers to make difficult choices with their limited disposable income. Some, understandably, chose to let their SiriusXM subscription lapse. There was also a fundamental misunderstanding of its recent merger, the reverse stock split , and the resulting complicated accounting transactions, which weighed on its results. These combined to drag the stock down 51% so far this year -- but things aren't as bad as they might seem at first glance. In the third quarter, Sirius' revenue slipped 4% year over year to $2.17 billion while reporting a loss per share of $8.74, compared to diluted EPS of $0.82 in the prior year quarter -- but that needs context. The company took a one-time, non-cash impairment charge of $3.36 billion to goodwill related to its acquisition of Liberty Sirius XM tracking stock. Had it not been for that one-time charge, Sirius would have delivered EPS of roughly $1.17, an increase of 43%. At the same time, paid subscribers increased by 14,000, resulting from lower churn . Paid promotional subscribers, which declined by 114,000 as automakers transitioned to shorter or unpaid plans, further weighed on the results. Some on Wall Street believe the selling has simply gone too far. Included among their ranks is Benchmark analyst Matthew Harrigan. He maintains a buy rating on Sirius XM, with a price target of $43. That represents upside potential of 59% compared to Thursday's closing price. The analyst cites an investor disconnect surrounding the recent merger. He also believes that management's "strategic initiatives" will take hold. Furthermore, the lower stock price represents a compelling opportunity for savvy investors, including Warren Buffett, who has been loading up on the stock. Sirius XM is currently selling for roughly 8 times earnings, with almost no future growth baked into the stock price -- and therein lies the opportunity. I believe that, given the steadily improving economic conditions, churn will continue to slow, and subscriber growth will gradually return, which would be just the spark needed to send Sirius XM stock higher. Symbotic: Implied upside of 115% One consequence of the rise of online retail has been a rush to bring warehouse automation into the 21st century. That's where Symbotic ( SYM 0.14% ) comes in. The company created artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to automate the processing of individual cases and full pallets to use every inch of available warehouse space. Symbotic developed advanced algorithms that control a legion of smart robots that work in concert to stock pallets, load and unload trucks, and isolate and handle individual crates. In doing so, the company can squeeze more inventory into less space, saving customers money. By increasing efficiency, reducing labor costs, and slashing operating and delivery expenses, Symbotic's systems pay for themselves in short order. The company estimates that each "module" can pay for itself several times over during its useful life, saving companies tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. The results speak for themselves. In its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter (ended Sep. 28), Symbotic generated revenue that grew 47% year over year to $577 million while delivering EPS of $0.05, swinging from a sizable loss in the prior-year quarter. After announcing a restatement of earlier 2024 quarterly financial reports, management noted these resulted from timing differences with "no impact to full-year fiscal year 2024 results." On Thursday, Symbotic filed its annual report with no additional changes, removing the final overhang from the stock. In the wake of the company's quarterly results, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Derek Soderberg reiterated his overweight (buy) rating and $60 price target on the stock, which represents potential upside of 115% compared to Thursday's closing price. The bullish take came after the analyst quizzed management about its recent international expansion agreement with Walmex and the state of its warehouse-as-a-service joint venture . Similar to many early-stage, high-growth stocks, Symbotic stock carries a bit of additional risk, so any position should be sized accordingly. On the bright side, after its recent sell-off, Symbotic is selling for a song at just 1.5 times sales. I would suggest that's an attractive price to pay for a leader in an emerging AI-fueled industry.bhaggo live casino 。

Could Buying Boeing Stock Today Set You Up for Life?The case of He Miao serves as a stark reminder to all party members and public officials of the consequences of misconduct and wrongdoing. It underscores the importance of adhering to the principles of honesty, integrity, and ethical behavior in all aspects of governance and public service.3. Kylian Mbappé

Notable quotes by Jimmy Carter

Manchester City's struggles continued as Pep Guardiola's side remarkably blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain to leave the French club in danger of elimination. There were also big wins for Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, while Inter Milan went top of the standings after five games and Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski reached a century of Champions League goals. However, the biggest drama came at the Etihad Stadium, where City were cruising early in the second half with a three-goal advantage as they sought to end a run of five successive defeats in all competitions. Erling Haaland opened the scoring from a penalty just before half-time, and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected shot made it 2-0 in the 50th minute. Haaland struck again to make it 3-0, but Feyenoord's comeback began on 75 minutes when Anis Hadj Moussa took advantage of hapless defending to round goalkeeper Ederson and pull one back. Substitute Santiago Gimenez bundled in to make it 3-2 on 82 minutes and the equaliser arrived a minute from the end. Ederson was again caught out with Igor Paixao going around the goalkeeper and crossing for Slovak international David Hancko to head in. "We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable," complained Guardiola. "We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory." It is the first time that a team has gone into the last 20 minutes of a Champions League game trailing by three goals and still avoided defeat, as the point boosts the Dutch side's hopes of progressing. City are two points outside the top eight places which offer direct qualification for the last 16, while Bayern moved above them by beating PSG 1-0 in Munich. South Korean defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before half-time, heading in after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov failed to clear a corner. PSG had Ousmane Dembele sent off in the second half and the French champions have just four points, and three goals, from five games. They are a lowly 26th in the 36-team league, a point adrift of the positions which offer a place in the play-off round in February. "We need to win our last three matches, otherwise we risk being eliminated," admitted PSG coach Luis Enrique. Lewandowski notched his 100th goal in the competition with an early penalty in Barcelona's 3-0 home win over French side Brest. Dani Olmo netted midway through the second half before Lewandowski sealed Barca's win at the death, his 101st goal in the Champions League -- only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored more. Inter lead the standings with 13 points, a point ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool, after a 1-0 win at home to RB Leipzig which means they are also still yet to concede a goal. Castello Lukeba's own goal made the difference at San Siro, and Leipzig are one of only three teams to have lost five games out of five. Arsenal romped to a 5-1 victory away to Sporting in Lisbon, as the Portuguese side adapt to life without coach Ruben Amorim, who has departed for Manchester United. Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes all scored in the first half for Arsenal, before Goncalo Inacio pulled one back shortly after the restart. Bukayo Saka converted a penalty on 65 minutes after Martin Odegaard had been brought down, and Leandro Trossard headed in to seal Arsenal's win late on. Atalanta romped to a 6-1 win over rock-bottom Young Boys in Switzerland, with Mateo Retegui and Charles De Ketelaere both scoring braces. Sead Kolasinac and Lazar Samardzic also netted for the Italians, with Silvere Ganvoula getting the hosts' reply. Florian Wirtz struck twice, including a penalty, as Leverkusen crushed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0, with Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a superb free-kick and Patrik Schick and Aleix Garcia also netting. Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa each scored twice and Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann once as Atletico romped to a 6-0 win away to Sparta Prague. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao and Tammy Abraham were the scorers in AC Milan's 3-2 win at Slovan Bratislava, whose goals came from Tigran Barseghyan and Nino Marcelli. Marko Tolic saw red at the end for Slovan, who are without a point.With both teams boasting a wealth of talent and tactical acumen, the match is sure to be a showcase of top-quality football. From the attacking prowess of City's star-studded lineup to United's resolute defense and counter-attacking threat, fans can expect an exciting and closely contested battle on the pitch.

Meet the Stock-Split Stock That Soared 10,610% Over the Past 15 Years. It's Poised to Join Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta in the $1 Trillion Club by 2025.

However, their opponents in this crucial match, the Italian table-toppers, present a formidable challenge. With an impressive defensive record and a potent strike force led by the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Pedro, the Italian outfit has been a force to be reckoned with in both Serie A and the Champions League. Their tactical discipline and ability to exploit opposition weaknesses make them a formidable adversary for any team, including Real Madrid.In conclusion, the untimely death of the Thai female singer serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers that can arise from massage therapy when not approached with caution and awareness. Let us learn from this tragedy and strive to promote a culture of safety and responsibility within the realm of alternative medicine to prevent such devastating outcomes in the future.

However, before DJI could officially announce the release of the DJI Flip, shocking news broke that the design of the drone had been stolen by e-commerce giant Amazon. Images of the drone, along with its specifications and features, were leaked online, much to the dismay of DJI and the drone community.

Meet the Stock-Split Stock That Soared 10,610% Over the Past 15 Years. It's Poised to Join Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta in the $1 Trillion Club by 2025.In the dynamic world of football, opinions are formed and broken in the blink of an eye. Recently, there has been a surge of voices labeling Kylian Mbappe as the most overrated player in the game. However, I argue that this narrative is not only misguided but also misses the bigger picture of the young prodigy's potential. Mbappe is not overrated - he is simply in need of stepping out of his comfort zone to unleash his true capabilities.

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich fans protested against Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the teams’ Champions League match on Tuesday. The supporters in Bayern's stadium's Südkurve held up several banners making clear their opposition to the Qatari businessman during the first half of Bayern's 1-0 win. One banner showed Al-Khelaifi’s face with a line over it, another accused him of being “plutocratic” with an expletive, and more banners read: “Minister, club owner, TV rights holder, UEFA ExCo member & ECA chairman all in one?” The 51-year-old Al-Khelaifi is unpopular among the Bayern fans for his influence on European soccer as chairman of the European Club Association, Qatar Sports Investments — the owner of PSG — and the Qatari state-owned beIN media group. He also joined UEFA’s executive committee in 2019. Al-Khelaifi has long drawn scrutiny for apparent conflicts of interest because of his various roles. The ECA has a big influence on shaping the Champions League's playing format and commercial strategy, while beIN is one of the competition's major broadcast partners. In 2022, UEFA left Al-Khelaifi unpunished despite finding PSG guilty of misconduct for confrontations with match officials after losing in the Champions League. There were heated scenes involving Al-Khelaifi and then-PSG sporting director Leonardo after a defeat to Real Madrid. UEFA sanctioned Leonardo but did not cite Al-Khelaifi in its disciplinary statement, nor did it say why. Al-Khelaifi, a former tennis professional, is a longtime friend of Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , an International Olympic Committee member who is influential in global sports. Bayern fans had long protested against their own club’s sponsorship deals with Qatar, which was accused of human rights abuses before it hosted the 2022 World Cup. The fans eventually got their way last year when Bayern’s long-running sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways was not renewed. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported at the time that the decision came from Qatar. Sheikh Tamim was reportedly unhappy with the Bayern fans’ constant criticism and the club’s failure to distance itself from their protests. Kim Min-jae’s first-half header was enough for Bayern's victory, its seventh straight without conceding across all competitions. PSG forward Ousmane Dembelé was sent off early in the second half. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerHimalaya's IPO is likely to draw significant investor interest, thanks to its strong position in the Chinese podcast market and its track record of delivering compelling audio content to users. The company's revenue growth and user engagement metrics are expected to be key selling points for potential investors, as they reflect Himalaya's ability to monetize its content and retain a loyal user base.President-elect Donald Trump has announced an agreement with the Biden administration that will allow his transition team to begin coordinating with federal agencies two months before he enters office. "Trump is entering the next phase of his administration’s transition by executing a memorandum of understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House," Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff, said in a statement. "This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power.” While President Joe Biden promised an orderly transition once it became clear that Trump had won the 2024 election, Trump's team has been slow to sign a formal agreement to start the process. The deadline for the paperwork was Oct. 1, according to federal statute. Trump had also refused the General Services Administration's transition resources, including office space, equipment, administrative support, and other services as required under the Presidential Transition Act . The president-elect eschewed signing two separate memoranda of understanding with the GSA as well and has not signed a required ethics plan. Some conservatives said Trump should fund the transition efforts instead to avoid disclosure policies required by the GSA. The costs would likely fall between $14 to $16 million. A statement from Biden White House spokeswoman Saloni Sharma reiterated that there will be a smooth transition of power but expressed frustration with Trump's refusal to sign the GSA paperwork. "Since September, the White House and the GSA have repeatedly made the case to the Trump transition team to sign both the GSA and White House MOUs as both parties have done during previous transitions," she said. Trump has only signed the memorandum. "As part of the White House MOU, the Trump-Vance transition team has agreed to important safeguards to protect non-public information and prevent conflicts of interest, including who has access to the information and how the information is shared," Sharma's statement reads. "The MOU also outlines that the Trump transition team will publicly post their ethics plan to the GSA website." The Biden White House made clear it does not agree with Trump's decision not to sign the GSA agreement, but says it will continue to work with the incoming administration in accordance with the Presidential Transition Act. According to the Trump team's statement, the transition will not use taxpayer money, government buildings, or GSA-provided technology, and will operate as a "self-sufficient organization." "This organizational autonomy means a streamlined process that guarantees the Trump administration is ready on Day 1," the announcement reads. "The transition already has existing security and information protections built in, which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight." Trump's team says its own ethics plan meets GSA requirements for incoming personnel and confirmed that it will be posted to the GSA's website. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Per the agreement, the Trump transition will disclose "landing team members" to the Biden administration, and donors who are funding the transition will be disclosed to the public. All donors will be domestic in origin. Trump and Biden met in the Oval Office for more than two hours earlier this month, with the vast majority of that meeting not open to the press.

BEIJING : Chinese new energy vehicle companies plan to set up factories in Pakistan, and African countries like Kenya have purchased Chinese electric vehicles. “China’s energy innovation has made significant contributions to the world economy.” This was stated by Zafaruddin Mahmood, President of the Lahore-based think tank Understanding China Forum (UCF) and former Special Advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister, during the 2024 Understanding China Conference (Guangzhou) in the recent week, China Economic Net reported. The conference, themed “Carry Through the Reform to the End: Chinese Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development,” aimed to infuse Chinese wisdom and the power of the times into the volatile and ever-changing global landscape. Over 600 Chinese and international delegates from politics, strategy, business, academia, and think tanks participated in the event, serving as a platform for the world to comprehend China’s long-term economic development plans. According to Zafaruddin Mahmood “China’s modernization is one of the most remarkable transformations in human history—a journey that has not only reshaped the nation’s destiny but has also become a beacon of hope for the developing world.” Zafaruddin, who has lived and worked in China for over four decades—from his student days in 1976 to his roles as Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Pakistani Embassy in China, Special Envoy for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and founder of the UCF—praised China’s opening-up policy. “Every time I come to China, I witness new developments,” he shared. “China’s high-level opening-up is giving a boost to the world economy.” He emphasized that China provides a driving force for global development. “Most people in the world have used Chinese products, which shows China’s tremendous impact on the world economy,” he said. With the rapid development of Chinese technology, apps like WeChat have entered the lives of Pakistanis, and the threshold for technical services has been lowered considerably. China’s rapid industrialization has made it the “factory of the world,” producing a wide range of goods, from basic consumer items to cutting-edge technology. Companies such as Huawei, Alibaba, and BYD have become global leaders, reshaping industries and setting new benchmarks for innovation. Moreover, China’s modernization is deeply intertwined with its commitment to environmental sustainability. “China has pivoted toward a green development model and is now the world’s largest producer and consumer of renewable energy,” Zafaruddin noted. With significant investments in solar, wind, and hydropower technologies, China’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 is not just a national commitment but a global responsibility. Citing Pakistan as an illustration, Zafaruddin said, “Chinese solar products are inexpensive and highly prevalent in Pakistan. Almost every household uses Chinese solar products, and I have them installed at my home too.” “China’s modernization journey is not just about achieving national greatness; it is about contributing to global progress,” he added. From leading the fight against climate change to advancing technologies that benefit humanity, China is shaping a future defined by collaboration and shared prosperity. Initiatives like the Global Development Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative reflect China’s commitment to building a shared future for humanity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );International support for the U.S.-led operation was strong, with several countries offering assistance and intelligence to aid in the airstrikes. The global coalition against terrorism reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating extremist threats and maintaining regional security.BOSTON — The Bruins were given the rare gift of an immediate do-over and they made the most of it on Saturday night at TD Garden. After the Blue Jackets romped over the Bruins in Columbus on Friday, the B’s walloped the Jackets, 4-0. It wasn’t the cleanest performance, but when they turned over the puck, the B’s did their best to shut down the play. Jeremy Swayman made 18 saves for his second shutout of the season and the B’s sixth straight win at TD Garden. The game marked the NHL debut of Fabian Lysell and, wouldn’t you know it, the B’s took the first lead of the game on the rookie’s first shift. While he didn’t figure in the scoring on the stat sheet, his speed was noticeable on the shift, and it would be on several shifts. On the goal, Brandon Carlo put the puck on net and, though it looked like it should have been frozen easily by Columbus goalie Daniil Tarasov, the netminder couldn’t hang on to it. Mikael Pyyhtia tried to skate it out of the crease but the long reach of Justin Brazeau knocked it into the net for Brazeau’s eighth of the year at 2:29. While the B’s took the early lead, the Jackets’ young offensive skill was evident in the first period as they had several dangerous shifts in the Boston zone, one of which was aided by a misplay of the puck by Jeremy Swayman. Tensions arose again when Kirill Marchenko caught Brad Marchand with a shoulder check to the head. Marchand was slow to get up but, once he did, he expressed his ire to Marchenko, though no blows were thrown. The B’s had the only power play of the first period after Marchand was hauled down in the slot. But the best chance came on the delayed call when it appeared Nikita Zadorov had an open net but he couldn’t get it past the Columbus defenders. Early in the second, the B’s survived a brutal shift from the fourth line after Kastelic coughed up the puck to Marchenko. The Jacket was given a clean breakaway but he shot it over the net. The Jackets maintained control and Swayman had to come up with a couple of big saves to preserve the lead. And when it was Columbus’ turn to spit up the puck shortly thereafter, the B’s made the Jackets pay. Damon Severson kicked the puck into his own slot but he overshot his teammate. Morgan Geekie gathered it and sniped it under Tarasov’s glove for the 2-0 lead at 6:29 for his eighth of the season and fourth in his last eight games. The B’s prospered off a potential disaster to make it 3-0 at 8:18. First Geekie turned the puck over just inside the Bruins blue line. The B’s recovered, only to have David Pastrnak cough it up at the blue line. But when a Jackets’ pass went off Pavel Zacha’s skate, the B’s had two forwards high and Geekie was able to send Pastrnak off on a clean breakaway. Pastrnak lifted it over Tarasov’s glove for his 13th of the season. There was more work to be done in the period after Mark Kastelic was called for a double minor high-sticking penalty. But after surrendering three power-play goals to Columbus on Friday, the B’s did an excellent job of killing off the full four minutes. Pastrnak had an opportunity to score his second breakaway goal in the final seconds of the period, but he clanged the post next to Tarasov’s blocker. Still, the B’s had a three-goal lead to work with in the third period. Cole Koepke made it 4-0 at 6:06 of the third with his sixth of the year, a long wrist shot over the blocker from the opposite wing. At that point, Mathieu Olivier decided it was time for some payback and he took a run at Charlie McAvoy on the next shift, knocking the defenseman’s head into the glass in the neutral zone. Zadorov went after Olivier and the two threw down. Fortunately for the B’s, McAvoy returned to the game.There are numerous options for concert earplugs nowadays, so you don’t have to settle for the bargain bin foam bits that completely seal off your ears anymore. The PPE-grade products vary in design and performance, with some offering different levels of noise reduction. That hearing protection always comes with the promise that the earplugs won’t completely muffle the band, which is a real problem when you have to settle for the generic foam versions from the bartender. Loop has been in the concert earplug game since its founding in 2016. In that time, its product roster has grown to encompass nine different models, including dedicated options for sleep, travel, commuting and social events in addition to concerts, festivals and sporting events. The Switch 2 ($59.95) is Loop’s latest, an improved version of the original Switch that debuted the ability to change sound filter levels while the earplugs were still in your ears. To put the audio quality to the test, I took them to a 100dB rock show in a small venue last month. Loop/Engadget 88 100 Expert Score Loop Switch 2 The Switch 2 delivers on Loop's promise to safely filter loud noise without overly muffling the sound for social gatherings, concerts, commuting and more. Pros Easy to adjust while wearing Very comfortable Cons Priciest model from Loop Noise levels on vary by 3dB $60 at Loop Loop has maintained mostly the same design from its first model. There’s a silicone ear tip, similar to those on wireless earbuds, that’s attached to a circular loop where all the protective bits reside. In the case of the Switch 2, the outer half of that loop rotates to allow you to select between three levels of sound filtration: Engage, Experience and Quiet. These settings reduce noise by 20dB, 23dB and 26dB respectively, and you don’t have to take them out to make the adjustment. The company recommends Engage for social gatherings and conversations while Experience works best for concerts and sporting events. Quiet’s maximum noise reduction is meant for commutes and downtime, which also makes them a solid option for travel. For the Switch 2, Loop says it redesigned that dial for “smoother” changes while you’re wearing them. I never tried the previous model, but I can tell you this new version allows you to rotate between modes with ease. I never felt like I had to press the earplugs further into my ear to make the change, and the dial stopped at each setting with a satisfying click that I could feel even when the venue was too loud for me to hear it. True to Loop’s advice, I found the Experience setting was the best for the live show. My Apple Watch detected that the venue hit 100dB, a level at which the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says you should only be exposed to for 15 minutes to avoid hearing damage. Obviously, with five bands on the bill for the evening, I was going to spend significantly more time in a dangerously loud environment. So, the 23dB reduction at this setting brought the noise level down to a much safer number for the roughly two hours I was there. Since a set of earplugs is so tiny, I was able to easily carry both the Switch 2 and the Sennheiser SoundProtex Plus to the show for a direct comparison. During both the brutal hardcore of Ends of Sanity and the chaotic metal of Dying Wish, I could consistently hear more details with the Switch 2. This was most apparent in the guitars, where Loop’s option let in more high-frequency sound, allowing me to enjoy all the riffs both bands had to offer. I like the fit of SoundProtex Plus, but the filtered sound is more bass heavy and tends to favor the drums, so it loses some fidelity compared to the Switch 2. Billy Steele for Engadget The Switch 2 comes with four sizes of ear tips to help you find the best fit, and there’s a hard plastic case that’s easy to find when you drop it in a bag. Again, this is very compact (about the size of a quarter), so I just carry them with me all the time so I don’t have to worry about forgetting them before I head out to another concert. The SoundProtex Plus, however, comes with three separate ear plugs in three different sizes. That pack also includes four sound filters, with options for 10dB, 17dB, 20dB and “full” noise reduction. The big problem with Sennheiser's version is that you can’t swap the filters without removing them from your ears. It’s a quick process, but the filters are tiny, so it’s not something you want to fiddle with mid-set in a crowded club. Plus, you’ll have to remember to pack those in the tiny pouch the company gives you before you leave home. The SoundProtex Plus is now a much more attractive option at $50, which is $30 less than they were when I reviewed them. But, as I mentioned, I think the Switch 2 offers better sound filtration and ease of use for just $10 more. I have close friends and former bandmates who’ve used Loop earplugs for years and they noted the secure fit of the ear tips in the company’s products as a key selling point. Some of the competition tends to work itself loose after a few minutes, they said, requiring constant adjustment. For the Switch 2, the company revised those parts for better noise reduction in the maximum or Quiet mode, and they still stay in place as long as you need them to. The only time I ever reached for the earplugs during the show was to adjust the filter setting for testing purposes. I’ve been toting the SoundProtex Plus around with me since I started testing them last year, and they’ve served me well. However, the Switch 2 lets more detail through, which means you can hear more of what the band has to offer during the show. Plus, Loop’s latest model offers more noise protection at each level, with even the lowest setting bringing a 100dB venue down to something that’s safer to stand in. And like the Sennheiser package, the Switch 2 is certified as hearing protection after thorough testing, meeting both EU and US safety standards.

The rise of social media platforms and live streaming services has provided individuals with a powerful tool to reach out to a vast audience and build a loyal following. With this newfound fame and visibility, many content creators have resorted to shock value and provocative content in order to stand out in a crowded digital landscape. However, the quest for views and likes has led some creators to cross the line into inappropriate and distasteful territory.