Because Miami Beach is such an iconic beach in Florida – and the USA – we’re going to start this road trip there! Now you could probably spend an entire week just exploring the Miami Beach area, because there’s so much to do. Hang out at South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District or the popular Ocean Drive.
Must-see during every Florida road trip: Everglades National Park
On your way from Miami to Key West, you will pass little Florida City – this town is a starting point to the south/main entrance of Everglades National Park. If you can book 2 hours of your travel time, it’s an excellent idea to visit at least Anhinga Trail and observe some fantastic birds and alligators.
Actually, it’s the easiest way and the best place to see Everglades wildlife in their natural habitat on your Miami to Key West Road trip, so don’t waste this opportunity.
Stop for water activities at Key Largo
Key Largo is the first town on the Florida Keys you reach while driving to Key West. Highway 1 enters halfway down this 33-mile long island after it leaves the mainland of Florida.
Money conscious tourists can find great values in Key Largo. Everything from gas to groceries to overnight accommodations costs less there than they do in Key West.
Key Largo is where the Highway 1 drive starts to become truly beautiful.
This island is more than a pit stop to gas and go. There are sights you’ll only see in Key Largo. Scuba divers flock to the Keys, and they’ll certainly want to stop at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to see the underwater sculpture Christ of The Abyss. Even non-divers will enjoy this History of Diving Museum!
OK, that’s 3. 19 more things to do await you by clicking the link below.
On Dec. 22, LastPass CEO Karim Toubba acknowledged in a blog post that a security incident the company first disclosed in August eventually paved the way for an “unauthorized party” to steal customer account information and sensitive vault data. The breach is the latest in a lengthy and troubling string of security incidents involving LastPass, which date back to 2011.
It’s also the most alarming.
The unauthorized party was able to gain access to unencrypted customer account information like LastPass usernames, company names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses, according to Toubba. That same unauthorized party was also able to steal customer vault data, which includes unencrypted data like website URLs as well as encrypted data like the usernames and passwords for all the sites that LastPass users have stored in their vaults.
If you’re a LastPass subscriber, the severity of this breach should have you looking for a different password manager, because your passwords and personal data are at serious risk of being exposed.
What should LastPass subscribers do?
The company didn’t specify how many users were affected by the breach, and LastPass didn’t respond to CNET’s request for additional comment on the breach. But if you’re a LastPass subscriber, you need to operate under the assumption that your user and vault data are in the hands of an unauthorized party with ill intentions. Though the most sensitive data is encrypted, the problem is that the threat actor can run “brute force” attacks on those stolen local files. LastPass estimates it would take “millions of years” to guess your master password — if you’ve followed its best practices.
If you haven’t — or if you just want total peace of mind — you’ll need to spend some serious time and effort changing your individual passwords. And while you’re doing that, you’ll probably want to transition away from LastPass, too.
With that in mind, here’s what you need to do right now if you’re a LastPass subscriber:
1. Find a new password manager. Given LastPass’ history with security incidents and considering the severity of this latest breach, now’s a better time than ever to seek an alternative.
2. Change your most important site-level passwords immediately. This includes passwords for anything like online banking, financial records, internal company logins and medical information. Make sure these new passwords are strong and unique.
3. Change every single one of your other online passwords. It’s a good idea to change your passwords in order of importance here too. Start with changing the passwords to accounts like email and social media profiles, then you can start moving backward to other accounts that may not be as critical.
4. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Once you’ve changed your passwords, make sure to enable 2FA on any online account that offers it. This will give you an added layer of protection by alerting you and requiring you to authorize each login attempt. That means even if someone ends up obtaining your new password, they shouldn’t be able to gain access to a given site without your secondary authenticating device (typically your phone).
5. Change your master password. Though this doesn’t change the threat level to the stolen vaults, it’s still prudent to help mitigate the threats of any potential future attack — that is, if you decide you want to stay with LastPass.
Article and photo by: CNET: Product reviews, advice, how-tos and the latest news
I wanted to check in with my people about today’s horoscope because it seems that I am teetering. Check it out:
“You may find yourself teetering between the real world and a fanciful one. More than likely, the fantasy world is the one that wins out, but this doesn’t mean that you should completely lose all touch with reality. If anyone can bridge these two worlds, it is you. More than likely, you will find yourself drawn to the medium that acts as a wonderful bridge between the two~ art. Indeed, your creative juices are gushing forth like a huge waterfall.”
Well, I love music. but have never dabbled in art. I enjoy writing and I think it might be a more appropriate venue for me to pursue in terms of creative writing.
Once again, welcome to DLP for this week. I hope you are keeping up with the examples and are beginning to see some improvement in your work. Keep going! It will happen.
Are you watching the game or the commercials? The Super Bowl commercials are at the forefront of the minds of football and, especially, non-football fans alike.
Super Bowl Sunday is finally here and that means we’re just hours away from crowning another champion as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the game itself isn’t the only thing that fans are concerned with when it comes to one of the biggest days on the sports calendar.
Each year, the Super Bowl is the most-watched television program in the United States. According to Variety, a 30-second Super Bowl ad will cost between $6 and $7 million during Super Bowl LVII. In 2022, a 30-second Super Bowl ad ran companies an estimated $6.5 million.
Patrick Mahomes, fresh off his second NFL MVP award win, will be looking to snap a nine-game losing streak by league MVPs who play in the big game, while the Eagles are looking to become the second team in NFL history to win two Super Bowls in a six-year span with a different quarterback and head coach.
How to watch
Date: Sunday, Feb. 12 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Location: State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Arizona TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (try for free) Odds: Eagles -1.5, O/U 51
These game day snacks are guaranteed to be fan favorites.
Some people get really into the Super Bowl, especially if their team is playing. Some people are just there to watch the ads, while others are most excited about the snacks they’ll get to eat during the Super Bowl party. If you fall into that last group, you’ve probably done some thinking about what Super Bowl snacks you’ll be preparing this year. These are some of the best Super Bowl recipes that will make game day a win this year, regardless of which team actually takes home the trophy.
There’s something in here for everyone, whether you’re serving a crowd of meat lovers, vegetarians, picky eaters, chocoholics, kids, or even all of the above. Win or lose, these Super Bowl snacks are sure to please any crowd when it’s time to gather around for the game.
Ham and Brie Quesadilla
Quesadillas are a Super Bowl staple, but this version takes them to the next level with ham, brie, and Dijon mustard.
These pulled pork sliders get a sweet-and-sour upgrade thanks to the orange marmalade and cider vinegar in this recipe. Most of it comes together in a slow cooker, leaving your oven and stovetop free for other game day goodies.
The title game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII features a collection of stars that should produce fireworks at a high quantity. The game is on Sunday, February 12.
The Chiefs will win if:
Patrick Mahomes plays like the MVP
The Eagles win the tale of the tape in nearly every category, but the former MVP can tip the scales in the Chiefs’ favor with a spectacular performance in Super Bowl LVII. Mahomes is one of the few quarterbacks with the talent to single-handedly win a game as a magician from the pocket.
Against the Eagles, Mahomes will need to utilize his athleticism to buy time against a ferocious pass rush that features four defenders with at least 10 sacks. Despite nursing a high-ankle sprain, the all-star passer must take advantage of the cracks and creases created by an aggressive pass rush intent on perpetuating a prolific sack rate.
If Mahomes makes a few impromptu plays to enhance an offense that puts up points in bunches, the Chiefs should be able to hang around for four quarters in a matchup that appears lopsided on paper.
The Eagles will win if:
The running game sets the tone
Despite the presence of a pair of 1,000-yard receivers on the perimeter, the Eagles are at their best relying on a gritty running game that features a dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield, tormenting undisciplined defenders with various RPOs, misdirection and deception plays.
Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders combined for 2,000-plus rushing yards (2,049) and 16 touchdowns as the primary ball carriers in the Eagles’ power-based offense. With the best offensive line in football specializing in knocking defenders off of the ball, the Eagles can force the Chiefs to play more “plus-one” fronts with one-on-one coverage on the outside by successfully running the ball early in the contest.
If the Eagles can pick up four yards or more on early down runs while controlling the clock with a deliberate tempo, they can successfully utilize a “keep away” strategy that limits Mahomes’ touches while wearing down a Chiefs defensive front that lacks the depth to handle the body blows of a 12-round fight.
The new IRS guidance means tax season can proceed, and many Americans won’t face surprise taxes on these payments.
A week after telling millions of Americans to hold off filing their tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service provided guidance on the taxability of certain state payments Friday to clear up the confusion.
Here is the whole story direct from the IRS:
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service provided details today clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made by 21 states in 2022.
The IRS has determined that in the interest of sound tax administration and other factors, taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns.
During a review, the IRS determined it will not challenge the taxability of payments related to general welfare and disaster relief. This means that people in the following states do not need to report these state payments on their 2022 tax return: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Alaska is in this group as well, but please see below for more nuanced information.
In addition, many people in Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia also will not include state payments in income for federal tax purposes if they meet certain requirements. For these individuals, state payments will not be included for federal tax purposes if the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and either the recipient claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive a tax benefit.
The IRS appreciates the patience of taxpayers, tax professionals, software companies and state tax administrators as the IRS and Treasury worked to resolve this unique and complex situation.
The IRS is aware of questions involving special tax refunds or payments made by certain states related to the pandemic and its associated consequences in 2022. A variety of state programs distributed these payments in 2022 and the rules surrounding their treatment for federal income tax purposes are complex. While in general payments made by states are includable in income for federal tax purposes, there are exceptions that would apply to many of the payments made by states in 2022.
To assist taxpayers who have received these payments file their returns in a timely fashion, the IRS is providing the additional information below.
Refund of state taxes paid
If the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and either the recipient claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive a tax benefit (for example, because the $10,000 tax deduction limit applied) the payment is not included in income for federal tax purposes.
Payments from the following states in 2022 fall in this category and will be excluded from income for federal tax purposes unless the recipient received a tax benefit in the year the taxes were deducted.
Georgia
Massachusetts
South Carolina
Virginia
General welfare and disaster relief payments
If a payment is made for the promotion of the general welfare or as a disaster relief payment, for example related to the outgoing pandemic, it may be excludable from income for federal tax purposes under the General Welfare Doctrine or as a Qualified Disaster Relief Payment. Determining whether payments qualify for these exceptions is a complex fact intensive inquiry that depends on a number of considerations.
The IRS has reviewed the types of payments made by various states in 2022 that may fall in these categories and given the complicated fact-specific nature of determining the treatment of these payments for federal tax purposes balanced against the need to provide certainty and clarity for individuals who are now attempting to file their federal income tax returns, the IRS has determined that in the best interest of sound tax administration and given the fact that the pandemic emergency declaration is ending in May, 2023 making this an issue only for the 2022 tax year, if a taxpayer does not include the amount of one of these payments in its 2022 income for federal income tax purposes, the IRS will not challenge the treatment of the 2022 payment as excludable for income on an original or amended return.
Payments from the following states fall in this category and the IRS will not challenge the treatment of these payments as excludable for federal income tax purposes in 2022.
For a list of the specific payments to which this applies, please see this chart.
Other payments
Other payments that may have been made by states are generally includable in income for federal income tax purposes. This includes the annual payment of Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend and any payments from states provided as compensation to workers.
[1] Only for the supplemental Energy Relief Payment received in addition to the annual Permanent Fund Dividend.
[2] Illinois and New York issued multiple payments and in each case one of the payments was a refund of taxes, which should be treated as noted above, and one of the payments is in the category of disaster relief payment.
