In the world of co-op gaming, few studios have made as big an impact in recent years as Hazelight. With their breakout hit A Way Out in 2018 and the Game of the Year winner It Takes Two in 2021, director Josef Fares and his team have proven themselves masters of the split-screen experience. But while fans have been clamoring for a sequel to It Takes Two, it seems that Hazelight has something else […]
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THE Girl Scouts organization has been slammed over its membership hike, with volunteers concerned the increase will jeopardize future troops.
The cash-strapped program’s national council approved the increases on Saturday as Girl Scouts troopers will begin to feel the pitch of the new prices in 2026.
Dues for 2025 will remain at $25 annually for children – a price that has remained unchanged for eight years.
But, the price for youth memberships will increase to $45 a year in 2026 and $65 in 2027, the Girl Scouts National Council approved.
The $65 membership is a smaller increase than the proposed $85 proposal.
Adult memberships will also see a price increase from $25 to $30 beginning in 2026.
“Girl Scouting must invest today to better serve our current members and to reach girls who are currently missing out on the Girl Scout experience,” the organization said on its website.
“This investment provides the opportunity to implement initiatives that will have a lasting impact on our Girl Scout councils, volunteers, and the girls and families we serve.
“We are committed to providing financial assistance to all who need it.”
The organization said the membership hike will benefit existing and future troops.
“[The increasing fees] will make programs easier to deliver for volunteers and make technology easier to use,” Bonnie Barczykowski, Girl Scouts of the USA CEO, told members in a video.
“More turnkey trainings, recruitment tools and programs, and create new experiences, including opportunities to explore new places.”
Girl Scouts earn badges on topics ranging from financial literacy, technology, and entrepreneurship to outdoor and first-aid skills.
Sally Bertram, a 30-year troop leader with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, raised issues with the price hike.
“It’s an enormous increase,” she told CNN.
“It’s like, what are you people thinking? You are going to run yourselves out of business.”
The membership increase comes at a time when the beloved program is having difficulties attracting new members and struggling to stay afloat financially.
In 2023, the Girl Scouts ended its fiscal year with a $4.4 million deficit, according to the handbook.
That same year, the organization raised the price of a box of its most popular cookies by roughly 20%.
Girl Scouts cookies net the program about $800 million a year.
However, the deficit is expected to climb to $5.6 million at the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
The Girl Scouts of the US did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
The Girl Scouts of the US has announced a membership increase - the organization's first hike in eight years.
Timeline of the membership dues increase:
CARRYING shopping while walking up stairs and chopping wood – the former I do all the time but the latter is very rare.
Yet both are among nine movements that we should all be able to do at age 50 in order to stay fit until 90.
That is according to Will Harlow, physiotherapist, over-fifties health specialist and author of new book, Thriving Beyond Fifty.
Given my 50th is in January, I decided to see how I fared.
After all, there is a higher chance than ever that I could live to 90, according to the Office for National Statistics.
A recent report finds there are 551,758 people aged over 90 in England and Wales — a 0.2 per cent increase from 2022, compared with a 2.1 per cent rise in the previous year.
I’m very conscious of my health and do everything I can to stay as fit and healthy as possible.
I don’t drink or smoke, I try to exercise every day, whether it be a walk, yoga, swimming or weights, and I eat healthily.
I’ve lost more than two stone this year, after realising the weight was piling on and that this can have health implications.
Both of my parents died at age 55, — Mum from cancer and Dad from MND, ten years apart.
As I now approach that milestone of turning 50, I’ve become more aware of my own mortality.
Will says: “There is still so much living to do after the 50-year mark. I like to think of 50 as the halfway point in life. Living to 100 years old may seem far-fetched but getting there is becoming more realistic with each passing decade.
“The problem is that many people may live to a wonderful age in numerical terms, yet their later years are plagued by pain and suffering.
“This can turn those final decades of your life from being potentially the most rewarding to instead the most cruel.”
But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a bit of investment, your older years can be pain-free and healthy.
Will explains: “The Nine at 90 is a collection of movements that can be used to effectively screen your whole body for movement problems.
“Many people are surprised to discover they are unable to do some of these movements, and I would not expect every older person to be able to do them.
“But they simply reveal where your problem areas might be, and that realisation can give you a clear objective to work towards.”
Here, we explain nine tasks you should be able to do at 50 to keep yourself fit.
Give them a go . . .
THE consequences of falls cost the NHS over £2billion per year.
The perils of suffering a fall are enormous.
They are the most common cause of injury-related deaths for over-75s, according to Age UK.
Will says: “Luckily, for many people falls don’t damage anything more than their confidence.
“But having fallen, there is another problem you must face.
“That problem is how to get up from the floor, especially when no one else is around.”
This isn’t the way that I would usually attempt to get up from the floor, but I imagine it is a good one to practise as you get older.
TO DO:
APPARENTLY, being able to put your cabin suitcase into the overhead luggage compartment on a plane requires considerable upper-body strength, and stability.
Will says: “The shoulders, arms and ‘core’ muscles are all highly active when we lift and shift above our heads, and excellent shoulder mobility is also required when it comes to reaching for your case.”
This task wasn’t too bad but I can see how it would be a challenge if somebody has particularly tight shoulders.
TO DO:
PICKING up a light object like a sock, phone or cable is something most of us can do in a swift movement.
But Will says: “When we come across a heavy load on the floor that needs shifting, it’s important we have the ability to do this without risk of injury.
“For this movement, ankle and hip mobility are vital, as well as strength and coordination of the lower-limb muscles.”
I can be guilty of not getting down properly to pick things up, so will remind myself this is the best way to do it.
It wasn’t too hard – but ask me when I try to shift some-thing particularly heavy.
TO DO:
I FEEL like I spend my life taking stuff up and down the stairs – washing, plates and bags.
Will says: “It’s important to be able to climb the stairs without the use of the handrail when one isn’t available, and to be able to transport a heavy load in each hand up and down the staircase when required.
“Climbing the stairs with a bag of shopping in each hand is a great test for your leg strength and overall stability.
“If you can do this task, it should bring you confidence across the board.”
I’m well-practised at this but always make sure I walk slowly, as I am conscious of tripping.
TO DO:
THIS was pretty easy and it’s something I try to do frequently.
But the added weight did make it harder.
Will says: “Being able to sit down and stand up with good control throughout this motion, without using your hands, shows excellent control of your thigh muscles – one of the key muscle groups for many of the tasks we perform every day.
“I use this movement as my number one quick screening tool when I have a client with a lower-limb problem, to check how well they’re moving before we get to work.”
TO DO:
CHANCES are this isn’t something you need to do regularly, but digging is a great form of exercise.
Will says: “Digging with a heavy spade is an activity that involves a range of muscle groups, meaning the benefits of this activity are widespread.
“Not only will each thrust of the spade require a maximal effort from your muscles, but the effort will require your heart and lungs to be working well, too.
“Because of this, being able to dig a hole represents the ability to perform a truly practical, physical activity that transfers across many other DIY or garden tasks.”
This was a challenge for me, from a cardiovascular point of view. I was pretty hot after a few minutes – it’s a really good workout.
TO DO:
MANY older people could only dream of getting this close to the floor but you may be used to the gardening crouch if you’re green-fingered.
Will says: “It requires excellent mobility of your ankles, knees and hip.
“The common substitute people make for this movement is to ‘fold’ at the waist and use the movement of their lower back to reach for the floor.
“Constant repetitive use of this action can lead to back pain and isn’t good for your long-term back health.”
I squat most days to lift things from the floor so don’t find this difficult.
TO DO:
WILL says: “Swinging the axe requires you to generate force with your lower limbs, then transfer it up through your trunk to your arms before contracting your shoulders and trunk to bring the axe down.
“Almost every muscle group in the body is used.”
It was hard work and my heart was racing after just a few chops.
My core needs to be stronger to protect my back.
TO DO:
I TRY to walk at least 8,000 steps a day, which is about three to four miles, but will push myself to add more moving forward.
Will reckons walking five miles is a “good audit of your general mobility”.
He says: “Little niggles and problems with your walking technique are likely to show, highlighting areas of your body that need extra work.
“What’s more, having the ability to walk five miles gives you confidence in certain situations that, luckily, we don’t have to contend with very often but are always a possibility – such as being stranded some-where after your car has broken down, with no signal to call the breakdown services.”
TO DO:
WILL says: “If you can’t complete the tasks in the Nine at Ninety, don’t worry: it’s likely that you’re just out of practice.
“When we don’t use these parts of our body regularly, we lose the ability to call on them when we need to.
“But, in many cases, this process is reversible.
“There are many goals that are closer to being within reach than you think.
“First, you need to work out if the reason you can’t perform these movements is because of lack of practice, or because an injury is preventing you from doing so.
“Get the injury problem solved first before trying to push on with these tasks.
“Seek out some professional advice about your individual circumstances.
“If you think that most of these are within your capabilities at this current time, that’s fantastic and should be applauded.
“Your task is simply to maintain your ability to perform these movements as each year passes, watching out for early signs of stiffness or weakness that may prohibit your movement.
“Key ‘sticky’ areas to watch for are loss of movement in your shoulder joints, tightness in your calves and stiffness in the hips and knees.
“Keep an eye on these areas and seek guidance if you feel stiffness or tightness setting in any time soon.”
CANDY hauls may look different this Halloween thanks to skyrocketing cocoa costs, industry leaders warn.
Chocolate giants like Hershey and Mars are expected to lighten variety packs and shrink candy bars after cocoa prices doubled.
Growing cocoa is an incredibly sensitive process, and farmers have had a difficult time dealing with weather conditions this year.
Under the best circumstances, it is difficult to find as the beans mainly grow in West Africa in countries like Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
For about three years now, these areas have been hit hard by climate pattern El Niño which has brought on dryer conditions.
Now, supplies are dwindling, and candy makers are fighting over what’s left of this year’s crop.
“Cocoa is not like a normal agriculture crop where you have it grown everywhere, like other commodities,” David Branch, sector manager at Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Insitute, told CNN.
“It takes a very specific site and temperature range to grow.”
According to the International Cocoa Organization, global production is expected to fall 14.2% this season.
Chocolate companies felt the pressure earlier this year during Valentine’s Day and Easter, when cocoa was half the price it is now.
Michele Buck, the president of Hershey, told analysts in an earnings call the company’s operating profit nosedived 48.7% compared to last year.
However, Hershey says Halloween prices shouldn’t be affected by the change, and crops look good for next season.
“So far we’re having really decent weather for this year’s crop,” Branch said.
“It will start helping to boost supply, so that’s why we expect that the prices will come down.”
Consumers have noticed an uptick in chocolate prices since the cocoa supply declined, and some are devising creative solutions to save money this Halloween.
One parent admitted that he would be handing out chips this year as a money-saving solution to the inflationary price, he told Canadian outlet CHCH.
Companies are also working to keep prices low by focusing on making more candies without chocolate, industry experts told CNN.
Meanwhile, chocolate variety packs are expected to be smaller until cocoa production catches up in September 2025.
Branch said that “shrinkflation” – the practice of downsizing portions while keeping the same price – is affecting bags of chocolate.
“You get a two-pound bag of a mixture of all these different candies from a company,” she said.
“Well, that bag is probably going down to be less than two pounds now at the same price point.”
Companies may also change their recipes to remove chocolate entirely from candies and replace a layer with nuts or wafers.
But despite the changes, chocolate remains the most popular candy – and there will be no shortage of it on the shelves this Halloween.
BEST BUY has revealed its early Black Friday deals date and “doorbusters” that will drop every week – promising customers some hot deals.
The retail giant is the go-to spot for deals on just about everything, and come November, it’s the prime destination for Christmas shopping.
Best Buy revealed its Black Friday deals will start on November 8 this year – promising incredible sales and discounts.
And what’s even more of a treat is every Friday, the retailer will be dropping new doorbusters – otherwise known as some of the hottest deals customers can land on top tech.
The doorbuster deals will go through until December 20 on the Best Buy App, BestBuy.com as well as being in stores.
On top of this, Plus and Total members get early access every Thursday before they’re even available to all shoppers.
While Black Friday deals and the doorbusters start on November 8, Best Buy’s Black Friday Sale will kick off more than a week early this year on November 21.
It promises incredible deals on thousands of gifts and top brands.
And the retailer’s Cyber Monday Sale is set to begin on December 1 where shoppers could save up to an unbelievable 50 per cent on gifts.
Best Buy’s last Black Friday was a massive hit, offering some incredible deals.
We saw the usual discounts on laptops, but the savings didn’t stop there.
Must-have gadgets like Samsung smart TVs and Google smartwatches also saw prices slashed.
Looking ahead to 2024, we’re gearing up for another round of unbeatable offers.
Best Buy is the go-to spot for tech, so brace yourself for even more fantastic deals this time around.
Black Friday has officially become the Super Bowl of the retail calendar.
Every year, shoppers race to check items off their wishlist and snag the best Black Friday deals ahead of the holiday season.
Once all this year’s Thanksgiving fun is out of the way, it’s then time to enjoy the Black Friday shopping frenzy, with retailers offering huge discounts on everything you can imagine.
So whether you’re braving the shop floor, or dashing to score those bargains in your online baskets, it’s time to limber up those shopping muscles!
And we’re here to get you the best of the best, with our roundup of the most sought-after items and biggest price cuts right here.
The 2024 Black Friday sale is kicking off on November 29.
For more info on this mega-sale, check out our ‘When is Black Friday 2024?’ explainer, where you’ll find all you need to know about the event.
The sale takes place in November, so get prepared and most importantly, save!
Several retailers launch deals earlier in the month, so you’re likely to get a quick start checking items off your wishlists.
But to avoid your coveted items from going out of stock, especially on popular products, we recommend snapping them up as soon as you can as they won’t be around for long.
Things get started as soon as we enter the month of November.
With the sale date set, we’re hoping for flash discounts, limited deals, and even bigger savings to shop as retailers fight for your attention.
But don’t get lost in the frenzy, we will guide you through it right here.
The sale typically ends on the following Monday, dubbed Cyber Monday for its incredible online deals.
The whole event has become something of a sales weekend, with many of the huge savings seen during Black Friday and beyond.
Black Friday is an excellent time to make purchases, with many retailers offering their lowest prices on items during the sales period.
However, to make sure you’re getting the best deals we recommend shopping around, using our guides, and checking out price comparison websites like Camelcamelcamel.
Some of the best places to shop are department stores, which usually have leftover stock that they want to clear before the new year comes.
That means some big savings for shoppers, so it’s well worth checking out.
There are also impressive savings to bag directly from your favorite brand names.
In our experience we’ve seen excellent sales in the past from the following retailers: