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Pelican Press

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  1. NFL QB stock report, Week 12: Patrick Mahomes drops; Caleb Williams deserves your patience NFL QB stock report, Week 12: Patrick Mahomes drops; Caleb Williams deserves your patience Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his Kansas City counterpart, Patrick Mahomes, delivered yet another epic showdown Sunday. That matchup lives up to the hype almost every time, doesn’t it? Anyway, as a result of the Bills’ 30-21 victory in Orchard Park, Allen overtook Mahomes in our quarterback rankings for the first time since Week 5. The Athletic’s Week 12 QB rankings Allen stamped the performance with an exclamation point, pinballing his way down the field with a 26-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2 that capped the scoring. JOSH. ALLEN. GREATNESS. : #KCvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+ : pic.twitter.com/3HyIoDCaAC — NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024 It’s the way they did it that made the game so jolting. Mahomes, whose numbers are down across the board this season, has been excused due to the injuries and overturned depth chart around him, but Allen has mostly thrived while going through comparable circumstances. Allen’s leading receiver, throughout the season and again Sunday, was Khalil Shakir, who was third on the depth chart in 2023. Shakir delivered game-highs of eight catches and 70 yards against the Chiefs. Curtis Samuel, an eighth-year wideout on his third team, has been an afterthought for much of the season but made five grabs for 58 yards, including a fourth-quarter TD. Amari Cooper, a trade deadline acquisition who missed the past two games with a wrist injury, tallied two big catches for 55 yards. And yet, Allen trusted his group and made enough big plays on his own to hang 30 on the Chiefs’ fifth-ranked scoring defense (entering Sunday). That group hadn’t allowed 30 points since Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Allen finished 27-of-40 passing for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception; he also paced the Bills with 55 rushing yards and the pivotal score. GO DEEPER Reassessing AFC contenders: Bills the best? How dangerous are the Steelers? Sando’s Pick Six Mahomes, on the other hand, finished 23-of-33 passing for 196 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He leaned on rookie receiver Xavier Worthy (four catches, 61 yards, one touchdown), tight end Noah Gray (four catches, 23 yards, two touchdowns) and DeAndre Hopkins (three catches, 29 yards). Even though Mahomes hasn’t been at his best, his mere presence changed the game. Call it the flashbacks of Mahomes’ late-game heroics in his three playoff victories against the Bills, or simply just common sense, but the Bills bypassed a 44-yard field attempt to take a 26-21 lead with 2:27 remaining — instead going for it on fourth down rather than ceding a game-winning opportunity for Mahomes. Greatness sparked greatness. This time, Allen delivered while Mahomes watched from the sideline. Allen opened the season at No. 2 in the rankings but overtook Mahomes in Week 4. The Bills star only stayed up top for two weeks before slumping and dropping to No. 4, but he’s jumped a spot in two of the past three weeks. Mahomes, meanwhile, wrangled back the No. 1 spot in Weeks 6-7 before Lamar Jackson seized control. Mahomes’ résumé had plenty to do with that, but feedback from coaches and executives validated his standing despite relatively pedestrian statistics. Now at No. 3, this is the lowest Mahomes has ranked in our debut season of the QB stock report. Allen comes out of the bye with a Week 13 marquee matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. He’ll visit the Detroit Lions two weeks after that, giving him a couple more opportunities in the spotlight to chip away at Jackson’s lead in the MVP race. If Allen wins the coveted award for the first time, the knockout touchdown against the Chiefs could be his MVP moment. GO DEEPER NFL Week 11 takeaways: Bills make case as AFC’s best team, Bo Nix rookie of the year? Bear … up? It didn’t help on the scoreboard, as the Green Bay Packers blocked the Chicaco Bears’ game-winning field-goal attempt, but Caleb Williams looked more comfortable in his first game with Thomas Brown at offensive coordinator. Williams finished 23-of-31 passing for 231 yards and was a play away from delivering his first game-winning drive. We were pretty thorough last week when going through Williams’ struggles, but we’ve since heard new perspective to put his start into context. There’s been plenty of attention devoted to how long Williams has been holding the ball and taking too many sacks, but it’s important to understand the adjustment to the NFL game. One executive, who studied Williams extensively before the draft, pointed out the quarterback wasn’t asked to read safety rotations before the snap under coach Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma and USC. “That’ll force you to play slow if you’re not used to it,” the executive said. “I think our expectations for these guys is unrealistic, but that’s the nature of the business. Disguising coverages on the back end is all the rage right now in the NFL. That’s asking somebody to go from high school math to advanced calculus without any classes in between. I don’t think it’s an indication of who he is as a player.” So yeah, Williams has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long because he made so many plays off schedule in college, and it’s more difficult to do that now. But it’s not necessarily because Williams is stubbornly holding the ball too long — although that’s surely been the case on occasion — as it has plenty to do with trying to read more complex defenses in real time, often without the experience of proper fundamentals at prior levels. Williams needs time and experience to improve in those areas. When he gets to that point, the natural talent should take over. (Steel) curtain call Russell Wilson is making the most of his third act. The 35-year-old has won all four of his starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers and done plenty over the past month to change the narrative after three difficult seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. He’s completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 942 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions since taking over for Justin Fields. Wilson deserves credit for playing well, particularly at this stage of his career after struggling so badly, but it’s also a huge testament to the Steelers. They’re putting him in good situations and not asking him to play beyond his means, which is exactly how it should be for every quarterback. “They’re revisiting the pre- ‘Let Russ cook’ formula when he was coming up,” an executive said. “They’re running the ball, asking him to play-action pass, win high-leverage situations, and that’s what he’s good at. It starts to fall apart when you make him a high-volume passer. I think it’s sustainable as long as his body holds up. And they’ve got the best defense in the league.” There’s minimal pressure on Wilson and the Steelers to make this work. He’s making the league minimum because the Broncos are paying the balance of his offset money, so there’s no reason to air it out to justify his contract. And because Wilson has flashed enough with the deep ball, the Steelers’ run game has also benefited. Of course, the Steelers have also only allowed 19 points per game in his four starts, so Wilson hasn’t had to win any shootouts, sans the 28-27 thriller against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders in Week 10. Realistically, Wilson wasn’t going to go play for play with Jackson on Sunday, but he didn’t need to because the defense was stout. It’s a sustainable model, though the ceiling for both Wilson and the Steelers may be measured in their final four games against the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs and Bengals. But for now, Wilson and the Steelers have been perfect for one another. On a related note … Jackson had another rough day against a team that his number, completing just 16-of-33 passes for 207 yards, one touchdown and one interception along with 46 rushing yards, as the Ravens dropped a couple games behind the Steelers in the AFC North. As strong as Jackson has played this season, this type of outing wasn’t unpredictable. The Steelers (5-2), Chiefs (4-1) and Raiders (2-1) are the only teams with a winning record against the two-time MVP. Jackson has completed 57% of his passes for 1,077 yards, five touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 66.7 passer rating in his career against the Steelers. Against all opponents, that ranks second to last in completion percentage, eighth worst in yards per game (153.9) and last in passer rating. His 44 rushing yards per outing against the Steelers are his fourth fewest against any opponent, and he hasn’t ever rushed for a touchdown against them. Jackson will get another ****** at them on the national stage in Week 16. That’ll be an important moment for his MVP candidacy, especially four days before a Christmas showcase against the Texans. GO DEEPER NFL playoff projections 2024: Bills beat Chiefs; can they take AFC No. 1 seed, too? Looking Buff Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is playing better than any draft-eligible quarterback, and it’s not even close. That’s the viewpoint of one trusted evaluator. But from another? Miami’s Cam Ward is likely to wind up being the top QB in the class. GO DEEPER NFL Draft 2025 Big Board: Travis Hunter takes No. 1 spot, 4 QBs in updated top 50 It’s a relatively down year for QBs, so needy teams are scrambling to formulate their draft plans. Opinions are still varied because it’s early, but there’s also reason to believe teams will remain split on the best prospect in the springtime. Their hope is someone surges like Jayden Daniels a year ago, but the clock is ticking. There could be some major reaches in the draft, and we all know how that tends to pan out. Like Sanders? Strictly by the game tape, he is playing well enough to be worthy of the No. 1 pick. But teams do want to get plenty of time with Sanders throughout the offseason interview process. They need to gauge just how important football is to him. In that sense, there’s a bit of a holding pattern. This time two years ago, teams had questions about C.J. Stroud, but he blew them away during the interview process and put concerns to rest. If Sanders does the same thing, he’s going to put himself in great position to be the first quarterback off the board. If not? Ward might be the pick, even though he’s got a penchant for forcing the ball into high-risk situations. There could even be quarterback-needy teams in the top 10 that bypass the position altogether because of the uncertainty with the prospects. Dropped out of the rankings: Joe Flacco (benched), No. 27 last week; Daniel Jones (benched), No. 29 last week. Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up (Photo of Patrick Mahomes: ********** Petersen / Getty Images) Source link #NFL #stock #report #Week #Patrick #Mahomes #drops #Caleb #Williams #deserves #patience Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  2. Fable Alpha Gameplay Footage Details Revealed by Insider Fable Alpha Gameplay Footage Details Revealed by Insider Reliable industry insider Jez Corden has revealed details about Fable’s alpha gameplay footage, indicating that the game’s style is similar to CD Projekt Red’s. In the latest episode of The Xbox Two podcast (as shared by ZakkenKloot on X), Jez Corden discussed seeing some alpha gameplay footage for Fable and expressed his excitement by describing it as “fantastic.” However, Corden is uncertain about the timeline for this alpha build. Corden discusses how the alpha gameplay footage of Fable contains elements reminiscent of “CD Projekt Red DNA.” He explains that Playground Games has hired several developers from CD Projekt Red, including a combat designer. From the combat footage, he can identify where the inspiration originates. While the gameplay isn’t an exact replica of The Witcher, it features similar mechanics. Furthermore, the footage looks “super polished” for an alpha build. Moreover, Corden revealed that Fable’s alpha gameplay footage showcased various ******* types, including bows and arrows, spells, and melee weapons—similar to those used by Geralt. He also discusses the design of certain ****** types, featuring comedic and frightening elements for chickens and werewolves. Overall, he felt that the gameplay looked impressive, and the combat was “very tight” for an alpha build. In other news, Alan Wake 2 has sold over 1.8 million copies. Also, Pokemon TCG Pocket reportedly surpassed $120 million in earnings. What are your thoughts on Fable’s alpha gameplay footage? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more from Insider Gaming, read about Inaugural Indie Game Awards Announce Full List Of Nominees. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Fable #Alpha #Gameplay #Footage #Details #Revealed #Insider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  3. SpaceX Aims to Redo ‘Chopsticks’ Rocket Catch in Starship Flight SpaceX Aims to Redo ‘Chopsticks’ Rocket Catch in Starship Flight SpaceX is slated to launch its gargantuan Starship rocket on Tuesday out of South Texas, a key test that is expected to include a guest visit from President-elect Donald Trump. The sixth major test mission comes as SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is heavily engaged in transition planning for Trump’s second administration. Musk, who has been a near-constant fixture of Trump’s inner circle since the November 5 election, has maintained that over regulation, especially surrounding Starship, factored into his decision to support the ***********. SpaceX will try to launch Starship from its site in South Texas during a 30-minute time slot beginning at 4 p.m. local time, sending the vehicle to space and partially around the world. One of the most anticipated moments on Tuesday will come about seven minutes into the mission when the company will attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster in midair with giant mechanical arms — referred to as “chopsticks” — repeating the groundbreaking feat from its previous flight. The largest and most powerful rocket ever developed, Starship is under contract to function as a lunar lander that NASA will use to put people back on the moon for the first time in half a century. It’s the centerpiece of Musk’s ambition to start a settlement on Mars. The vehicle is also meant to revolutionise SpaceX’s business plan. Designed to be fully reusable, SpaceX claims Starship will be much cheaper to fly than any other rocket on the market and will eventually replace its industry-leading Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets for sending cargo into orbit. But to meet that promise of delivering a fully reusable rocket, SpaceX must refine its technique for recovering all of the pieces of Starship after launch. Subscribe Now: Business of Space newsletter, a weekly look at the inside stories of investments beyond Earth. The launch will be the latest event Musk and Trump have attended together, following a Saturday night Ultimate Fighting Championship match in Madison Square Garden. Trump has frequently showered Musk with praise at his rallies, oftentimes describing in great detail his awe watching SpaceX rockets. On this flight, the company will attempt once again to “catch” the rocket’s massive booster, called Super Heavy, which is used to propel the Starship spacecraft toward space throughout the first few minutes of takeoff. Like last time, the booster will return back its launchpad and slow itself down as it comes in for landing. A pair of giant mechanical arms will then catch the booster and stop its fall. Starship will attempt a fiery return plunge through the atmosphere, testing out an updated heat shield to protect it during the fall. It will then try to return to an upright position before splashing down into the Indian Ocean. While most of Starship appeared to survive this process in October, parts of the vehicle appeared to ***** off. However, the company was still able to splash down Starship relatively intact and upright in the ocean. SpaceX should have a better view of this fall during Tuesday’s launch attempt. The company aims to launch in the Texas afternoon, which means Starship will be landing in the Indian Ocean during the daytime. That should provide more sunlight to show how the vehicle survives its descent. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said on Friday that as many as 400 Starship flights were possible over the next four years. That frequency can only happen if SpaceX perfects its landing strategy, so the company can quickly turn around the rockets for their next flights. Shotwell described the process as similar to the way airlines drive down the cost of owning and operating commercial jetliners. During the October test, the booster came very close to crashing near the tower, Musk said in a video on his X platform. SpaceX will need to address that issue as well as a laundry list of other things, such as refueling the vehicle in space, before Starship lives up to the full scope of Musk’s plans. © 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source link #SpaceX #Aims #Redo #Chopsticks #Rocket #Catch #Starship #Flight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  4. Get over $100 off Philips Hue Festavia lights with this epic ****** Friday deal – just in time for Christmas Get over $100 off Philips Hue Festavia lights with this epic ****** Friday deal – just in time for Christmas The official Philips Hue ****** Friday ***** has finally arrived in the US, with huge savings on smart lights. There’s up to 40% off selected bulbs and fittings, but for me the best deal this year is the Philips Hue Festavia 500 LED string for just $251.99 (was $359.99). Shorter strings are also available, with the 250 LED string now down to $159.99 (was $219.99) and the 100 LED string reduced to only $83.99 (was $119.99). The Festavia string lights feature Philips Hue White & ****** Ambiance LEDs, which means each one can be set to one of 16 million colors. You can also take your pick from an extensive gallery of pre-made effects and animations (including warm candle effects and twinkling stars), or sync them to music for Christmas parties. Today’s best Philips Hue Festavia deal Why choose Festavia lights? Philips Hue Festavia lights are always popular, particularly around this time of year, and the shorter strings (ideal for trees) have a tendency to sell out fast. so it’s a good idea to grab a set while you can. Festavia lights aren’t just for Christmas, either – they can also be used as white lights the rest of the time to add a touch of interest to anywhere in your home. Try fitting them around a reading ***** or in a bedroom, and use a preset scene to adjust the light temperature automatically to suit the time of day. You don’t need to buy a separate Philips Hue Bridge Wi-Fi hub to use them, either – just install the Philips Hue Bluetooth app on your phone and get connected. For more details, check our our guide to the Philips Hue Bridge: what is it and how important is it. More of today’s ****** Friday sales in the US Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99 Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99 Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99 Christmas trees: top-rated trees from $54.99 Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99 Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99 Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture Lowe’s: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31 Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances Target: save on furniture, tech & clothing Walmart: cheap TVs, ****** vacs, furniture & appliances Source link #Philips #Hue #Festavia #lights #epic #****** #Friday #deal #time #Christmas Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  5. Super Micro Computer : Can AI Growth Potential Overcome Investor Doubts? Super Micro Computer : Can AI Growth Potential Overcome Investor Doubts? Super Micro Computer faces a Nasdaq delisting threat. A Special Committee investigation cleared management of ******. The company’s future hinges on its ability to regain investor trust and navigate market competition. Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:) is a provider of high-performance server and storage solutions crucial for the expanding artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure market, and the company is in a critical strategic position. Super Micro is most recognized for its modular and open architecture approach, but the company has been grappling with a series of difficult setbacks. A delayed annual report, an auditor’s resignation, a short-seller *******, and a delisting notice have sent the stock tumbling from its peak in March. However, recent developments, including an anticipated compliance plan submission to Nasdaq and positive findings from a Special Committee investigation, triggered a 17% surge in Super Micro’s stock, sparking cautious optimism among some investors. So, is it too little too late? Or should you buy Super Micro before the price rebounds? Building Blocks of Innovation: Super Micro’s Core Business Super Micro’s core competency ***** in designing and manufacturing high-performance server and storage solutions, essential components of the rapidly growing AI infrastructure ecosystem. The company’s modular, open-architecture design empowers clients to tailor solutions to their specific computational needs. This approach, coupled with a focus on rapid development and deployment, has served a diverse clientele, from large-scale data centers to enterprise customers. Super Micro’s expertise in this domain positions it as a potential beneficiary of the expanding AI market; however, recent events have introduced uncertainty. Confronting the Accusations: The Short-Seller Report In August 2024, a report published by Hindenburg Research alleged accounting irregularities, self-dealing among executives, and potential violations of U.S. sanctions. These allegations contributed to a significant decline in Super Micro’s stock price. The company promptly refuted the claims, asserting that the report contained factual inaccuracies and misleading interpretations. Nevertheless, the allegations, coupled with the subsequent resignation of the company’s auditor, Ernst & Young, have eroded investor confidence. The market is now awaiting further clarification on these matters, as any ongoing investigations or legal proceedings could substantially influence the company’s future as well as the stock price. Restoring Trust: The Special Committee Investigation To address the growing concerns surrounding the company’s governance and financial reporting, Super Micro’s Board of Directors established a Special Committee. The committee recently concluded its investigation, finding no evidence of ****** or misconduct by management or the Board. This conclusion is a significant development, potentially alleviating some investor anxieties. However, the Special Committee recommended several improvements to internal controls and oversight processes, emphasizing the need for enhanced transparency and accountability within the organization. Super Micro’s Path to Recovery The threat of delisting from the Nasdaq hangs heavy over Super Micro Computer, creating a high-stakes gamble with potentially significant consequences. The company faces a narrow window to submit a comprehensive compliance plan to the Nasdaq, outlining its strategy to address the delayed financial reporting. A ******** to meet Nasdaq’s stringent requirements could result in delisting, which would relegate Super Micro to the less liquid over-the-counter (OTC) markets. Such a move would almost certainly further erode investor confidence, potentially triggering a more substantial sell-off. The company’s public commitment to regaining compliance is crucial, yet the path ahead ******** uncertain and filled with challenges. The sharp 17% surge in SMCI’s stock price on November 18, reveals a market segment ******** on a successful resolution, indicating a degree of investor optimism despite the ongoing uncertainties. This bullish response, while noteworthy, may prove ********** if the proposed compliance plan falls short of Nasdaq’s expectations. The upcoming plan submission will serve as a pivotal moment, defining the near-term trajectory of SMCI and illustrating the market’s assessment of the company’s ability to navigate this turbulent *******. The plan’s intricacies, comprehensiveness, and subsequent Nasdaq reaction will be key elements in determining whether this reprieve converts into a sustainable recovery. Growth Slowdown or Strategic Adjustment? Super Micro’s earnings preliminary report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 (Q1 FY2025) was released, and the financial results present a mixed picture. The report’s preliminary nature is due to the company’s ongoing efforts to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing requirements. The delays in filing its annual 10-K report and the resignation of its auditor, Ernst & Young, necessitated the release of preliminary figures instead of the usual audited and fully vetted final report. The report’s preliminary nature highlights the ongoing uncertainty and challenges surrounding Super Micro’s financial reporting processes. Super Micro’s revenue is expected to fall between $5.9 billion and $6.0 billion, slightly below prior guidance. While a ****** margin of roughly 13.3% suggests profitability, it’s lower than in previous periods, potentially indicating intensifying competition and cost pressures. It’s important to clarify that the company provides GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) figures. Non-GAAP EPS typically excludes certain one-time or non-recurring items, providing a different perspective on profitability. Super Micro reported a cash position of $2.1 billion, which provides some financial flexibility. The company projects Q2 FY2025 revenue in the range of $5.5 billion to $6.1 billion, suggesting continued, but potentially slower, growth. A Critical ******* for Super Micro Super Micro is at a pivotal moment. The positive findings from the Special Committee investigation and the expected compliance plan filing offer a potential path to recovery. However, the company must overcome the reputational damage from the short-seller report and demonstrate consistent financial performance. Regaining investor trust and successfully navigating the competitive AI server market will be crucial for Super Micro’s long-term success. Investors should closely monitor the company’s progress in addressing these challenges before making investment decisions. Original Post Source link #Super #Micro #Computer #Growth #Potential #Overcome #Investor #Doubts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  6. House Democrats to select leadership as GOP is set to retain control of lower chamber House Democrats to select leadership as GOP is set to retain control of lower chamber Washington — House ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries is poised to lead Democrats for another two years in the ********* despite the party failing to flip control of the lower chamber in the 2024 election. Democrats are holding their leadership elections on Tuesday and are expected to support the New York Democrat without any opposition, as the party seeks to keep its leadership intact as it reels from the bruising losses in the 2024 elections. Democratic caucus chair Rep. Pete Aguilar of California was reelected Tuesday morning, and House ********* Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is also expected to continue in her role in the 119th Congress, beginning in January. Still, one race was injected with some uncertainty, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas launched an eleventh-hour challenge against Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan for chair of Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Dingell was still viewed as the favorite heading into Tuesday’s elections. Jeffries made history in 2023 when he became the first ****** lawmaker to lead a party in Congress, succeeding former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the top Democrat in the lower chamber. He was set to again make history as the first ****** speaker had Democrats gained control of the House. House ********* Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks on the debt ceiling at the U.S. Capitol on May 31, 2023 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Heading into Election Day, Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to win the majority. Though Democrats won more than a handful of ***********-held seats in this month’s election, they lost just as many. The party also suffered the loss of the Senate and the White House. As House Democrats conduct the leadership elections Tuesday, they’re still reeling from the results — and reckoning with the path forward. Republicans are expected to have a narrow majority in the next Congress. President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of several House members to serve in his administration will also temporarily squeeze the majority even further until those seats are filled in special elections. Jeffries, in an interview with NPR last week, said the narrow margins and divisions among House Republicans have effectively made Democrats the majority in several instances. “Democrats, because of the closeness of the margins, have effectively governed in the majority, though we are in the *********. And the same dynamic will exist as we move forward,” Jeffries said, pointing to a number of votes to avoid government shutdowns over the past two years in which Democrats provided a majority of the votes. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana ***********, said last week that he has “begged and pleaded” with Trump to stop poaching House members for his administration. Republicans held their leadership elections last week, backing Johnson for another term as speaker. Johnson expressed confidence that he will win the speakership in the first round of voting on the House floor in January. Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #House #Democrats #select #leadership #GOP #set #retain #control #chamber Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  7. New York prosecutors set to weigh in New York prosecutors set to weigh in In this courtroom sketch, former U.S. president Donald Trump appears by video conferencing before Judge Juan Merchan during a hearing before his trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence ***** star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 23, 2023. Jane Rosenberg | Reuters Prosecutors on Tuesday are set to tell a judge whether they think the ********* hush money case against President-elect Donald Trump should head to sentencing, as planned, or be dismissed following his electoral victory, as his lawyers have requested. The New York case is one of four ********* prosecutions against Trump whose fate is up in the air — or all but doomed — because of the ***********’s electoral win two weeks ago against Vice President Kamala Harris Trump was convicted in May in Manhattan Supreme Court of 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. Those records related to a $130,000 payment his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen made shortly before the 2016 election to ***** star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about a purported one-time ******* tryst with Trump a decade earlier. Judge Juan Merchan had been expected to rule on a dismissal request by Trump’s lawyers on Nov. 12 at the earliest. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had opposed that request. But on the heels of Trump’s election win, the DA’s office told Merchan they wanted him to delay his ruling, to give them time to determine how that victory affected the case. Merchan gave them one week to do so. Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his ********* trial at New York State Supreme Court on May 30, 2024. Justin Lane | Via Reuters Before the ordered pause, Trump was scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26. If the case is not dismissed, and Trump is sentenced, he is not expected to serve any potential jail sentence until after he leaves the White House more than four years from now. Two ********* cases against Trump in federal court are expected to be dismissed before he enters the White House, or shortly afterward. Trump has the power to order his attorney general to toss out those cases. The Department of Justice, which the AG leads, also has a policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents. Read more CNBC politics coverage In one of those cases, Trump is charged in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., with ******* related to his effort to undo his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. The judge there was considering the effect of the July ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on that case before special counsel Jack Smith asked her, after Trump’s election, to pause all proceedings for now. Smith also asked a federal appeals court in Atlanta to pause proceedings in his attempt to reverse the dismissal by Florida federal district court Judge Aileen Cannon of charges against Trump related to his retention of classified government records after leaving the White House. The appeals court granted that delay, which, like the one in Washington, was seen as a precursor to the DOJ dropping the case altogether. In a fourth ********* case, in Atlanta state court, Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants are charged with ******* in connection with their attempt to reverse his 2020 defeat by Biden in Georgia. Trump and some of the other defendants are appealing the trial court’s decision to allow Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the case despite having had a romantic relationship with a top prosecutor she assigned to the matter. On Monday, the Georgia Court of Appeals, without explanation, canceled ***** arguments until further notice in Trump’s appeal, which had been scheduled for Dec. 5. Source link #York #prosecutors #set #weigh Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  8. NHL player poll: Injury transparency? Want Ovechkin to break Gretzky’s record? Expand to 34 teams? NHL player poll: Injury transparency? Want Ovechkin to break Gretzky’s record? Expand to 34 teams? Wayne Gretzky is about as revered as professional athletes get. Nobody’s posted more goals, assists or points than him — in a career or a single season. He owns the NHL’s longest point streak, has the most 100-point seasons, claimed the most scoring titles, scored the most shorthanded goals, was the quickest to 50 goals, won the Hart Trophy the most times. On top of all that, it seems like nobody’s ever said a bad word about the guy. But don’t mistake respect for concern. Nobody’s going to feel too bad for The Great One when The Great 8 inevitably breaks his once seemingly unbreakable career mark of 894 goals. Heck, the way Alex Ovechkin is going, it might even happen this season. “Listen, Wayne’s got plenty of records that nobody will touch, so I think he’ll be OK giving that one up,” one NHL player told The Athletic. “Even though I never thought that one would be touched.” In a sport in which fist fights are essentially legal, in a league built on rivalries and hatred, there are precious few topics that can approach near unanimity. After polling 161 NHL players, granting them anonymity so they could speak honestly, it’s clear that Ovechkin’s goal chase is one of them. But what about expansion? What about gambling? What about the rulebook? There was plenty of disagreement to be found there. Here are the results of our first player poll of the season, with a representative sampling of the best comments for each question. Ninety-eight percent. Short of “would you like to have Leon Draisaitl’s contract?” there might not be another question that garners that many yeses. Ovechkin is 39 years old, and the average NHL player is 28 years old. Macklin Celebrini was born two months after Ovechkin completed his spectacular 52-goal rookie season. So much of the league grew up watching and idolizing Ovechkin. No shock that the word “cool” appeared 40 times in the players’ responses. “I think he’s proven how he’s probably the best goal scorer in history given the times. I think it would be cool to see. Nobody is ever going to get the other records, right? So if he breaks this one, I think that would be cool.” “Yes, because I could say that I played against the greatest goal scorer to ever play. My first goal was in Washington and he scored in that game, too. It would be cool to have our names on the same game sheet.” “It’s going to be cool playing in the era where you can say you played against Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and the best goal scorer of all time.” “I wouldn’t even mind being on the ice for the goal against — as long as he doesn’t put it through my legs, go around me and go top corner.” “I think it’s great for hockey, because it shows it’s attainable.” Gretzky has made it clear he’s pulling for Ovechkin. The Capitals star even told NHL.com last month that Gretzky texts him little pep talks when he’s slumping. “If Wayne is rooting him on, we should all be rooting him on, too.” “Do I think it takes away from Wayne Gretzky’s greatness? No. Not in any way. But his record stood for so long and he’s still so far above the pack, it’s not even close. It’s like Tom Brady and whether he’s the greatest football player or quarterback. It’s kind of undisputed. If (Patrick) Mahomes keeps his pace up for another 10 years, then he might catch him. Right now, if Ovi catches him, it doesn’t take anything away from Wayne.” “I think he already would have broken it if it wasn’t for COVID and lockouts. I think Gretzky has enough records.” “Played against him so many times and scored a lot of goals on me; I’ll be a part of history because of that … the wrong way,” said Marc-Andre Fleury, agreeing to put his comment on the record after likely giving away his identity anyway. “But I think he’s been around for so long, he’s been such a good shooter for so many years — one-timer, on the power play — but he’s also got such a great release on his wrister coming down the wing or through the defenseman’s legs and stuff, so it would be cool.” So just about everyone is rooting for Ovechkin to break the record. Mostly with one caveat: “Just not against us.” We all roll our eyes when a player skates off the ice with his left arm dangling and a stone-faced coach ***** right to reporters’ faces and says, “lower-body injury” in the postgame presser. Here’s the thing: The players roll their eyes, too. But they insist it’s for a reason: “It’s not about leaving other people guessing. It’s about protecting us.” It might not be the wild west of the 1970s anymore, but hockey players can still be utterly ruthless. Particularly in the playoffs. “This anonymous? I mean, during the regular season, you’re not going to target a guy’s injury. But in the playoffs, you’re going to.” “If you know a guy’s got a banged-up knee, it’s not hard for the other team to take a couple extra slashes or whack at that knee and actually hurt it even more.” “I know guys would get targeted. I’d target people and hit his foot from the crease. But in the season, I think they could be more transparent. Sometimes it’s so ******* when they’re vague. You see them hit in the head and they say ‘upper body.’” “As a player, I want less transparency. You don’t want people to know what’s wrong with you. I think it’s the same thing with the way it works in the playoffs. If someone knows that you have a bad wrist, we’re going to slash your wrist. Same thing you see in football. Last weekend or the week before, we all know Justin Herbert has a bad ankle, guys are rolling on it. We’re competitive. It’s violent out there. Everyone says they don’t try and hurt or injure people, but we all know you do.” “Maybe they can do something where during the regular season it’s transparent, but in the playoffs it’s hush-hush.” The NFL has a daily injury report that includes specific injuries and a classification from probable to questionable to doubtful to out. Given how much money is spent on fantasy football and football ********, the league has no choice. Some players feel it’s only a matter of time before the NHL reaches that point, too. “I understand why they do it in the NFL, with fantasy and all of the money that goes into ********, but I don’t want other teams knowing my business.” “If the ******** market gets ******* in hockey, they’re going to have to do that. Ours is so vague which is nice for players, but if gambling gets ******* in hockey, they’ll have to do that because it wouldn’t be fair.” “I don’t think it should be quite to the level of the NFL, but I think we could be a little more transparent. And, at a minimum, consistent among all the teams. Fans deserve to know when their favorite player is going to be back playing.” Some players just want a little privacy. “I don’t think you have to specify what the injury is. Who cares? If it’s upper body, it’s upper body. If it’s lower body, it’s lower.” “I hate it. I don’t think anyone should know unless you want them to know.” On the other hand … “I could see how on the flip side, if you’re playing like s—, well, then people could understand that maybe there’s something that’s holding you back.” There are more than 1.6 million registered hockey players in the world. Only 736 of them can be in the NHL at once. So, no, NHL players are not going to say no to another 46 NHL roster spots, thank you very much. “More jobs for players is better. We can play longer. From an NHLPA player standpoint, more money in the system. More teams, more money for players. I’m on board for that, but keep it at 82 games and get rid of preseason.” “Why not? That means more jobs.” “Yeah, it’ll keep me in the league longer.” “If it brings in more money, I’m all for it.” “They’re going to. Did you see those valuations?” GO DEEPER NHL franchise valuations up 37 percent: How much each is worth, per Sportico, and why they’re rising “As a fan, I would say no. As a player, I would say yes. More money, more jobs. I think that’s good.” That said, plenty of players understand the argument against further expansion. “We grinded to get to 32, and now all of a sudden we just want the buy-in money?” “I kind of like where it’s at now. I think it’s perfect. Half the teams get in. So I’m a ‘no.’ The way the playoffs are, with half the teams getting in, I think it’s perfect. So I wouldn’t add just because of that.” But with the sport becoming more and more global, the talent pool just keeps getting deeper. As one player put it, there are fourth-liners in the NHL right now who would skate circles around almost anyone from the Original Six era. “I was worried when they expanded the last few that it would maybe dilute the product. But I think we are still getting exciting hockey. We still have exciting players. It’s worked. It’s more jobs. I’m in favor of it.” So the obvious question then becomes where? Arizona was the laughingstock of the sports world for years. But it was also seemingly every player’s favorite road trip. So while you might be tired of commissioner Gary Bettman’s endless experiment in the desert, there’s still a lot of support for another franchise in the Valley among the rank and file. “Every player will tell you we love going to Arizona. It’s so nice there. If we could get a better owner in there this time and see what we can do, I think it would thrive there.” With more than 7 million people in the metropolitan area, Houston has long been a potential target for the league. And players are on board with the idea. “I’m gung-*** on Houston. I don’t want to see another ********* team. I think Houston could be a really good spot.” “Tax-free state. Tax-free. Sunshine states.” “(Houston.) It’s the (fourth) largest city in the U.S. and they don’t have a team yet. We can’t go to another ********* market right now, not with how the ********* dollar is. You can’t go to Quebec City. The ********* dollar is s—. You’d have to take the team out of Winnipeg.” Ah, Quebec City. Bringing back the Nordiques is always a hot topic. “I’d love to see Quebec City because, being French-*********, the ****** between Montreal and Quebec is so good. But from a business standpoint, I don’t know if Quebec is the right call because it’s a smaller market. But I know they will fill the rink with fans and stuff. I’m not a business guy, but the big sponsors and the people that buy the suites, I don’t know if they could support. But I would love to see them back. People love hockey there.” “I understand the exchange rate and all the finances that come with that, but I think it’d be cool to have another ********* team to make it eight.” “Get out of Canada, we need (hockey-related revenue). Houston. It’s five million people. Quebec’s a great city. I don’t think it’s big enough for an NHL team.” Then, of course, there’s always a second Toronto team. “It would do better than Atlanta or Houston or something.” “They’d probably win a Cup before the Leafs.” Some other thoughts: “Definitely not Atlanta. We’ve already seen that one fail enough.” “If Green Bay could get a team, I would like to see that. They go crazy for the Packers. I’ve played there in junior and it was pretty fun. I’d like to see another team in that area. Honestly, I’ll give Wisconsin a team. Whatever makes more sense numbers-wise and financially. It’s a hockey hotbed.” “We played (in Austin, Texas) a bunch of times in the ********* League. Amazing city. Great hockey fans. They pack the barn every night. Great arena. Love it there.” “San Diego would be pretty cool. Get another team on the West Coast.” “I think the market (in Dubai) is great and it’d be cool to go there.” “Is Miami too close to Fort Lauderdale?” After the Major League Baseball uniform fiasco this past season, there was a lot of skepticism that Fanatics was up to the challenge of taking over the NHL’s jersey manufacturing. The jerseys are made in the same Montreal factory with the same specifications as the old ones, but the shoulder dimples were removed and some extra fabric was used in the forearms, which are prone to board *****. Some players didn’t even notice. Some did. Some might have imagined some things. “(A): I think they all look awesome. I’d say A. They look great. They did a good job.” “(A): I actually like them. I can’t tell the difference. And I like our practice jerseys. I think they’re cool.” “(C): I’m not a huge fan. I don’t think they’re that great. I find them a little uncomfortable and bulky.” “(B): I don’t think they look as cool because the old ones had dimples on the shoulders.” “(B): They’re a little smaller.” “(B): They feel a little longer.” “(B): They’re a little heavier, a little stiffer.” “(B): The neck is a little bit different, but other than that they feel the same. I would still like Nike stuff.” “(C): Don’t notice a difference but I prefer Adidas.” “(B): You notice the difference. It’s not as thick, so it’s not what it was. But I was expecting way worse, so that’s a positive.” “(A): They feel the exact same to me.” Good luck making sense of all that, Fanatics quality-control team. Some players were just relieved the jerseys didn’t change colors when sweat-soaked and didn’t have tiny letters on the back. “(C): I thought they’d be worse after seeing the baseball ones. The baseball ones were see-through. I was like, ‘These are the worst jerseys ever.’ I don’t know what the ones the fans are getting. But the ones we’ve gotten are good material.” “(B): They’re not as good as they used to be, so I’ll give them a B. Because if the old Adidas (jersey) was an A, then this is a B. I think, for me, it’s the fit and the sizing. And also a little bit of the material on its own. You know sometimes when you grab a hold of an old tool or an old machine, and you know this is sturdy, it’s never going to break? You don’t get the same thing nowadays. But also they’re made with different materials. You can just feel the difference.” And then, of course, there were plenty of players who greeted the question with a quizzical look. “(B): I didn’t actually know we were wearing Fanatics jerseys.” If you’re ***** of seeing people posting every little bet they make on social media, imagine being tagged in those posts. Or having those bettors demand you pay them back because you only had two shots on goal that night, when the over/under was 2.5. “You get Venmo requests from fans,” one player said. “They’re demands, not requests. ‘You owe me $200 because you were on the ice when …’ and it’s insane. It’s really bad when you play against Toronto because it seems like everybody is ******** on Leafs games. But that’s Toronto for you.” We’re going to ***** more deeply into this phenomenon later in the week, but here’s a quick sampling of responses: “Yeah, that’s real. When you ruin a guy’s parlay or something? One hundred percent, that’s real. I got one last game where some guy bet on my number of shots or something and then he’s DM’ing me: ‘You f—ed my parlay!’ Pardon my language, but that’s what he said.” “Oh, almost every day. Honestly, I’d say 75 percent of them are them being **** about something. ‘How did you let in that late goal? I had the under. Thanks a lot. You f—ing *****.’ Things like that constantly. I feel like, as a goalie, we’re a little bit more exposed to it, too.” “Oh yeah. People on social media are way crazier now because they have more skin in the game. I think that’s for all sports.” This is one instance in which it helps to be a fourth-liner or a third-pairing guy. “I don’t think I’m the ******** favorite.” One rule change We’ll ***** deeper into this one later this week too, because when you ask 161 players an open-ended question like this, the answers are all over the hockey map. But there were some common answers. “Continuous overtime; abolish the shootout.” “Instead of shootouts, three-on-three, then two-on-two. … It could be kind of fun. But then it would be tough with the stats because it could change things.” “Ten-minute overtimes. I just think overtime’s the best for the fans. I think for the players, it’s fun too.” An overtime shot clock wasn’t popular, but there was plenty of support for an over-and-back rule, prohibiting players from regrouping beyond the red line in overtime. Another popular area of discussion was power plays, including “two-minute majors” and “jailbreaks.” “Power plays shouldn’t end if a goal is scored.” “The PWHL jailbreak: A shorthanded goal results in the player leaving the box.” “If you score shorthanded, the power play ends. In Europe, if you’re on the power play and you get scored on (shorthanded), the power play’s over. I like that.” Some players got really specific with faceoffs and line changes. One just wanted to be able to sit on top of the boards while waiting to change again. And some players got a little wacky, with one suggesting getting rid of the blue line entirely and making the red line the offside line. Lots of discussion about challenges and reviews, with some wanting more and some wanting none. One player wanted to open up the ways in which a player could score. Hey, man, it’s tough to score in this league. If the puck goes in, it goes in, right? “Allow kicking and head-butting the puck in. You’re going to the gritty area. If you can get a skate on it, that should be a goal. I also think you should be able to ‘head’ the puck in. The Andrew Shaw rule. I don’t know, if you could head the puck in, that’s pretty impressive.” (Top graphic: Meech Robinson / The Athletic, with photos of Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky from Harry Scull Jr., Bruce Bennett and Scott Taetsch / Getty Images) Source link #NHL #player #poll #Injury #transparency #Ovechkin #break #Gretzkys #record #Expand #teams Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  9. Canada echoes U.S. warning over carrots in deadly E. coli outbreak – National Canada echoes U.S. warning over carrots in deadly E. coli outbreak – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size The ********* Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled E. coli-tainted carrots following a U.S. health warning about the contaminated produce linked to one ****** and dozens of illnesses. On Monday afternoon, the CFIA issued a warning about several carrot products due to potential contamination with E. coli 0121 bacteria. The move came after a report from Global News earlier that day that noted that a recall issued by the U.S. Centers for ******** Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and ***** Administration (FDA) included brands sold in Canada. The affected brands in Canada include Bunny-Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments Organic and PC Organics. You can see the full list here. “This recall was triggered by a recall in another country. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products in Canada,” the CFIA said in the statement. Story continues below advertisement The CFIA stated that it is conducting a food safety investigation, which could result in additional product recalls. The agency is also ensuring that recalled products are being removed from the marketplace. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Food contaminated with E. coli 0121 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you *****, the CFIA warned. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to ******* diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may ****. The U.S. Centers for ******** Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and ***** Administration (FDA) had issued a recall of the carrots on Sunday. 2:45 Health Matters: McDonald’s beef patties ruled out as source of E. coli outbreak Trending Now Taylor Swift in Toronto: $70K in losses from ‘undelivered tickets’ under investigation Canada Post says ‘parties remain far apart’ as strike continues The contaminated organic carrots, distributed to retail centres in both Canada and the ******* States, have been linked to one ****** and at least 39 cases of E. coli infections in the U.S. Story continues below advertisement The recall impacts: Organic whole carrots, which do not have a best-if-used-by date printed on the bag, but were available for purchase at retail stores from Aug. 14 through Oct. 23, 2024. Organic baby carrots with best-if-used-by dates ranging from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12, 2024. The carrots were distributed by Grimmway Farms, based in California, which said in a Saturday press release that the company is reviewing its growing, harvesting and processing practices and that it is working with suppliers and health authorities on the matter. The CDC recommends washing and sanitizing items and surfaces that may have come in contact with recalled bagged organic carrots. More on Health More videos &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Canada #echoes #U.S #warning #carrots #deadly #coli #outbreak #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  10. This Raspberry Pi Pico-powered ‘barcode ******’ scans your CDs and plays your tunes via Spotify This Raspberry Pi Pico-powered ‘barcode ******’ scans your CDs and plays your tunes via Spotify Listening to music on Spotify can certainly be a rewarding experience but it’s the way we interact with our music in the real world that can make a difference. That’s why we’re excited about this cool Raspberry Pi Pico-powered project created by maker and developer Bas. Using our favorite microcontroller, he’s created a barcode scanning system that recognizes the barcodes from your favorite CDs and uses the data to ****** up the music automatically on Spotify. As simple as this project idea sounds, it’s actually quite involved and took a bit of engineering to pull off. First, as you might have guessed, you must scan a barcode from the CD you want to listen to. This barcode is parsed using MQTT to a home assistant. The Raspberry Pi has a script that checks for the album through a music database known as Discogs. Once the album has been identified, the song is queued up using the Spotify API and plays in Bas’s living room. The casing for the project was designed from scratch by Bas just for this project using Fusion 360. It was then 3D Printed but we’re not sure exactly what 3D printer was used to print the final version we see in the blog post. However, we do have a list of the best 3D printers for 2024 if you want to see what’s leading the market. To finish off the design, he included a couple of googly eyes. While much of this project is open source, the 3D printer files haven’t been shared but Bas assures that you can contact him for a copy of the design files. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Bas) (Image credit: Bas) (Image credit: Bas) It doesn’t take too much hardware to recreate this project and Bas was kind enough to share plenty of details about what went into its creation. You’ll need a Raspberry Pi Pico W—the W version is necessary for the network connectivity. It’s connected to a barcode scanning module which is used to read the CD barcodes. Bas also shared the software he put together for the project. You can explore the source code over at his GitHub page. It includes both the code used to verify the album using barcode data as well as the code that runs on the Pico that directs the barcode using MQTT. If you want to get a closer look at this Raspberry Pi project in greater detail, you can check out the original blog post shared by Bas. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Raspberry #Picopowered #barcode #****** #scans #CDs #plays #tunes #Spotify Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  11. 89% of Americans do not consider themselves wealthy, Fidelity finds 89% of Americans do not consider themselves wealthy, Fidelity finds Inflation is cooling and wages are rising. Yet, few Americans — including millionaires — feel confident about their financial standing. Across all income and asset levels, 89% of Americans said they do not consider themselves wealthy, according to Fidelity Investments’ State of Wealth Mobility study. Fidelity polled 1,900 adults in August. “Only one-tenth of Americans consider themselves wealthy today — despite many having considerable wealth,” said Rich Compson, head of wealth solutions at Fidelity Investments. More from Personal Finance: ****** Friday deals aren’t always the best 28% of credit card users are still paying off last year’s holiday tab Here’s who can ‘easily afford’ holiday costs For most Americans, the definition of what it means to be wealthy is relatively modest, with 71% saying being wealthy is simply the ability to not have to live paycheck to paycheck. Roughly 57% said wealth also entails traveling and taking vacations, while 56% said it’s being able to pass down money to the next generation. Nearly half — 49% — said feeling wealthy meant the ability to own a home, Fidelity found. For high-net worth individuals, or those with $1 million or more in savings and investable assets not including real estate or retirement funds, more households associated wealth with traveling and fewer said a major criterion for feeling wealthy was not living paycheck to paycheck. Surprisingly, the same share — 49% — said being wealthy meant owning a home. Obstacles to feeling wealthy Housing affordability has become a major hurdle. High home prices and higher mortgage rates along with low inventory have put ownership just out of reach for many households. One “silver lining” is that affordability has improved somewhat since October 2023, when mortgage rates were near 8%, according to a new analysis by Freddie Mac. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | Digitalvision | Getty Images Although vacationing has also gotten more expensive, Americans are still determined to travel. Travel spending among households continues to outpace its pre-pandemic levels, some reports show. However, concerns about high prices are playing a larger role in keeping some would-be vacationers home. Those that are travelling have had to adjust their budgets accordingly, spending roughly 10% more compared to 2023, according to another study by Deloitte. Rising debt is another threat to wealth At the same time, rising consumer debt has weighed on household balance sheets. Nearly half, 44%, of Americans said credit card debt is the biggest threat to their ability to build wealth, according to a separate report by Edelman Financial Engines. Americans now owe a record $1.17 trillion on their credit cards, and the average balance per consumer stands at $6,329, up 4.8% year over year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and TransUnion, respectively. “High interest rate credit card debt, more than other sorts of debt, is a savings *******, because when you have it, you have to feed the ******. You can’t save, you can’t invest,” Jean Chatzky, personal finance expert and CEO of HerMoney.com, told CNBC in September. “That stands in the way of people building actual wealth and therefore feeling wealthier,” she said. What it would take to feel rich Most people — roughly 65% of those polled — said they would need $1 million in the bank to consider themselves wealthy, although 28% said it would take at least $2 million and 19% put the bar at $5 million or more, Edelman Financial Engines found. Among current millionaires, 68% said they would need at least $3 million and 40% said feeling wealthy would require $5 million of more. Edelman Financial Engines polled more than 3,000 adults over age 30 from June 12 to July 3, including 1,500 affluent Americans with household assets between $500,000 and $3 million. When it comes to their salary, 58% of all of those surveyed said they would need to earn $100,000 on average to not worry about everyday living expenses, and a quarter said they would need to earn more than $200,000 to feel financially secure. In most cases, feeling financially secure is not based on how much you earn, but rather a commitment to save more than you spend, maintain a well-diversified portfolio and work with a financial advisor, experts often say. “Having confidence in being able to invest strategically is what often separates those who feel they are wealthy from those who don’t,” said Fidelity’s Compson. “Improved confidence starts with education and planning.” Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Source link #Americans #wealthy #Fidelity #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  12. Astro **** and Final Fantasy lead nominations Astro **** and Final Fantasy lead nominations Sony **** of Award: Astro **** has seven nominations this year This year’s Game Awards shortlist has been announced, with Astro **** and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picking up the most nominations. Dubbed “the Oscars of gaming” by some and written off as an advertising marathon by others, it’s the most-watched ceremony celebrating the industry. Host Geoff Keighley also revealed that the 3D platformer and the role-playing game had received seven nominations each, including Game of the Year. Card game Balatro, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Metaphor: Refantazio and ****** Myth: Wukong are the other games up for the top prize. Taking place on 12 December this year, the awards have grown into a major event and organisers estimate that 118 million livestream viewers tuned in worldwide last year. A panel of 130 games media outlets and content creators votes for the winners, with a fan vote launched alongside also factored into the scores. Last year the smart money was always on RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 to be named Game of the Year, but 2024 hasn’t had the same number of top-tier releases. This year is potentially tougher to call, but here’s a rundown of the main contenders. Astro BotSony Cruising to victory? Astro ****’s feel-good vibes charmed critics and fans A celebration of Playstation’s 30-year history and a reminder of the joy that gaming can bring, Astro **** could be the game to beat this year. Sony’s mascot character delighted fans and critics when it arrived on the back of a Dual Sense controller in September. Its inventive 3D platforming was also a subtle technical showcase for the PlayStation 5, combining impressive physics effects with its upbeat, old-school vibe. Also nominated for: Best game direction, best art direction, best score and music, best audio design, best action/adventure game, best family game Read more: Could an old-school hit reshape PS5’s future? BalatroLocalthunk Hard to put down: Balatro is one of the year’s biggest success stories Created by a solo developer known only as LocalThunk, card game Balatro – which takes its name from the ****** for jester or buffoon – is one of the year’s biggest success stories. Players create poker hands to score points, but the magic comes from its 150 joker cards which modify the rules and multiply scores in different ways. If Balatro does take the top prize on the night it will be the first indie title in the Game Awards’ 10-year history without the backing of a major publisher to do so. LocalThunk rarely gives interviews and keeps his real identity a secret – so there’s a question mark over whether he’d attend on the night. Also nominated for: Best game direction, best independent game, best debut indie game. Final Fantasy VII: RebirthSquare Enix Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was a giant adventure reimagining the PlayStation classic The second part of a trilogy remaking original PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII, Rebirth turned everything up to 11 with masses of side content and mini-games to keep fans busy. The game’s graphical performance on the PS5 drew some criticism and its tweaks to the original’s story didn’t satisfy everyone, but they didn’t stop it being touted as a game of the year contender when it came out in February. It was voted “most anticipated” game at last year’s Game Awards, which could put it in a good position to win this year, especially as its prequel lost out to the Last of Us: Part II in 2020. Briana White, who played Aerith in the English-language version of the game, is also nominated for best performance. Also nominated for: Best game direction, best narrative, best score and music, best RPG, best audio design. Read more: FFVII actress talks about recreating ‘iconic’ gaming moment Metaphor: ReFantazioAtlus Metaphor: Refantazio picked up where its spiritual predecessor Persona left off The long-awaited new one from the people behind Persona 5 – widely considered one of the finest role-playing games to come out of Japan. Swapping the Persona series’ anime-inspired high school setting for a Medieval fantasy world, Metaphor: ReFantazio was praised for its storytelling and its handling of weighty topics such as racism and politics. It’s also been a commercial success for publisher Atlus, which reported 1 million sales on launch day – a record for the ********* company. Also nominated for: Best game direction, best narrative, best art direction, best score and music, best RPG. ****** Myth: WukongGameScience ****** Myth Wukong is one of the most graphically impressive games this year This action-adventure based on Journey to the West – a classic novel from ******** Mythology – was a giant hit upon its release. It sold huge numbers in China, but also proved popular among Western fans too. Its inclusion on the Game of the Year shortlist might surprise some, as its critical reception was much less positive than the titles it’s up against. There was still plenty of praise for its combat, and it is one of the more visually stunning games released this year. Also nominated for: Best action game, best game direction, best art direction, best score and music. Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeBandai Namco Glutton for punishment: Shadow of the Erdtree gave Elden Ring fans more of its maker’s trademark combat There’s no doubting the quality of Shadow of the Erdtree – a follow-up to action RPG and 2022 Game of the Year winner Elden Ring. The 2024 update is currently the best-reviewed title this year, bringing more of the exploration and brutally hard combat encounters fans have come to expect from developer From Software. But there’s some disagreement over whether it counts as a true “Game of the Year”. That’s because Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t a standalone game but downloadable content (DLC) that adds dozens of hours of content to the original game. The Game Awards allows expansions like this to be nominated in any category, but some have argued they shouldn’t be eligible. Also nominated for: Best game direction, best art direction, best RPG. Independent game Animal Well, the debut title from YouTuber videogamedunkey’s publishing label, did not get a game of the year nomination despite being one of the best-reviewed games this year. However, it is nominated for best indie debut and best independent game. Xbox exclusive release Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga, from British studio Ninja Theory, also received several nominations across the board. It’s up for best audio design, best narrative and best performance for lead actress Melina Juergens. You can read a full list of the nominations on The Game Awards website. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here. Source link #Astro #**** #Final #Fantasy #lead #nominations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  13. Roger Federer pays tribute to Rafael Nadal ahead of Spaniard’s retirement: ‘You beat me – a lot’ Roger Federer pays tribute to Rafael Nadal ahead of Spaniard’s retirement: ‘You beat me – a lot’ Roger Federer says Rafael Nadal made him “enjoy the game even more” as the Spaniard retires from tennis at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain this week. Federer, who retired alongside Nadal at the 2022 Laver Cup, opened a letter in tribute to his great rival with the salient fact of their rivalry: “You beat me — a lot. More than I managed to beat you.” “You challenged me in ways no one else could,” Federer added. Nadal beat him in their first meeting in 2004 before he arrived as a force in tennis by winning the 2005 French Open. Federer had won four Grand Slam titles by then; he would win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2005 as well, moving 6-1 ahead in a title count that would finish 22-20 in Nadal’s favor. “I thought I was on top of the world, and I was, until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly,” Federer recalled from that first encounter in Miami. They played each other 40 times, Nadal winning 24-16, including the 2008 Wimbledon final that ended Federer’s five-title streak and fully signalled how the Spaniard could do damage to the Swiss. “You made me reimagine my game,” Federer said. The now-43-year-old remodelled his backhand to deal with the high topspin forehands that Nadal would relentlessly kick into it and, as he noted in the letter, even changed his racket in search of an edge. He added that playing Nadal on clay, especially at Roland Garros in Paris where he won 14 French Open titles and holds a match record of 112-4, was “stepping into your backyard.” Federer has previously said that any quarrel he had with clay-court tennis was not the surface, but the fact that Nadal was on it. How Rafael Nadal will leave tennis Federer called his retirement alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, in which they played doubles together, “one of the most special moments of my career.” He also credited Nadal’s idiosyncrasies, “assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation,” and the hair-adjusting, ball-bouncing service routine that became so familiar to tennis fans around the world. Nadal, 38, confirmed his retirement from tennis in October after two years in which a litany of injuries felled his ability to play as he wished. “I don’t have the chance to be competitive the way I like to be competitive. My body is not able to give me the possibility,” he said in a news conference before his final bow. Spain play the Netherlands today, Tuesday, November 19, from 4 p.m. GMT / 11 a.m. ET. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Source link #Roger #Federer #pays #tribute #Rafael #Nadal #ahead #Spaniards #retirement #beat #lot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  14. NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Tuesday, November 19 NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Tuesday, November 19 The New York Times appeared at CES 2023 alongside Delta to confirm that the publication’s game lineup is part of the upcoming Delta Exclusives Hub. Delta Air Lines passengers will soon be able to play Wordle, Spelling Bee, and more during flights via the airline’s free Wi-Fi. Currently, those flying on a Delta flight only get free access to iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. Starting on February 1, though, Delta Air Lines plans to offer free Wi-Fi on its flights to Delta SkyMiles members, and lots of content will be accessible from a new landing page called the Delta Exclusives Hub. When Delta Exclusives Hub launches sometime in spring 2023, its hub will give passengers access to games like Wordle, Spelling Bee, and The Crossword on domestic U.S. flights free-of-charge, whether they are New York Times subscribers or not. This announcement comes almost a year after The New York Times acquired Wordle at the height of its status as a social media phenomenon. While it’s not as trendy as it was a year ago, Wordle still attracts a lot of players and is a major part of The New York Times Games’ offerings. In particular, The New York Times seems keen to expand the places people can play Wordle, as they integrated it into their Crossword app in December 2022. By including Wordle and its other games in the Delta Exclusives Hub, The New York Times Games will get its offerings in front of even more people while also ensuring that players will always have a chance to check out that day’s Wordle, even if they’re traveling all day. Source link #NYT #Mini #Crossword #today #puzzle #answers #Tuesday #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  15. SpaceX Launches Optus-X Telecom Satellite in Florida SpaceX Launches Optus-X Telecom Satellite in Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Optus-X telecommunications satellite into orbit on Sunday, November 17, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The liftoff took place at 5:28pm EST coinciding with a sunset that added visual appeal to the event. The satellite, commissioned by the *********** telecom company Optus, will serve communication needs once operational in geostationary orbit. First Stage Recovered in Ocean Landing After the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage made a controlled descent, landing on SpaceX’s Atlantic Ocean-based droneship, A Shortfall of Gravitas. The landing occurred approximately nine minutes after takeoff, marking the 16th flight for this booster. SpaceX has indicated that nine of these flights were part of missions to deploy Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Optus-X’s Journey to Geostationary Orbit The satellite’s intended destination is geostationary orbit, located 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometres) above the Earth. The Falcon 9 upper stage carried Optus-X to a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from where the satellite will travel the remaining distance using its onboard propulsion systems. Busy Schedule for SpaceX The launch marks the beginning of an intense three-day ******* for SpaceX. Two additional missions are planned for Monday, November 18, including the deployment of Starlink satellites and an Indian telecom satellite. On Tuesday, November 19, SpaceX is set to conduct the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket, an event expected to attract significant attention. This latest mission highlights SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to frequent and reusable launches, which have become a central component of its operational strategy. Source link #SpaceX #Launches #OptusX #Telecom #Satellite #Florida Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  16. Interview: Raymond Boyle, vice-president of data and analytics, Hyatt Hotels Interview: Raymond Boyle, vice-president of data and analytics, Hyatt Hotels Raymond Boyle, vice-president of data and analytics at Hyatt Hotels, is an experienced executive who helps his business make the most of its information. He is responsible for Hyatt’s data strategy, governance, engineering, science and analytics capabilities. His team’s data-led insights boost customer and colleague experiences. “I took the opportunity because I love the role,” says Boyle, who joined Hyatt at the start of 2020, having previously been vice-president for data and analytics at Walmart Labs. “I was very excited about Hyatt as a company and its culture. It gives me everything I enjoyed doing within the data role, including leading the strategic insights and the governance areas.” At Hyatt, Boyle reports to Amy Weinberg, senior vice-president for loyalty, brand marketing and consumer insights. He has spent his five years at the firm laying the foundations for a business strategy that puts data at the heart of organisational and operational processes. “I love working in the travel industry,” he says. “It’s a complex business. As a data leader, you get all the stuff you would ever want in terms of delivering a customer and colleague experience and creating effective digital engagement.” Boyle’s current role is the latest stop on a 30-year professional journey during which he has used data and analytics to fuel innovation and growth. He recognises the role of data chief has changed significantly during his time in the profession. The impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), brings even greater challenges. “It has been a fascinating area for many years,” he says. “The field of data and AI is changing extremely quickly, including the types of things that we take on, the way technology is implemented, the way people engage with it and the cultures we build around it.” Building data products Boyle says much of his day-to-day leadership role at Hyatt involves ensuring people around the business are fluent in data and can engage with information assets. He says the work revolves around “the productisation of data” and developing self-service environments that make things easier for employees and customers. “We think of data as a product, including all aspects around managing information, designing strategies and creating solutions,” he says. “That work covers the data engineering worlds that care for different parts of the business, the platform organisations that manage our foundations, and the data science and machine learning functions.” Boyle says Hyatt’s data strategy centres on advancing care through insight-driven decisions and automation. The focal point of this strategy is cultivating the best people and evolving the organisation’s data culture. “We’re working through how people lead in the organisation and thinking about data fluency and the stewardship of information within the business,” he says. “We focus a lot on customer personalisation and trust. We want to build the ability for the organisation to be perfect with every guest during every step of their journey and continue to personalise how we engage with our customers in a high-security, high-trust framework.” Boyle is excited about some of the achievements so far. His team ensures the business has the right data capabilities and performance indicators. At the same time, they make sure people across Hyatt have a common understanding of data-led performance. “That’s taken a lot of great work to automate and simplify the business from an operational perspective, and then a lot more work to ensure we’re growing with intent – that as we do new mergers and acquisitions as an enterprise, that we can connect data and the products into that system smoothly,” he says. Innovating at pace A key underlying technology for this approach is the Snowflake AI Data Cloud for Travel and Hospitality, a unified data platform that helps companies exploit their information. Boyle says Hyatt uses Snowflake technology to consolidate enterprise data into a single location. The switch to Snowflake took two years to complete and was finished by the second quarter of 2024. Boyle says the move to the AI Data Cloud was an important transition. An ever-increasing number of people at Hyatt wanted to use information. However, the company’s legacy environment had capacity constraints. “We needed to add a ton of compute to the system, and we had some hard decisions to make as we went through that work,” he says. “We had a massive growth in the amount of data people wanted to consume within the business.” “We think of data as a product, including all aspects around managing information, designing strategies and creating solutions” Raymond Boyle, Hyatt Hotels Boyle’s data team approached the Snowflake implementation carefully and pushed components live incrementally. The switch to Snowflake involved some hard graft. Pipelines were refactored, and the security infrastructure was redesigned. He recognises the migration process was a significant technological and cultural challenge. “You can’t stop running the business while you ******** the migration,” he says. “We had to manage the delivery of many new products and capabilities during the migration. There were times when we had to manage duplicate pipelines. A lot of folks had to be engaged in the migration process.” The data team decommissioned Hyatt’s legacy environments in August. Snowflake is now the company’s scalable data platform. He says the technology allows people across the business to access data for their projects. The AI Data Cloud also cuts the time his team spends on information management. “Snowflake allows us to innovate faster and drive those outcomes cleanly over time,” he says. “We’re launching more services, so we have more data applications coming into the system fairly quickly, and we’re also benefiting from Snowflake’s work to ensure that other software organisations are building natively on the platform.” Supporting business growth Boyle leads a 100-strong data team at Hyatt, including full-time staff and contractors. He says insight and analytics are at the core of the company’s decision-making processes. “Data is at the heart of how the company functions,” he says. “Our CEO is engaged in data and has led the strategic work around how we think about AI. Data is now a big part of every domain and a core element of how people plan, build and ********.” Boyle says one of the company’s data priorities right now is personalisation. “We’re focused on following the customer journey and making sure that AI and data drive the properties that we recommend and the search experience and the content people see,” he says. “We want to ensure our customers have a deeper relationship with Hyatt.” In addition to its work on personalisation, Boyle says the company is rolling out modern pricing-optimisation capabilities globally. His team is also exploring the potential for generative AI capabilities within analytics. He says there’s no straightforward answer as to whether it’s better to build or buy AI technologies and models. “It’s likely to be a mix, and the result will depend on what we’re trying to achieve at any given time,” he says. “We’ll look at the outcomes, the initiatives, the strategic investments that the company wants to make, and we’ll make decisions based on the speed and the impact that we want to have, and the architectural standards that we want to see within the organisation.” Boyle says the data organisation he’d like to lead two years from now will use digital innovation to boost customer experiences and business operations. From self-service behind the scenes to fresh services at the front end, he wants Hyatt to continue transforming with data. “I want our guests to experience Hyatt in a personalised manner and for us to take full advantage of the relationship we have with our customers. I want to push innovations that ensure our relationship with guests is deeper, more meaningful and more trusted across all the different interaction points we have with them,” he says. “I’d also want our operations to be more efficient and automated. I want to help our organisation grow with intent. I want to ensure that the types of development we want to do as a business, and the growth the organisation wants to see globally, are better, faster and more efficient due to the data we provide.” Defining the data chief’s role Boyle has built his career leading data initiatives at major organisations. He understands successful data chiefs will play a key role in helping businesses to thrive in the digital age. However, they shouldn’t fulfil this role in isolation. Boyle says successful data stewardship is a team game that starts at the top of the enterprise. “The CEO or the executive team should dictate the direction of travel for AI within the organisation,” he says. “When I think about the operating model, it’s about making sure we have clarity around our purpose and the areas the executives believe are the most important things to invest in. The business leaders for the domains must be aligned to that strategy and work to drive value creation in their functions.” Boyle says the role of digital leaders, whether CDOs, CTOs or CIOs, is to ensure the hardware and software stack helps business leaders achieve their transformational objectives. Internal and external partners must ensure data is published and consumed effectively and safely. “The tech stack is critical to your success,” he says. “Enterprise architecture plays a huge role, as does cyber security and the privacy and data governance specialists. If you get those things right, you’ll build out your AI services and the back-end data infrastructure to drive your business outcomes. You’ll be able to scale your initiatives at a faster pace.” Boyle’s best-practice advice for other data leaders is to think of digital change as a team game. “You need to have fluent, transformational thinkers at all levels. You must have technology partners who are a big part of what you’re trying to do and creating high-quality data tooling,” he says. “You need to get your product management, engineering, architecture, machine learning and science community functioning together, knowing their roles and delivering joined-up processes quickly and cleanly.” Source link #Interview #Raymond #Boyle #vicepresident #data #analytics #Hyatt #Hotels Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  17. Russia Lowers Its Threshold for Using Nukes Against Ukraine After Biden Okays Long-Range US Missiles Russia Lowers Its Threshold for Using Nukes Against Ukraine After Biden Okays Long-Range US Missiles The war in Ukraine has reached a grim milestone. It has been 1,000 days since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. As the human toll continues to mount there’s an ominous development. Moscow is lowering its threshold for using nuclear weapons.n a makeshift maternity ward in the basement of a hospital in the Kherson region, Rosa Antonova cradles her newborn baby, Amelia, tightly. “All the plans we had before the war, we decided that there is probably no time to postpone anything for later, we have to live for now,” said Antonova. “Despite the fact that the war continues, and despite the consequences in the city and in Ukraine in general, we try to hold on.” For her and for people across Ukraine, today’s milestone is another sad reminder of how 1,000 days of fighting have led to immense human suffering, with millions of lives disrupted, cities in ruins, and the toll of military casualties growing daily. “Every day we live in Ukraine is a miracle,” said Anzhelika Tatarynova, who escaped from Kherson and now lives in the Ukrainian capital. In Kyiv, a memorial has sprung up in the heart of the city, dotted with Ukrainian flags, each honoring a soldier who ***** fighting Russia. Svitlana Kirichenko came to place a flag to remember her fallen son. “I put the flag so that someone would pass by and see that this person lived once, gave his life for all of us,” said Kirichenko. Despite heavy losses, Ukraine has continued to ****** in the face of escalating Russian attacks. With two months left in office, the Biden administration is now helping Ukrainians take their ****** directly to the Russians. The White House has allowed Ukraine to use *********-supplied long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems. “This would be the first time they’ve been used to target inside Russia, significantly inside Russia,” said Dr. Patrick Bury of the University of Bath. The missiles will be deployed in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops are facing Russian and North Korean forces. “It’s limited to Kursk and it’s limited, of course, to the amount of missiles that we can get to Ukraine in the near future. So, it is a substantial step, but it might not change the battlefield that much,” said Mick Mulroy, a national security and defense analyst. The Kremlin is warning that deploying long-range missiles is only adding fuel to the *****. Russia’s president updated his country’s nuclear doctrine today, saying that he has the right to use nuclear weapons if attacked with conventional missiles by a country backed by a nuclear-armed nation. Source link #Russia #Lowers #Threshold #Nukes #Ukraine #Biden #Okays #LongRange #Missiles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  18. Nelly Korda has won 7 times on the LPGA Tour in 2024, but it hasn’t always been easy Nelly Korda has won 7 times on the LPGA Tour in 2024, but it hasn’t always been easy All the talk will be about Nelly Korda’s seven (and counting) wins in 2024 — and that’s for good reason. But what happened between them will ultimately shape her continued charge into the LPGA history books. Korda won her 15th LPGA Tour event this weekend at The Annika, adding a seventh victory to her decorated 2024 tournament resume. Recently crowned the Rolex Player of the Year, Korda emerged on top of the leaderboard for the first time since May. She grabbed the win with a lingering neck injury that took her out of the LPGA’s fall Asia swing. Before teeing it up at Pelican Golf Club outside of Tampa, Fla., Korda hadn’t played competitively since late September. Yet she still pulled out the victory, ******* five consecutive birdies on the back nine Sunday, beating world No. 11 Charley Hull, Weiwei Zhang and Jin Hee Im by three shots. Playing close to her hometown of Bradenton, Korda was greeted by her brother, tennis professional Sebastian Korda, who drove an hour and 40 minutes to catch her winning putt. Korda is the first ********* since Beth Daniel in 1990 to win seven LPGA Tour titles in one calendar year and the first player since Yani Tseng in 2011. She has a chance at an eighth title and a big payday this week: The CME Group Tour Championship, the LPGA’s season-ending event, kicks off this week in Naples. Korda’s game fits the ****** Course at Tiburon Golf Club excellently: In seven appearances at the tournament, Korda has three top-five finishes, and she’s only finished outside of the top 10 once. The winner will take home a record $4 million. The floodgates first opened in January in a similar setting: Korda edged past Lydia Ko in a playoff to win the LPGA Drive On Championship in Bradenton. A two-month tournament hiatus later and Korda was back on the course, dominating again. From March 21 to April 21, Korda played four events and won them all: the Seri Pak Championship, the Ford Championship, the T-Mobile Match Play and her second major victory, The Chevron Championship. Her streak ended with Rose Zhang’s return to the winner’s circle at the Founders Cup, but Korda came storming back just one week later, winning at Liberty National. She knocked off six wins in seven starts. The highlights that made @NellyKorda a 15x LPGA Tour Winner She finished at -14 WATCH — LPGA (@LPGA) November 18, 2024 Missed cuts aren’t anything to panic about in professional golf — bad weeks happen even for the best. But Korda’s inability to make the weekend for three consecutive events after her stunning win streak, including at the U.S. Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA, sounded alarm bells. Korda shot 80 at Lancaster — with a 10 on one ***** — and 81 after an opening round 69 at Sahalee. At the season’s final major, the Women’s Open, Korda let a two-major season slip away with a late-round implosion at the Old Course. “Listen, it’s golf,” she said at St. Andrews. “I’m going to mess up, and unfortunately I messed up over the weekend twice in two penalizing ways coming down the stretch.” Looking at the numbers alone, it’s hard to fathom that during a historic season, such a talented player could begin to think the sport they are unquestionably dominating feels impossible. But apparently, that’s exactly what Korda experienced. GO DEEPER Caitlin Clark’s morning on the LPGA Tour: Shanked shots, pured drives and so many fans On the Wednesday before The Annika, the 25-year-old told the LPGA’s official podcast that she sunk to quite a significant low this summer, during which her game started to spiral. Korda was playing scared — any competitive golfer’s worst nightmare, often the source of compounding errors — and didn’t look or feel like herself. “I got into a funk in the middle of the season where I was playing really well, and I don’t want to take it for granted but it was just clicking, right? I was just flowing with it. And then in the middle of the season it felt like the hardest thing in the world, all the criticism that you hear but you don’t want to look at. It’s tough to deal with,” Korda told podcast co-hosts Emma Talley and Hope Barnett. “It made me afraid to make mistakes, but to the point where … I started making more mistakes because I was so afraid of it. I just had to tell myself, I’m a human being, I’m going to have good days and I’m going to have really bad days, and it doesn’t define me. I can’t be afraid of making these mistakes because it’s just going to eat me alive.” Nelly Korda has won three times at The Pelican’s LPGA event. (Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images) In May, immediately after that incredible six-win stretch, it would be unfathomable to think Korda would craft a quasi-comeback arc during her 2024 season. Yet, in a way, that’s what she did. After a machine-like opening to the year, Korda faced on-course demons and bodily limitations. She withdrew from an event over the summer after suffering a dog ***** and dealt with migraines and her eventual neck injury into the fall. But she pulled herself out of that rut. “I feel like I’ve lived nine lives since January,” the world No. 1 said. “This year has been crazy. It’s been amazing, but it’s also tested me so much. I’ve gone through some of the lowest lows to the highest of highs.” It says a lot that Korda shared those details about her midseason struggles before coming back and winning again at The Annika. The valleys in Korda’s whirlwind of a season seem to have been more personally impactful than her peaks. She didn’t need this seventh win to come to that conclusion. “I realized what really matters truly in life, you know, through the tough times,” Korda said after her victory. “I would say you’re not really grateful for them. You’re like, why me? Why is this happening to me? Here we go again. But you have to be grateful for those times because they do help you grow.” (Top photo: Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images) Source link #Nelly #Korda #won #times #LPGA #Tour #hasnt #easy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  19. I wish Blizzard loved Warcraft as much as I do I wish Blizzard loved Warcraft as much as I do Blizzard’s first real-time strategy games had a profound impact on me as a young immigrant to Canada in 1994 and ’95. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness helped me learn how to read and write in English, and formed the basis for some of my oldest friendships in a brand-new country. Suffice to say, I have a lot of love for these old RTS games — maybe more than Blizzard itself. So you can imagine my excitement at remaster rumors for Warcraft II and its expansion, Beyond the Dark Portal. When Blizzard aired its Warcraft Direct last week, not only were those rumors confirmed, but it announced that the original Warcraft would receive the same treatment, and both would be sold alongside Warcraft III: Reforged (itself a remaster) as part of a new battle chest. Of course, I immediately booted up Battle.net and bought the bundle. I was just as quickly disappointed. Where to start? The most obvious place is the new hand-drawn graphics. Some fans have accused Blizzard of using AI to upscale the art in Warcraft and Warcraft II. I don’t think that’s what happened here, but what is clear is that the new assets don’t live up to the company’s usual quality. The unit sprites are completely missing the charm of their original counterparts. They also don’t look properly proportioned, and many of them have new stilted animations. Additionally, the extensive use of ****** outlining makes everything look a bit too stark. At best, the remasters resemble poorly made mobile games. Both games feature a toggle to switch between their original and remastered graphics seamlessly, but here again, Blizzard missed the mark. There’s a great YouTube video explaining the issue, but the short of it is the company didn’t accurately represent the “tall pixels” that the original graphics were designed around, so every asset appear stretched horizontally. Like every game from that era, Warcraft was designed to be played on a 4:3 CRT monitor. However, the original art assets were made to scale within a 320 x 200 frame, which is a 16:10 resolution. As a result, UI elements and units look taller in the 1994 release than in the remaster. GOG correctly accounted for this when it rereleased Warcraft and Warcraft II in 2019, and there’s no reason Blizzard couldn’t do the same in 2024. Without these nods to the game’s original visuals, Warcraft: Remastered just doesn’t look right. What gameplay enhancements the remasters include are minimal, and while they’re all appreciated, Blizzard could and should have done more. In Warcraft, for instance, it’s now possible to select up to 12 units simultaneously, up from four, and bind buildings to hotkeys for more efficient macro play. Oh, and you can finally issue ******* move commands, something you couldn’t do in the original release. However, any features you might find in a modern RTS are notably missing. For example, neither game allows you to ****** commands or tab between different types of units in a control group. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Blizzard took the same approach with StarCraft: Remastered. StarCraft: Brood War still had a sizable professional scene when Blizzard released its remaster. Had Blizzard touched the balance or mechanics of that game, it would have caused an outcry. By contrast, Warcraft II is essentially moribund, and would have greatly benefited from modernization. At the very least, Blizzard could have done a balance pass and added a ladder mode to give the game a chance to attract a new multiplayer fanbase. Coming back from the ***** is achievable for an old RTS. Age of Empires II managed to pull this trick off with flying colors: Since the release of its Definitive Edition in 2019, Microsoft’s genre-defining RTS has never been in a better place. A constant stream of support, including a substantial new expansion that was released just last week, has managed to grow the AoE2 community. At any time, there are as many a 30,000 people playing the Definitive Edition on Steam. If you ask me, that’s pretty great for a game that was originally released in 1999, and it shows what’s possible when a company cares and nurtures a beloved franchise. The fact Microsoft now owns Blizzard makes its treatment of Warcraft feel particularly unfair. Most disappointing is the lack of bonus content. Contrast this with Half-Life 2’s free anniversary update, which Valve released just days after the Warcraft remasters. It includes three and a half hours of new commentary from Gabe Newell and the dev team. Valve also uploaded a two-hour documentary and announced a second edition of Raising the Bar, a behind-the-scenes look at Half-Life 2’s turbulent development. If Newell could take time away from his yachts to talk about Valve’s most important game, surely Chris Metzen could have done the same for Warcraft. The people who were vital to Warcraft and Warcraft II’s development aren’t getting any younger — Blizzard should preserve their stories. If there’s one thing I’m hopeful for, it’s that Blizzard will eventually do the right thing. As I mentioned, the bundle I bought also came with Warcraft III: Reforged. Last week it received a free patch that does a lot to fix the disastrous issues with that remaster, albeit four years late. With more work, I can see the Warcraft and Warcraft II remasters becoming essential. But as things stand, the studio has done the bare minimum to honor its own legacy. Source link #Blizzard #loved #Warcraft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  20. Pokemon TCG Pocket has Surpassed $120 Million in Earnings, Report Claims Pokemon TCG Pocket has Surpassed $120 Million in Earnings, Report Claims As per the latest reports, Pokemon TCG Pocket has raked in over $120.8 million between October 30 and November 17, 2024. According to data from AppMagic (shared via PocketGamer), Pokemon TCG Pocket reached over $100 million in earnings on November 15 and exceeded $120 million by November 17. The game has been generating over $6.4 million in daily player spending since launch, with November 17 marking its highest earnings at $8.2 million. In its first week, Pokemon TCG Pocket earned $35.8 million. In the second week, earnings increased to $48.5 million, and in the third week, they reached $37.2 million with a few days still remaining. When it comes to regional spending, fans from Japan are the most significant contributors, accounting for 42% of the global expenditure, with a total of $50.6 million spent. The ******* States follows, making up 28% of global spending with $33.6 million. The Pokémon TCG Pocket has made an impressive debut, surpassing 30 million downloads in just the first 9 days and generating over $12 million in revenue within the first 4 days. The title is currently in contention to become the franchise’s biggest mobile launch, as it is only $18 million shy of Pokémon GO’s earnings from its first 19 days. In other news, a Pokemon TCG Pocket datamine has revealed details about a Venusaur EX battle event. Also, trading has been confirmed to arrive in January 2025. What are your thoughts on Pokemon TCG Pocket earning over $120 million? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more from Insider Gaming, read about *********’s Creed Syndicate’s 4K 60 fps update. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokemon #TCG #Pocket #Surpassed #Million #Earnings #Report #Claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  21. Microsoft introduces Windows 365 Link for cloud-based desktops Microsoft introduces Windows 365 Link for cloud-based desktops Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella watches from the audience during a press briefing at Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, Washington, on May 20, 2024. Jason Redmond | Afp | Getty Images Microsoft is previewing a new PC that’s designed to connect corporate workers to their programs and files in the cloud. The Windows 365 Cloud Link is available in limited use in the U.S., Canada and a handful of other countries. It will be for ***** in a few markets at $349 in April. After years spent failing to ****** the list of top PC manufacturers with its Surface product line, Microsoft is trying something new in an established category of hardware. Early testers have used the devices in call centers and for hot-desking, the practice of temporarily placing workers in available work areas rather than having them stick to the same assigned spots, Jalleen Ringer, product leader for Windows cloud endpoints, told CNBC in an interview. The device is meant to be simple and secure. It runs a stripped-down operating system called Windows CPC, with no local applications or local users, and has a strict application control policy that can’t be disabled. It automatically downloads updates in the background and installs them at night. Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link supports dual 4K monitors. Microsoft An Intel chip runs inside the computer, which comes with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Weighing less than a pound, the puck-like package can be kept on a desk or even mounted behind a PC monitor. The release comes three years after Microsoft introduced Windows 365, which gives employees access to their custom virtual desktops on any device. Desktop virtualization, including an earlier Microsoft product called Azure Virtual Desktop, took off after the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020, with workers stuck at home. In July 2023, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 together generated $1 billion in revenue for the first time in the 2024 fiscal year. Dell and HP both sell thin client PCs that connect to virtual desktop infrastructure. Organizations can configure them with Windows or proprietary operating systems. The Windows 365 Cloud Link is a “nice alternative” to thin clients, said Melissa Grant, a senior director of product marketing at Microsoft. WATCH: ‘In many ways China is close to or is even catching up,’ Microsoft’s Brad Smith says Source link #Microsoft #introduces #Windows #Link #cloudbased #desktops Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  22. Ukraine hits Russia with US missiles on 1000th war day Ukraine hits Russia with US missiles on 1000th war day Ukraine has used US ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time, officials in Moscow say, in a major escalation on the war’s 1000th day. Russia said its forces shot down five of six missiles fired at a military facility in the western Bryansk region while debris of one hit the facility, causing no casualties or damage. Ukraine said it had struck a Russian arms depot about 110km inside Russia and caused secondary explosions. It did not specify what weapons it had used. US President Joe Biden gave approval just this week for Ukraine to use the medium range US missiles for such attacks, which Russia has described as an escalation that would make the ******* States a direct combatant in the war and prompt retaliation. President Vladimir ****** on Tuesday approved an updated nuclear doctrine lowering the threshold that would prompt Russia to consider using nuclear weapons. The new policy says any conventional ******** on Russia by a non-nuclear power supported by a nuclear power will be considered to be a ****** *******. Any mass aerospace ******* with aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft that crossed Russia’s borders could also trigger a nuclear response, it says. It came amid plans for vigils to mark 1000 days of war, with weary troops at the front, Kyiv besieged by air strikes and doubts about the future of foreign support as Donald Trump heads back to the White House. Military experts say US missiles can help Ukraine retain a pocket it has captured inside Russia – in the Kurk region – as a bargaining chip but are not likely to change the course of the 33-month-old war. The Bryansk region, where the Russian military arsenal was targeted by Ukrainian forces, ***** north of Kursk. Potentially more consequential changes in the US posture are expected when Trump returns to power in two months, having pledged to end the war quickly without saying how. In an address to parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the war’s “decisive moments” would come in the next year. “At this stage of the war, it is being decided who will prevail. Whether us over the ******, or the ****** over us Ukrainians… and Europeans. And everyone in the world who wants to live freely and not be subject to a dictator.” Zelenskiy set out what he called a “resilience plan” for the country as a domestic foil to the “victory plan” he pitched to allies earlier, and said it was needed to force Russia to negotiate an end to the war in good ******. Although he said the full details of the plan would be disclosed later in the year, it comprises steps to stabilise the front line, support military innovation and arms production as well as measures to shore up unity and cultural identity. “Unity is the first point of our internal resilience plan,” he said. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would produce at least 30,000 long-range drones next year, a weapons system that the country’s forces have used to narrow the gap in strike capabilities with Russia and to strike targets deep inside its much larger eastern neighbour. A candle-lit commemoration was planned for later on Tuesday. Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have *****, more than six million live as refugees abroad and the population has fallen by a quarter since ****** ordered the invasion by land, sea and air. with EFE Source link #Ukraine #hits #Russia #missiles #1000th #war #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  23. Baldur’s Gate 3’s Nomination For Best Community Support Over Games Like Warframe is Nothing Short of Travesty Baldur’s Gate 3’s Nomination For Best Community Support Over Games Like Warframe is Nothing Short of Travesty The Game Awards 2024 nominations are here, and as with every year, they’ve sparked some heated debates within the gaming community. While some nominations have raised eyebrows (like certain DLCs being considered for “Game” of the Year), one particular category has left many long-time gamers scratching their heads. One controversial nomination after another. | Image Credit: thegameawards/YouTube The Best Community Support category has always been about recognizing games and developers that go above and beyond in their interaction with players. It’s about consistent communication, regular updates, and a genuine connection with the community. This year’s nominations, however, seem to have overlooked some of the industry’s most dedicated community supporters. When Past Success Overshadows Present Merit Baldur’s Gate 3 is undeniably a masterpiece, as evident by its impressive haul of six awards (including GOTY) at last year’s show. Larian Studios has done an admirable job maintaining communication with its player base, regularly addressing concerns, and implementing community feedback. However, the question here is: should a game that dominated last year’s awards be competing in categories that traditionally celebrate ongoing, long-term community engagement? Especially when we consider games like Warframe, which has maintained an exceptional level of community interaction for over a decade. Digital Extremes, Warframe‘s developer, has set industry standards for community engagement with their weekly dev streams, regular updates, and transparent communication about the game’s development. Their absence from the nominations list is particularly noticeable given their 11-year track record of consistent community support. It’s worth noting that while Larian’s communication style is commendable, it follows a more traditional pattern of patch notes and occasional developer updates. Compare this to Warframe‘s “Devstreams,” where the team regularly plays their own game live, discusses upcoming features with players in real time, and even showcases community-made content. The difference in engagement levels is stark. The ******* Picture of Community Support Setting standards, whether or not they receive recognition. | Image Credit: Digital Extremes The situation raises important questions about how we measure and recognize community support in the gaming industry. Is it purely about the volume of updates and patches? The frequency of communication? Or should we be looking at the long-term commitment to building and maintaining a healthy relationship with players? Some might argue that Baldur’s Gate 3‘s nomination is a recognition of quality over quantity. After all, the game has managed to build an incredibly engaged community in a relatively short time. But when we consider studios that have spent years, even decades, nurturing their communities, the nomination begins to feel more like a popularity contest than a true assessment of community support. Of course, this isn’t the first eyebrow-raising nomination at The Game Awards 2024. Just like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree‘s unexpected Game of the Year nomination, Baldur’s Gate 3‘s inclusion in this category seems to prioritize mainstream popularity over specialized excellence. The gaming industry has evolved significantly over the past decade, and perhaps it’s time for The Game Awards to reconsider how they evaluate categories like Best Community Support. Should there be separate recognition for new games versus long-running titles? Should there be clearer criteria for what constitutes exceptional community support? What do you think about this year’s nominations? Should long-running games with established community support programs be given more consideration? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Baldurs #Gate #Nomination #Community #Support #Games #Warframe #Short #Travesty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  24. TechScape: ******** markets come for everything – and the FBI comes for a ******** market | Technology TechScape: ******** markets come for everything – and the FBI comes for a ******** market | Technology Gambling on the outcome of the presidential election became legal in the US at the start of October after decades of prohibition, becoming a new type of pre-election poll. Online prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket accepted billions of dollars in wagers on the outcome, with their users favoring Donald Trump with a 70% chance of beating Kamala Harris, out of sync with mainstream polls. Trump’s camp trumpeted the predictions. In the ***, election gambling is legal and takes a very different form. Traditional bookmakers and ******** firms take players’ wagers and set prices and odds. The bets are not as similar to prediction markets as they are to horse racing. These markets are prone to their own scandals. Kalshi and Polymarket offer an online vision of ******** that encompasses a wider range of subjects, algorithmically sets prices and relies on cryptocurrency. Now, Kalshi – riding the wave of those accurate predictions, millions of new users and billions of dollars in trades – is expanding the range of what its users can bet on. Polymarket is courting political influencers like Nate Silver and ZeroHedge to pose questions that users can bet on. Robinhood and DraftKings plan to throw their hats in the political ******** ring, too. Will every public event soon be freighted with billions of dollars in online wagers? Will the Oscars become a new type of speculative financial market? Would you stake your life’s savings on whether egg prices will go up during Trump’s first month in office, a real bet you can make on Kalshi? The Guardian’s Callum Jones reports: “We’re just getting started,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. Kalshi is adding “close to 100” new markets to its platform every day and plans to launch combination-based markets, allowing users to bet on a bundle of different outcomes, and conditional markets (for example, “if Trump wins, where will GDP be?”) within weeks. “I think that just accelerates from here … Only “terrorism, ************** and *********” are off limits for Kalshi. What about Ukraine? While the conflict falls into the platform’s banned category, Russia’s invasion and the ensuing war have certainly moved stocks and commodities since February 2022. “We’ll see over time,” said Mansour. That’s all great news for Kalshi. Polymarket is having a more muted post-election party. Last Wednesday, the FBI raided the Manhattan home of Shayne Coplan, the 26-year-old founder of the ******** market, seizing his phone and other electronic devices. The company was quick to blame the 6am incursion on “obvious political retaliation by the outgoing administration”. Bloomberg, however, reported that the US Department of Justice is investigating the company for allegedly accepting trades from US users, which it has been forbidden to do since a 2022 settlement agreement with regulators. The site’s users, however, have done their best to circumvent the geofencing with virtual private networks. Two weeks ago, Polymarket announced it would soon resume operations in the US. It is hard to imagine that restart going ahead with an active FBI investigation hanging over the company. Fortune also reported that “wash trading”, another ******** type of market manipulation, has allegedly proliferated on the site. France is also grappling with the implications of Polymarket. A French man with the username Theo made the site’s most famous bet, an almost $30m (£23.7m) wager that Trump would win the US election. Do such massive bets constitute foreign election interference? Theo’s bet exhibits parallels to Polymarket itself, which is backed by US entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who made an early and unexpected wager on Trump in the 2016 election. France’s gambling regulator is now probing the site for any market manipulation, and cryptocurrency trade publications have reported that the country is considering banning it. In response, Polymarket stated it has seen no evidence of market manipulation. Can Trump and Elon Musk weaponize the US internet and satellite regulator? Donald Trump and Elon Musk at a UFC event in Madison Square Garden, New York, at the weekend. Photograph: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC Late Sunday, Trump announced he would nominate Brendan Carr as head of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The ************* commissioner wrote a chapter on the furture of the FCC for Project 2025 (the infamous hard-right playbook for the second Trump administration), the only sitting government official to do so. Carr’s views on the US tech sector have mostly aligned with those of Trump and Musk. In recent months, they have all lambasted broadcast TV networks and public broadcasters. Carr has advocated for going after Meta and Google, not to hem in monopolistic practices but to dismantle the “censorship cartel” of big tech companies that he believes are stifling ************* speech. Google, already reeling from the loss in its antitrust case against the US, may be a big ****** in the incoming administration, as Trump has railed against it in campaign speeches. Carr has also supported banning TikTok over alleged national security threats. Carr’s agency could be a political cudgel for Trump in his personal retribution against tech companies. The commissioner is a friend of the telecommunications industry and an ****** of Silicon Valley’s tech giants. Will he apply a hands-off approach to internet service providers, dismantling consumer protections in a boon to the industry’s large incumbents, and then apply scrutiny and harsh authority to the likes of Google and Facebook, sacrificing consistency in favor of political expediency? “Brendan Carr has been campaigning for this job with promises to do the bidding of Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” said Craig Aaron, co-CEO of Free Press Action, a left-leaning media advocacy organization. “Carr doesn’t care about protecting the public interest; he got this job because he will carry out Trump and Musk’s personal vendettas.” Carr could also turn the FCC into a commercial bludgeon for the “First Buddy”, as Musk has christened himself, against the billionaire’s tech rivals. A major beneficiary of the commissioner’s ascendance is likely to be Musk’s SpaceX, whose satellites and the internet service they provide are under the FCC’s purview. In his Project 2025 proposals for the FCC, Carr emphasizes his priority to “advance America’s space leadership”. He namechecks Starlink (SpaceX’s satellite internet firm) and says his agency will adopt as friendly a regulatory stance towards the company’s launch schedule as possible. skip past newsletter promotion A weekly ***** in to how technology is shaping our lives Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Lock up your phones ‘Not anti-tech as a company’ … Yondr’s phone pouch. Photograph: PR Company Handout When everyone is digging for gold, sell shovels. That’s what a company called Yondr has found. As schools across the globe are implementing phone-free days and governments are discussing whether children should be banned from social media entirely, this brand has found a market opportunity. Founded in 2013, Yondr was one of the first companies to manufacture lockable phone pouches in which students (and others) can quarantine their devices. One million students use a Yondr pouch daily across 35 countries, CEO Graham Dugoni told the Guardian. Dugoni said that when a principal, school district or state implements a phone-free policy, his company sees a spike in business. He was hesitant, however, to use the word “ban” when referring to schools’ policies towards phone usage. “No one’s doing anything wrong. And we’re not anti-tech as a company … It’s more how do we live with these tools in the future in a constructive way.” Dugoni wants people to live in harmony with smartphones rather than prohibiting them, though he uses a flip phone and doesn’t maintain any social media profiles for himself or his company. “Creating a phone-free space is a positive move forward. It’s not trying to take something away or pull back into a world in the past. It’s how we create a framework and societal etiquette around something that’s radically new and everyone’s trying to appreciate the internet’s potential and possibilities.” The wider TechScape Small aircraft are being used to protect humans and livestock from predators. Photograph: Wesley Sarmento/Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Source link #TechScape #******** #markets #FBI #******** #market #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]
  25. As market experts talk of ‘animal spirits,’ here’s how to invest now As market experts talk of ‘animal spirits,’ here’s how to invest now A trader wears a Trump hat as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during the opening bell on Nov. 6, 2024. Timothy A. Clary | Afp | Getty Images On Nov. 5, the presidential election handed a decisive victory for President-elect Donald Trump. In the days that followed, the markets soared. A “Trump trade” led to new index highs for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, lifted with the help of certain sectors expected to do well under the president-elect’s second term. As of Monday, the postelection market fervor had started to subside to preelection levels. Yet, some experts say they are seeing a renewal of so-called animal spirits. “Animal spirits” is a term first coined by economist John Maynard Keynes and refers to the tendency for human emotion to drive investment gains and losses. Some experts say animal spirits are a sign of consumer confidence. However, the phenomenon can also be trouble for investors if they take on “excessive risk,” said Brad Klontz, a psychologist and certified financial planner. “It’s essentially why ***** investors outperform living investors, because ***** investors are not impacted by their animal spirits,” Klontz said. Research has shown ***** investors’ portfolios tend to outperform, since they are left untouched because they are less likely to be influenced by emotional decisions, such as panic selling or buying. Investors may be excited or fearful The recent market runup was not prompted by individual investors chasing the market to a meaningful extent, according to Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo. Individuals, who were split in their election choices, are also divided in their investment outlook, he said. “Depending on who your candidate was, you may be excited about the future or fearing the future,” Wren said. Instead, it has been professional traders and money managers — who couldn’t sit on cash when the S&P 500 index was setting new records every two or three days — who have helped drive the markets higher, he said. There is also big-picture excitement going into 2025, according to Wren, with expectations for lower taxes, less regulation and reasonable levels of inflation. However, the U.S. economy might have a couple of quarters of slower growth in 2025, he said. “We’re not going to have a recession,” Wren said. “We think that’s very unlikely.” ‘Nobody is immune’ to investing missteps Ideally, investors ought to sell stocks when they are priced high and buy when they are low. But research consistently finds the opposite tends to happen. Humans are wired to take on a herd mentality and follow the crowd, which guides our decision-making on everything from who we vote for to how we invest, according to Klontz. “The first thing is to just recognize that nobody is immune from this,” Klontz said. Now is the perfect time for investors to make sure they have an asset allocation that is appropriate to their personal risk tolerance and financial goals, he said. “It’s ******* to do when the market’s crashed,” Klontz said. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that financial advisors, like all humans, are also susceptible to biases. When seeking financial advice, investors should ask questions such as “What would you do as my advisor if the market went down 50%?” Klontz said. More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. Good advisors should have systems in place to keep them from making big mistakes, Klontz said. They may have an investment committee or a predetermined approach for how they will act. Importantly, investors should also be asking themselves the same question, Klontz said. For example, if the market drops 40%, are you OK with your portfolio dropping from $100,000 to $60,000? “If the answer is no, then you probably shouldn’t be all in stocks,” Klontz said. However, if you are young enough, a big market drop could be an important opportunity to dollar cost average — or invest a fixed amount of money on a regular basis — and position your money for larger gains when it recovers. “Most people have a real tough time doing that, which is why advisors can help,” provided they are familiar with behavioral tendencies, Klontz said. Source link #market #experts #talk #animal #spirits #heres #invest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

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