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Virginia Real Estate Agent Could Lose License for Posting Scriptures About Marriage Virginia Real Estate Agent Could Lose License for Posting Scriptures About Marriage A veteran Virginia real estate agent is facing professional ethics charges and could lose his license after sharing scripture on social media that pointed out that marriage is between and a woman. The Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC), a non-profit legal group, is representing Wilson Fauber in a December 4 hearing before the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ethics panel for sharing his biblical views on marriage and sexuality. According to the group, Fauber posted comments to his personal Facebook page explaining the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. “In 2015, I posted Biblical quotes on my personal Facebook page,” Fauber told The Federalist. “Around the same time, Rev. Franklin Graham had created a post and I re-posted with some additions for emphasis.” “The post thread contained ****** references and explanations from a minister’s perspective,” the ordained minister added. The Staunton, Virginia realtor posted the scriptures before the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to redefine marriage. He also posted it before NAR amended its ethics code in 2020 requiring realtors to avoid “harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs based on race, ******, religion, ****, disability, familial status, national origin, ******* orientation, or gender identity.” The minister told the outlet he did not receive any complaints about his comments until last year when he decided to run for Staunton City Council. At that time, an opposition group criticized Fauber for his ********** beliefs calling him “The Hater.” “There were those who don’t like freedom of speech and freedom of religion and so they researched my Facebook accounts and found the post from 2015 and then a local reporter met with me to ask me if I still believed in the scripture I had posted,” Fauber said. Fauber told the reporter he does believe in scripture and what he posted. As a result, an ethics complaint was filed with the NAR following Fauber’s statement. The complaint also cited a recent post from the minister pointing out how female athletes were being physically injured by transgender athletes who were born biologically male. They concluded that Fauber’s statements may have violated the NAR’s rules against hate speech, the FFLC explains. “Apparently quoting the truth of the ****** is now enough to trigger a formal ethics hearing that could ruin a real estate agent’s career. In reality, ‘hate speech’ is nothing more than an Orwellian device used to silence others. Ironically, rules and regulations like these are put in place to hate and harm individuals with disfavored viewpoints,” reads a statement from the group. Fauber is being required to defend his statements in an ethics hearing on December 4 to avoid monetary penalties or lose his membership to the organization, which means after 44 years as a realtor he would be barred from accessing the multiple listing service (MLS). “It’s pretty much impossible to do the real estate business without the MLS,” Fauber said. “The MLS does more than allow a realtor to find a property, it includes when it’s sold, how many days it’s been on the market, and other information, documents, and restrictions.” Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, oversees FFLC and says the board’s action to possibly charge Fauber is concerning. “When somebody brought him up on ethics charges, the board could have chosen to dismiss them, but they did not,” Cobb said. “We’re really in a situation where if someone’s personal ****** posted on their personal Facebook speech becomes hate speech in the minds of an employer or an association, we don’t live in a free America, everyone should be concerned about that.” Michael Sylvester, FFLC litigation counsel, says that if Fauber is dismissed then “society has really reached a new low.” “The hopeful outcome is that the ethics judges will recognize that Wilson hasn’t violated the rule and has never spoken against anybody in any online space or publicly,” Sylvester told The Federalist. “In the ******* picture, if quoting the ****** is hate speech then society has really reached a new low. Usually, we admire our professionals, but now we are telling our professionals they need to leave their values at the door. One would have thought that this 2020 rule would be to stop society’s greatest evil, but now it is targeting ********** ministers.” “If this can happen to Wilson it can happen to anyone and if we don’t stand up alongside, we may not have anyone stand with us when it happens to us,” Sylvester said. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news.*** Source link #Virginia #Real #Estate #Agent #Lose #License #Posting #Scriptures #Marriage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Game Awards 2024 – All Nominees Announced The Game Awards 2024 – All Nominees Announced · · November 18, 2024 The Game Awards 2024 are coming on December 12, and all of the nominees for the 10th annual award show have been announced. This year’s show features 30 categories with dozens of games and studios up as nominees. Compared to last year’s event, there are two less categories. Best Esports Coach and Best Esports Event were removed from the list. One clarification this year as well is that expansions, game seasons, DLCs, remakes, and remasters are eligible for all categories if the jury deems them “worthy”. With that announcement days before the reveal of the nominees, it seemed clear it was targeted for those questioning if Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred would be eligible for awards. Spoiler alert: Shadow of the Erdtree was specifically nominated RELATED: The Game Awards Calls on Fans to Help Protect Its Brand The biggest award of the night, Game of the Year, has six games vying for it. This year’s nominees are Astro ****, Balatro, ****** Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantaszio. Check out the full list of award nominees, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can also join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums. The Game Awards 2024 Award Nominees Game of the Year Astro **** ****** Myth Wukong Balatro Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Metaphor: ReFantaszio Best Game Direction Astro **** Balatro ****** Myth Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Metapahor: ReFantazio Best Narrative Final Fantasy VII Rebrith Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Metaphor re Fantazio Senua’s Saga Hellblade II Silent Hill 2 Best Art Direction Astro **** ****** Myth: Waking Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Metaphor: ReFantazio Neva Best Score/Music Astro **** FF Rebirth Metabirth Silent Hill 2 Stellar Blade Best Audio Design Astro **** Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Senua’s Saga Hellblade II Silent Hill 2 Best Performance Briana White (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth) Hannah Telle (Life Is Strange: Double Exposure) Humberly González (Star Wars Outlaws) Luke Roberts (Silent Hill 2) Melina Juergens (Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II) Games for Impact Life is Strange Double Exposure Tales of Kenzera Closer the Distance Indika Neva Senua’s Saga Hellblade II Best Ongoing Game Destiny 2 Diablo IV Final Fantasy XIV Fortnite Helldivers 2 Best Indie Game Animal Well UFO 50 Balatro Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Neva Best Debut Indie Game Animal Well Manor Lords Pacific Drive The Plucky Squire Balatro Best Mobile Game AFK Journey Balatro Withering Waves Zenless Zone Zero Pokemon TCG Pocket Best Community Support Baldur’s Gate 3 Final Fantasy XIV Fortnite Helldivers 2 No Man’s Sky Best VR/AR Game Arizona Sunshine Remake Asgard’s Wrath 2 Batman Arkham Shadow Metal Hellsinger VR Metro Awakening VR Innovation in Accessibility Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Diablo 4 Dragon Age Veilguard Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Star Wars Outlawa Best Action Game ****** Myth Wukong Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Stellar Blade Warhammer 40 Space Marines 2 Helldivers 2 Best Action/Adventure Game Astro **** Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Silent Hill 2 Star Wars Outlaws The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Best RPG Dragon’s Dogma II Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth Metaphor: ReFantazio Best Fighting Game Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics MultiVersus Tekken 8 Best Family Game Astro **** Princess Peach ********* Super Mario Party Jamboree The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom The Plucky Squire Best Sports/Racing Game NBA 2K25 EA FC 25 TopSpin 2K25 WWE 2K24 F1 24 Best SIM/Strategy Game Age of Mythology Retold Frostpunk 2 Kunisu-Gami Patch of the Goddess Manor Lords Unicorn Overlord Best Multiplayer Game Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 Helldivers 2 Super Mario Party Jamboree Tekken 8 Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 Content Creator of the Year Caseoh Illojuan Techno Gamerz Typical Gamer Usada Pekora Best Esports Athlete 33 alesksiB Chovy Faker zywoo zmjjkk Best Esports Game Counter-Strike 2 Dota 2 League of Legends Mobile Legends Bang Bang VALORANT Best Esports Team Bilibili Gaming Gen.G NAVI T1 Team Liquid Most Anticipated Game ****** Stranding 2: On The Beach Ghost of Yotei GTA 6 Metroid Prime 4 Beyond Monster Hunter Wild Best Adaptation Arcane Fallout Knuckls Like a Dragon Yakuza Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Players’ Voice Will be announced on December 2. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Game #Awards #Nominees #Announced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Acclaimed Russian ballet dancer ***** after fall from 5th-floor balcony – National Acclaimed Russian ballet dancer ***** after fall from 5th-floor balcony – National Vladimir Shklyarov, one of the ballet community’s leading dancers, ***** after a fatal fall from a fifth-storey balcony in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Mariinsky Theatre, where the 39-year-old was the top-ranking dancer, confirmed the Nov. 16 ******. “Tonight, the favorite of the public, the star premier of the Mariinsky Theatre, Honored Artist of Russia Vladimir Shklyarov, tragically *****. This is a huge loss not only for the theatre’s staff but for all of contemporary ballet,” the company wrote in a statement posted to Instagram on Saturday. “Our condolences to the artist’s family, loved ones, friends and all the numerous admirers of his work and talent.” Story continues below advertisement According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the ****** is being investigated by federal authorities but “the preliminary cause” has been ruled an accident. The ballet dancer’s representatives told the media that he fell from the fifth storey of a building while on painkillers, according to the BBC. Theatre spokesperson Anna Kasatkina said the dancer had been taking the medication for an injury and was scheduled to undergo spinal surgery this week. 2:08 Ballet Kelowna’s senior dancer set to retire Previous Video Next Video Shklyarov became a principal dancer for Mariinsky Theater in 2011, performing in productions such as Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. The ********* Ballet Theatre, where Shklyarov performed as a guest artist in 2014 and 2015, also paid tribute to the late performer. “Today, we mourn the tragic loss of Vladimir Shklyarov, an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide,” the company’s Instagram account wrote on Nov. 17. Story continues below advertisement Trending Now Canada Post, union gear up for renewed bargaining with special mediator Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames ‘bad actors’ Diana Vishneva, a fellow principal dancer at the Mariinsky, called Shklyarov’s ****** a “tragedy” for the ballet world. Story continues below advertisement “You were so loved by your audience. You were the favorite partner of many ballerinas,” she wrote in a tribute on Instagram. Irina Bartnovskaya, who runs a Telegram channel focused on ballet called “The ****** in Ballet Shoes,” was one of the first to publicize the ****** — part of which was captured on CCTV — on Saturday morning. “Volodya (Vladimir) was resting up at home, on painkillers and preparing for an… operation,” she said. “He went out onto the balcony to get some air and smoke, lost his balance (it’s a very narrow balcony) and fell (from the fifth floor). It was a ******* unbearable accident. “He loved life, his family, and adored his children and his audience,” she wrote, according to Reuters. Shklyarov was married to Maria Shirinkina, a fellow dancer at the Mariinsky. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. More on World More videos &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #Acclaimed #Russian #ballet #dancer #***** #fall #5thfloor #balcony #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo of Europe has launched its ****** Friday ***** online Nintendo of Europe has launched its ****** Friday ***** online Nintendo of Europe has launched its ****** Friday ***** online. Running until December 1, the ****** Friday promotion includes savings on over 2,000 games, according to the platform holder. Featured discounts include EA Sports FC 25 for £27.49 (50% off), Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Odyssey for £33.29 (33% off), and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for £41.99 (30% off). There’s a games under £5 section which includes Lego City Undercover for £3.99 (92% off), Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl for £3.99 (90% off), and Worms Rumble for £1.09 (90% off). Hardware, accessories and subscriptions are also on offer in the *****, which is running on the My Nintendo Store website and the Nintendo eShop. There are savings of up to 30% on Lego sets for ****** Friday, too. On the subscription front, players who buy or extend a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack individual membership will receive a 12-month bonus code which can be gifted to a friend. Codes will be delivered via email within 72 hours of purchase and will be valid until end of January 2025. Nintendo of America recently revealed a range of upcoming ****** Friday deals. While ****** Friday itself isn’t until November 29, the platform holder is kicking off its holiday offers earlier, with online deals set to launch on Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store “after November 19”. PlayStation’s ****** Friday deals have seemingly leaked early, including significant price cuts for the base PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2 headset. Source link #Nintendo #Europe #launched #****** #Friday #***** #online Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why the Justice Department is suing a software company to stop landlords colluding on rents Why the Justice Department is suing a software company to stop landlords colluding on rents Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Of all the reasons it could be hard to pay rent each month, did you have an algorithm-powered ******** cartel on your list? Millions of people across the ******* States are paying far more rent than they can reasonably afford, with rental housing prices rising far quicker than household income. In 2022, 22.4 million U.S. households were spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, up from 20.4 million in 2019. Many of these households faced severe cost burdens, with an all-time high of 11.6 million struggling with housing costs that consume more than half of their income. In Chicago, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Virginia Beach and Washington, year-over-year rental prices are climbing at double-digit rates. Several factors drive the high cost of rentals, including increasing demand, a dwindling supply of low-rent units, the rising cost of capital to build new rentals, and regulatory barriers restricting the construction of multifamily units. But there’s another surprising factor driving up rental prices: landlords colluding with the help of technology. The U.S. Justice Department is suing the company RealPage, Inc., accusing it of selling software to landlords that allows them to collectively set prices—the ******** practice of price-fixing. As a former official in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and a law professor, I’ve been following the case closely. The perils of price-fixing The Federal Trade Commission defines price-fixing as an agreement, *********** or combination among competitors to raise, fix or otherwise maintain the price at which their goods or services are sold. Any agreement that restricts price competition violates the antitrust laws. Examples of price-fixing agreements include commitments among competitors to hold prices firm, adopt a standard formula for computing prices, or adhere to a minimum fee or price schedule. So when competitors share proprietary, confidential current price information—directly or indirectly through an intermediary—to stabilize or control industry pricing, they have crossed the line into ******** collusion, according to the FTC. That is the case in major portions of the U.S. rental market, the Justice Department argues. One algorithm for all In August 2024, the Justice Department and eight states filed a lawsuit in a federal court in North Carolina against RealPage. The Justice Department accused the company of selling software to landlords that collects nonpublic information from competing landlords and uses that combined information to make pricing recommendations. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter—daily or weekly. Landlords who use the software input the rental prices they charge, and the software aggregates all the data from the company’s customers. The software’s algorithm then makes recommendations for what to charge. The recommendations are generally higher than the current market rate, and most customers take the recommendations, which push prices in a market higher. Even if landlords retain some authority to deviate from the algorithm’s recommendations, it is ******** for competing landlords to jointly delegate key aspects of their pricing to a common algorithm, according to the Justice Department suit. The Justice Department declared that “RealPage replaces competition with coordination. It substitutes unity for rivalry. It subverts competition and the competitive process. It does so openly and directly—and ********* renters are left paying the price.” The case is unusual in that, unlike a typical price-fixing cartel, the landlords used RealPage’s algorithms to dramatically improve their ability to engage in price-fixing. Algorithmic price-fixing is typically easier and more effective than other types of cartel behavior. The software can easily aggregate massive amounts of proprietary data, optimize cartel gains, monitor real-time deviations from cartel pricing and minimize incentives to cheat. “It’s much easier to price-fix when you’re outsourcing it to an algorithm versus when you’re sharing manila envelopes in a smoke-filled room,” Justice Department antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter told The New York Times. Since 2022, RealPage and various property managers have been named as defendants in more than 30 class action lawsuits alleging the RealPage software is used to unlawfully fix rental prices. Federal courts tend to be sympathetic to such arguments, as shown in the denial of a motion to dismiss the case in one of the private lawsuits filed against RealPage. In that case, the court held that a price-fixing agreement could exist as a matter of law. Landlords provided RealPage’s algorithmic system with their proprietary commercial data, knowing that RealPage would require the same from their competitors and would use all of that data to recommend rental prices to all of the company’s clients. Classic price-fixing or data-driven decisions? Some landlords seem to be aware that in sharing confidential price information to RealPage’s software, they were facilitating the unlawful monitoring and raising of rental prices. The Justice Department complaint quoted a landlord commenting on RealPage’s software, “I always liked this product because your algorithm uses proprietary data from other subscribers to suggest rents and term. That’s classic price-fixing.” Even RealPage’s own executives have boasted that when landlords collectively use their software, they can use “every possible opportunity to increase price,” according to the complaint. RealPage argued that its software “simply helps landlords make data-driven decisions” in a competitive market. The company claims its tools are designed to reflect market conditions and optimize occupancy rates, not to engage in price-fixing. The company describes the impact of its alleged collusion with landlords as “a rising tide [that] raises all ships.” Perhaps a better description for their service is a rising tide that raises all ships for those who have one. The Justice Department’s case and the private cases are in the early stages of litigation. If the department is successful, RealPage will be barred from engaging in the anticompetitive practices related to helping landlords share proprietary pricing information. Provided by The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Citation: Robo price-fixing: Why the Justice Department is suing a software company to stop landlords colluding on rents (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Justice #Department #suing #software #company #stop #landlords #colluding #rents Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gamer receives free RTX 3060 GPU from Temu — user waits for other PC parts to arrive to see if the GPU is real Gamer receives free RTX 3060 GPU from Temu — user waits for other PC parts to arrive to see if the GPU is real People rarely receive free gaming gear, especially something nice, such as an RTX 3060. However, LudM on the PCMR subreddit revealed he was given a free ******** “RTX 3060” from Temu. The new RTX 3060 owner is waiting for the rest of his computer parts to arrive to build his gaming rig and verify if the card he was sent was an actual RTX 3060 and not a fake. ******** online e-commerce platforms are a popular place to find fake GPUs that might be advertised as an RTX 30 series or RTX 40 series GPU at “impossible” price points. More often than not, these crazy-cheap GPUs are scams, with the product being a much older GPU. Some are equipped with GPUs as old as a GTX 650 Ti or GTX 680. However, there are other times when the advertised product is legitimate. The poster published images of the newly acquired RTX 3060, revealing that the card might be the real deal. One Redditor replied with a keen eye that the components behind the GPU look identical to a Palit RTX 3060 Dual OC. Another plus is that the card has an 8-pin supplementary power connector, three DisplayPort connectors, and one HDMI connector, the same as the Palit GPU, providing good evidence that the card might be legitimate. GPUs packing much older GPU models, such as a 600 series or 700 series GPU, will typically come with an older video connector such as DVI or VGA. The comments section also suggested that the RTX 3060 might be the mobile variant of the GPU. This could also be the case; it is not uncommon for many of these desktop GPUs to feature a mobile Nvidia GPU, such as the RTX 3060 mobile. However, many comments also warned that the GPU might have malware-infected firmware, which could reach the GPU’s host machine when the system is fully built and operational. This is another legitimate concern, especially considering the RTX 3060 was given for free. LudM purportedly received the free RTX 3060 from a Temu advertisement. For months, LudM was harassed by Temu ads showcasing “expensive items at ridiculously low prices or even for free.” After investigating and discovering that these ads were purportedly legitimate, LudM entered one of these giveaways and managed to win the aforementioned RTX 3060. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Gamer #receives #free #RTX #GPU #Temu #user #waits #parts #arrive #GPU #real Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to trade on Thanksgiving travel How to trade on Thanksgiving travel ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, joins CNBC’s ‘The Exchange’ to discuss trading on Thanksgiving travel, the case for municipal bonds, and more. Source link #trade #Thanksgiving #travel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Garcia rejoins ********* Tour with Ryder Cup in mind Garcia rejoins ********* Tour with Ryder Cup in mind While America’s golfers are reportedly in line to be paid for playing in the Ryder Cup one of Europe’s veterans has just stumped up an estimated Stg 1million to be considered for their team. That is the reported size of the fine Sergio Garcia has had to pay to rejoin the ********* World Tour as he seeks an 11th appearance at the biennial event. The 44-year-old, who is already the Cup’s leading points scorer, wants to match Lee Westwood and Sir Nick Faldo’s ********* benchmark by playing next year at Bethpage in the ******* States. In order to do that the Spaniard, who joined the breakaway LIV Golf in 2022, has had to settle the outstanding substantial fines imposed on him by the tour and he will also have to serve a suspension. Garcia resigned his membership in May 2023 after an arbitration panel found in favour of the ********* Tour and ratified its right to fine and ban players who competed in LIV Golf events without permission. It was then revealed Garcia was the only one of 17 players initially sanctioned not to have paid his fine, “nor has he given any indication that he intends to”. But the drive to play in the Ryder Cup meant the 2017 Masters champion kept the channels of communication open and had a number of conversations with captain Luke Donald and has relented in his stance. “Sergio Garcia submitted his application to return to membership of the DP World Tour for the 2025 season ahead of the deadline on Sunday November 17,” said a tour spokesman. Source link #Garcia #rejoins #********* #Tour #Ryder #Cup #mind Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Before Outlaws, Star Wars Reportedly Canceled a Darth Maul Game That Had Super Realistic ********* Before Outlaws, Star Wars Reportedly Canceled a Darth Maul Game That Had Super Realistic ********* The Star Wars universe is known for its lore, beloved characters, and genre-defining cinematography. The three trilogies, the spinoff shows, and other media are all things that most fans are familiar with. But behind the scenes, its gaming history is littered with ambitious projects that never saw the light of day. Darth Maul faces off against Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars | Image Credit: Lucasfilm Animation Among these lost treasures is Red Fly Studio’s untitled Darth Maul game. Designed as a gritty, hack-and-slash adventure showcasing the infamous Sith Lord, the game would’ve featured the character’s origin story alongside some above-average feeling combat. The project ultimately never came to life and ******** a what-if. The Star Wars Franchise Could’ve Been So Much Better in Terms of Video Games So many canceled projects could’ve been great. | Image Credit: Electronic Arts The initial report for this came via Game Informer back in 2015. Unofficially titled Star Wars: Maul, was envisioned as a gritty action adventure with Maul at its core. Red Fly Studio began development in 2010, following their success with the Wii version of The Force Unleashed II. Concept art from the cancelled Darth Maul game that was in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U: pic.twitter.com/nGhijcKNDo — VGF (@VGFGamers) January 16, 2017 Initially planned as a Nintendo exclusive, the project expanded to include platforms like PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. However, communication issues with LucasArts and a lack of clear direction stopped progress. George Lucas himself reshaped the project mid-development with another storyline featuring Maul and Darth Talon. Lucas’s vision for a buddy cop dynamic between Maul and Talon clashed with the original darker tone of the game. This pivot created logistical challenges for Red Fly, as Talon’s timeline didn’t align with Maul’s. The developers tried to make these changes and attempted to make this new story work with the gameplay. Here’s concept art for the cancelled Darth Maul game, which was not finished due to Disney picking up Star Wars Art is by Thomas A. Szakolczay pic.twitter.com/8G5IxyLvpH — Art of Lost and Cancelled Media (@ArtofLostandCan) January 5, 2021 After months of uncertainty, LucasArts cut ties with the studio in 2011, effectively shelving the game. The project’s demise highlighted deeper issues within LucasArts, which was struggling to find its identity amid corporate changes. Red Fly attempted to pitch a revival to Electronic Arts (EA), the company that now controls the gaming side of the franchise. But these efforts were met with indifference, signaling the project’s demise. We’ve Gotten a Whole Bunch of Underwhelming Games Lately The franchise hasn’t done so well in video games lately. | Image Credit: Ubisoft The game’s cancellation coincided with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, a move that dissolved LucasArts and handed Star Wars gaming rights to EA. This change ended up being a big turning point for the franchise as the new gaming division struggled to find its identity. The Darth Maul game could’ve been a standout for its potential to explore darker themes and mature storytelling. Fans fans were already invested in the character of Darth Maul and were excited by the idea of stepping into into his boots. E3 Demo Gameplay Footage for Star Wars 1313 which would’ve been an M-Rated 3rd Person Shooter. It would’ve centered on exploring young Boba Fett taking various missions from ****** lords from Coruscant’s slums called 1313. The game was cancelled after Disney acquired Star Wars pic.twitter.com/JtHnCmboQs — Art of Lost Media (@ArtofLostMedia) October 24, 2023 Years later, Star Wars games still haven’t been the best. While we’ve had decent success with the likes of Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor, the latest project from Ubisoft has had its share of struggles. While Red Fly Studios has since moved on, the passion and creativity behind the project serves as a reminder of what’s possible when smaller studios are given the freedom to innovate. Unfortunately, it’s something we will never see come to life. Which cancelled Star Wars game would you have liked to play? Source link #Outlaws #Star #Wars #Reportedly #Canceled #Darth #Maul #Game #Super #Realistic #********* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel Arc B580 “Battlemage” GPU boxes appear in shipping manifests — Xe2 may be preparing for its desktop debut in December Intel Arc B580 “Battlemage” GPU boxes appear in shipping manifests — Xe2 may be preparing for its desktop debut in December Yesterday, we reported that Intel might be gearing up to unleash Battlemage early in December – ahead of AMD’s RDNA 4 and Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs. Today, a shipping manifest at NBD – highlighted by user josefk972 at X indicates that Team Blue has been dispatching what appears to be GPU boxes for a never-before-seen “BMG B580” card – likely referring to the Arc B580 based on Battlemage. Per our testing, while a GPU’s retail box is probably the least likely thing you’d expect in a pre-launch *****, it does highlight that Intel is hard at work shipping these boxes to OEMs. Battlemage, or Xe2, first debuted with Intel’s Lunar Lake chips and stood firm against AMD’s Strix Point offerings. The drivers have improved greatly—at least when compared to Alchemist—but a few kinks still need ironing. It seems this manifest slipped from our eyes as it dates back to September 18. Intel has been sending out packing or retail boxes – measuring around 192mm x 89mm x 381mm for the Arc B580 – a budget offering from the Battlemage lineup. The packaging is relatively small but should be enough to accommodate a compact dual-slot GPU. (Image credit: NBD via josefk972) We are still unaware of the specifications, although Battlemage is rumored to feature three GPUs: Arc BMG-31, Arc BMG-20, and Arc BMG-G10. The BMG-31 reportedly offers 32 Xe cores, netting us 256 Xe Vector Engines or 4096 ALUs. Intel will target the budget gaming segment, like AMD, with Xe2 on the desktop to penetrate the mainstream market better. Team Blue needs some serious value and incentives to win the average consumer’s trust, such as higher VRAM capacities and competitive pricing. Initial leaks paint a positive picture as a 20-Xe2 core dGPU (Dedicated GPU) beat the 28-Xe core-based Arc A750 in a benchmark recently. RDNA 4 will likely be the more mature architecture as it builds upon RDNA 3.5 – Battlemage’s competitor and is poised to make substantial changes in the RT department and AI capabilities. With more leaks surfacing daily, Battlemage’s potential announcement next month seems likely, but we still advise users to take this rumor with a pinch of salt. It makes sense for Intel to capitalize on the holiday season and make hay while the sun shines, but for this to transpire, it must be able to offer Battlemage in volume—at least until RDNA 4 and Blackwell hit shelves. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Intel #Arc #B580 #Battlemage #GPU #boxes #shipping #manifests #Xe2 #preparing #desktop #debut #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What happens to my flight now that Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy? What happens to my flight now that Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy? The troubled US budget carrier Spirit Airlines has filed for “bankruptcy protection” after losing more than $2.5bn since 2020 – and failing to secure deals with two possible suitors. The company says it “has commenced a voluntary prearranged chapter 11 process in the ******* States Bankruptcy Court” that “will allow it to emerge as a stronger company”. When many passengers hear the words “bankruptcy” and “airline”, they may reasonably assume that the carrier has shut down – as has happened in the *** recently with Thomas Cook, Monarch and Flybe (twice). In fact, chapter 11 bankruptcy is a procedure many airlines have used over the decades – including giants such as ********* Airlines The process is known as the “carwash” in the aviation industry, because of the way it freshens up airlines These are the key questions and answers. What has gone wrong at Spirit? Florida-based Spirit is the biggest ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) in the US. It has a main base in Fort Lauderdale, together with crew bases at many of the biggest hubs in America: Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Miami, New York Newark and Orlando. Its all-Airbus network extends into the Caribbean and northern ****** America. The company’s mission is this: “We are dedicated to pairing great value with excellent service while re-imagining the airline experience. We make it possible for our guests to venture further, travel often and discover more than ever before. We believe it should be easy to take off and go have some fun.” Unfortunately Spirit was hard hit by Covid. A proposed merger with the other big ULCC, Frontier, was scuppered in 2022 when jetBlue marched in with a better offer. The takeover was barred by a federal judge on competition grounds. Fresh talks began with Frontier, but fizzled out. Since the start of 2024, Spirit’s share value has fallen by nearly 80 per cent. On 12 November it announced a 12 per cent fall in its operating margin “due to lower total operating revenues and higher total operating expenses”. Between July and September, revenue was $61m (£48m) down on the corresponding quarter a year earlier, with costs up $52m (£41m) due to “an increase in aircraft rent expense, other operating expense, salaries, wages and benefits, and landing fees”. Then what happened? Spirit has been working with the bondholders to whom it owes money “on the terms of a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring”. The aim: “To reduce Spirit’s debt, provide increased financial flexibility, position Spirit for long-term success and accelerate investments providing guests with enhanced travel experiences and greater value.” Ted Christie, Spirit’s president and chief executive, said the deal with creditors on “a comprehensive recapitalisation of the company” was “a strong vote of confidence in Spirit and our long-term plan”. Spirit has filed a petition for chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York. What exactly does chapter 11 bankruptcy involve? The aim is to keep a company running normally while restructuring debts – for example by extending the term over which they need to be repaid. Fresh deals may be struck with unions that allow the firm to reduce its costs. Creditors often see a benefit in relaxing their terms in order to ensure they are repaid rather than seeing the company close down – leaving many people who are owed money. What does it mean for passengers? Spirit is assuring passengers: You can continue to book and fly now and in the future. You can use all tickets, credits and loyalty points as normal. You can continue to benefit from our Free Spirit loyalty program, Saver$ Club perks and credit card terms. Our amazing Team Members are here to offer you excellent service and an elevated experience. What about staff? Spirit says: “The chapter 11 process itself will not impact Team Member wages or benefits, which are continuing to be paid and honored for those employed by Spirit.” How long will the restructuring take? The company says: “We expect to complete this process in the first quarter of 2025 and emerge even better positioned to deliver the best value in the sky. Other airlines that are operating successfully today have undertaken a similar process. “As we head into the holiday season and beyond, we look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.” Source link #flight #Spirit #Airlines #filed #bankruptcy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

All The Game Awards 2024 Nominees Revealed, Astro **** Up for 7 Awards All The Game Awards 2024 Nominees Revealed, Astro **** Up for 7 Awards Geoff Keighley has today announced the games nominated for all the categories at The Game Awards next month, with the fan-favourite PS5 platformer Astro **** one of the titles leading the way with 7 nominations. It’s been nominated for Game of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Audio Design, Best Action / Adventure Game, Best Family Game, and Best Game Direction. The show itself will take place on 12th December 2024, where all the winners will be revealed. Source link #Game #Awards #Nominees #Revealed #Astro #**** #Awards Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Financial stress and cultural differences make migrants particularly vulnerable to gambling harms Financial stress and cultural differences make migrants particularly vulnerable to gambling harms by Himanshu Gupta, Devaki Monani, James Smith and Noemi Tari-Keresztes, The Conversation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Australians lose around A$25 billion on legal forms of gambling each year, representing the largest per person losses in the world. Gambling harms—including financial, emotional, social and psychological costs—extend to loved ones, peers and co-workers and the community. And some communities are impacted differently to others. The Northern Territory has a growing multicultural population, with 22% of residents born overseas and 33% speaking a language other than English at home. About 37% of multicultural Territorians are considered at-risk gamblers, compared to 14% in English speaking households. Many migrants, including those in the NT, experience financial, social, and emotional pressures, which sometimes lead them to gambling as a means of socialization or stress relief. Our research explores why and what might limit the risks and harms. ‘There’s not much to do’ Published earlier this year, our lived experience study explored the pressures that make gambling appealing to migrant communities. For example, scarce recreational options in Darwin mean gambling fills a social gap. As one person we spoke to said, “It’s kind of the entertainment for us in Darwin […] there’s not much to do, so we go to the casino for fun with friends.” Gambling can become a way to socialize in the absence of other affordable, culturally relevant options. But what begins as a casual activity can quickly lead to personal strain. Some participants in our study described family tensions. “My sister and brother-in-law got into fighting […] she said,’Why do you have to spend a lot of money on gambling?’ but he said, ‘That’s my hobby.'” Another person revealed how gambling impacts family dynamics: “My husband not being present most of the time because he is out gambling has really impacted me […] the kids are missing their dad. I’m missing my husband.” ‘Sometimes you can win some money’ Financial stress is a significant factor increasing gambling risks, especially among migrants on temporary visas who face job and visa uncertainties. Some migrants view gambling as a potential escape from financial pressures, as an international student explained to us, “It is common for international students to stake their tuition fees at the casino […] sometimes you can win some money.” However, gambling losses often exacerbated financial hardship, trapping individuals in cycles of debt and loss. ‘I never gambled until I came to Australia’ The NT’s legal and accessible gambling environment also plays a role, especially for migrants from countries where gambling is restricted. A participant from Bangladesh shared, “In my country, gambling is not a good thing […] I never gambled until I came to Australia.” Another believed that “******** on soccer is an easy way to make money […] but in *******, I didn’t have access to as much funds as I have here [in Australia].” The perceived ease of earning money through gambling adds to the temptation, particularly in times of financial uncertainty. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter—daily or weekly. ‘I feel shameful talking about it’ Another critical factor is the reluctance to seek help, often due to cultural stigma or language barriers. Many migrants prefer to manage gambling issues privately. One participant stated, “In my culture, gambling is seen as a bad behavior […] I just feel shameful talking about it.” Others expressed skepticism toward counseling, viewing it as ineffective. This reluctance can lead to isolation, with individuals and families managing gambling harms in private, often unaware of local support options. The impacts of gambling extend to mental health, with participants describing cycles of guilt, shame and financial stress. A participant explained how online gambling worsened their addiction “My gambling problem grew worse […] I started spending more money than I had any right to be spending […] we always ended up going back to the casino or poker site until our bank account was empty.” Culturally sensitive approaches are needed Our research shows culturally sensitive approaches are essential to address gambling harms effectively. This includes raising awareness about gambling risks in a way that resonates with diverse communities. Further, our research participants reported higher rates of gambling among *********, East ****** and ******** communities, with the issue anecdotally more common among women in certain ****** groups. Expanding culturally relevant recreational opcportunities could help provide a healthier alternative to gambling. Support services should also be tailored to migrant need. Language-specific counseling and culturally competent resources could encourage migrants to seek help. Policymakers could consider revising gambling advertising and venue availability to reduce exposure, especially in vulnerable communities. Addressing gambling harms among migrants, including those in NT, requires collective efforts from policymakers, community leaders and local organizations. Provided by The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Citation: Financial stress and cultural differences make migrants particularly vulnerable to gambling harms (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Financial #stress #cultural #differences #migrants #vulnerable #gambling #harms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s xAI reportedly shifts $6 billion AI server order from troubled Supermicro to its rivals Elon Musk’s xAI reportedly shifts $6 billion AI server order from troubled Supermicro to its rivals xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, has shifted all AI server orders from troubled Supermicro to Dell, reports UDN.com. Dell, already among the largest makers of servers, benefits from this decision, just like its suppliers, Inventec and Wistron. However, losing a multi-billion business to rivals amid potential delisting at NASDAQ could devastate Supermicro. Dell and Supermicro used to supply Musk’s companies, including xAI and Tesla. Musk even appeared publicly with Supermicro’s CEO, Charles Liang, who revealed that xAI had made substantial purchases of Supermicro’s liquid-cooled AI servers. However, after the U.S. Department of Justice began to probe Supermicro for accounting manipulations and alleged export violations to China and Russia and its stock plummeted 35% in one day, Musk’s companies decided to shift orders away from the troubled company. Dell, among the largest AI server suppliers, is well-positioned to absorb these orders. Wistron, which produces motherboards for Dell’s AI servers and does some assembly tasks, is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this shift. Wistron is expanding its production capacity to meet the surge in demand, particularly in its three Hsinchu facilities in Taiwan and its ******** operations. Wistron is optimistic about the growing demand for AI servers and aims for triple-digit annual growth. Inventec, another major supplier for Dell, is also reaping the rewards from this order realignment. Inventec has long been involved in AI server production and is one of Dell’s top three global server assembly partners. This year, the company primarily supplied machines based on Nvidia’s Hopper processors. Still, the report claims that the company will be ready to mass-produce Nvidia Blackwell-based machines (powered by B200 and B200A GPUs) in the first quarter of 2025. The company reportedly has spare manufacturing capacity in Mexico, so it will likely be able to produce more AI servers for companies formerly served by Supermicro. Supermicro’s issues stem from delayed financial filings, putting the company at risk of being delisted from NASDAQ. To avoid delisting, Supermicro needed to submit a plan by November 16 explaining the delay and specifying when the required 10-K annual report would be filed. Since the 16th fell on a Saturday, the company’s final deadline is November 18. If Supermicro is delisted, it could face serious financial repercussions, including a sharp decline in stock value and the immediate repayment of $1.725 billion in convertible notes, potentially severely hurting the company. Consequently, Elon Musk does not want to take any risks and is shifting orders of AI servers to other companies. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Elon #Musks #xAI #reportedly #shifts #billion #server #order #troubled #Supermicro #rivals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cloud software company ServiceTitan files for IPO Cloud software company ServiceTitan files for IPO ServiceTitan offices in Draper, Utah. Google Earth ServiceTitan, a company that sells software to contractors such as plumbers and roofers, on Monday filed to go public on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “TTAN.” The filing suggests that investors could be getting more interested in next-generation software companies. Just a few, including Reddit and Rubrik, debuted on public markets in the U.S. this year, and chipmaker Cerebras filed for an initial public offering. There were basically no tech initial public offerings in 2021 or 2022 as central bankers pushed up interest rates to flight inflation, making investors less willing to bet on money-losing challengers. Based in Glendale, California, ServiceTitan offers cloud software for advertising, scheduling jobs, dispatching, producing invoices and taking payments. It had a $35.7 million net loss on $193 million in revenue in the quarter that ended on July 31, according to the filing. Revenue was up about 24% year over year, and the quarterly loss had narrowed from almost $52 million. ServiceTitan’s revenue growth rate will stand out for people investing in cloud stocks, who have seen rates sag with few new public companies in the sector. The average growth rate for Bessemer’s Nasdaq Emerging Cloud Index, the basis for the WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund, is 16.6%. The company was originally founded in 2007 by Ara Mahdessian and Vahe Kuzoyan, whose fathers were both residential contractors. While most ServiceTitan customers are small and medium-sized businesses, it has started focusing more on selling products to big companies and construction customers, according to the filing. ServiceTitan plans to keep up to 5% of shares in the IPO for eligible clients, the founders’ friends and family members and others through a directed share program. Investors include Battery Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Iconiq and TPG. Iconiq on its own controlled 24% of the compan’s Class A shares. Competitors include Salesforce and SAP, along with specialty companies such as HouseCall Pro, Jobber and Workwave. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Citigroup are among the company’s IPO underwriters. WATCH: Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman on Trump’s policy impact Source link #Cloud #software #company #ServiceTitan #files #IPO Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Friday Solo Stove deals will save you up to 30 percent on ***** pit bundles ****** Friday Solo Stove deals will save you up to 30 percent on ***** pit bundles ****** Friday is almost here and, boy oh boy, do we have some related deals to prove it. Solo Stove just dropped a massive ****** Friday ***** that offers significant savings on ***** pit bundles. The most notable deal here is for the Bonfire Backyard Bundle, which is down to $400 from $580. That’s a nice savings of $180. This combo pack includes the well-regarded Bonfire smokeless ***** pit and a whole swath of related accessories. The bundle comes with a removable ash plate, a lid, a carry case, a stand and an outdoor shelter, among other items. Solo Stove This combo pack includes a ***** pit and a whole bunch of useful accessories. $400 at Solo Stove This deal also icludes the Bonfire itself. Solo Stove’s ***** pits easily made our list of the best outdoor gear for the fall, and the medium-sized Bonfire is likely the company’s most popular item. It creates a roaring *****, but without all of that hazardous smoke. What’s not to like? The Bonfire is a wood-burning ***** pit that gets much hotter than conventional fires, allowing for “uninterrupted enjoyment in the outdoors.” The ***** extends to other ***** pit bundles. The high-end Yukon bundle is $650 instead of $940 and the budget-friendly Ranger bundle is $310 instead of $445. Amazon is also getting in on the action. Outdoor enthusiasts can pick up the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 ***** pit, complete with a removable ash pan and stand, for $196. That’s a discount of over 40 percent. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #****** #Friday #Solo #Stove #deals #save #percent #***** #pit #bundles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Masked Group of Racists Displays ***** Swastikas in Antisemitic March in Ohio Masked Group of Racists Displays ***** Swastikas in Antisemitic March in Ohio A disturbing incident of antisemitism and racism took place in an Ohio community in Columbus over the weekend. State and community leaders are condemning the group that marched through an area called ‘Short North’ carrying flags bearing the ***** *********. Witnesses say some were carrying weapons and shouting ******* slurs towards people of ****** and ******* people. Police arrived at the scene and the group left the area without incident. No arrests were made. Ohio’s *********** Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement saying: “We will not tolerate hate in Ohio. Neo-Nazis — their faces hidden behind red masks — roamed streets in Columbus today, carrying ***** flags and spewing vile and ******* speech against people of ****** and Jews. There were reports that they were also espousing white power sentiments.” “There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism, or *********, and we must denounce it wherever we see it. pic.twitter.com/pqA4h5L9K7 — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) November 17, 2024 It’s the latest unsettling display in a wave of antisemitism that has swept the globe over the past year. “It has felt like it’s open season on Jews, certainly since October 7th,” said Ellie Cohanim, senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum. “The massacre in ******* seems to have ignited a terrible bloodlust against Jews around the world.” One of the most violent incidents took place earlier this month in Amsterdam when an organized ******* mob hunted down and attacked ******** soccer fans after a match. MORE HERE Open Season on Jews: Renewed Antisemitism Sparks Global Outcry and Urgent Calls for Action Source link #Masked #Group #Racists #Displays #***** #Swastikas #Antisemitic #March #Ohio Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hitman World of ************** PS VR2 Launch Delayed to March 2025 Hitman World of ************** PS VR2 Launch Delayed to March 2025 According to IO Interactive’s latest announcement, Hitman World of **************’s PS VR2 launch has been delayed to March 27, 2025. Hitman: World of ************** was initially scheduled to launch for PS VR2 in December 2024. However, a recent blog post from the developers indicates that they require additional time to enhance the game and ensure every aspect is “refined, immersive, and seamless.” The delay will also allow the developers to incorporate some new features for the PS VR2 version, including active reloading. Hitman WOA’s Entire Campaign is Playable on PS VR2 PS VR2 players can experience the entire Hitman: World of ************** (WOA) campaign. This includes free exploration across 20 unique locations such as Dubai, Paris, Miami, and more. Players will also have access to over 100 items and weapons while completing missions, adding depth to their approach in each task. Hitman WOA PS VR2 Features The most requested features for Hitman: World of ************** on PS VR2 include dual-wielding and complete ambidexterity. The developers have confirmed that these features will be available at launch. Additionally, players can perform multiple tasks simultaneously, such as managing a guard while holding a ******* or picking up an essential item. The new active reloading feature enables players to manually eject ammunition, grab a new magazine, and insert it back into their *******, adding a layer of immersion to gear management. The PS VR2 version of the game offers a brand-new way to experience the franchise. Instead of pressing buttons to trigger events, players must physically mimic actions to complete tasks. The developers are also taking “a more physics-based approach for disguising, where players can take an outfit using positional control, grabbing, and momentum, significantly enhancing the immersion and realism of the gameplay.” In other news, check out Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl’s global launch timings. Also, Rainbow Six Siege is finally receiving cross-play. What are your thoughts on Hitman World of **************’s PS VR2 launch being delayed? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more from Insider Gaming, read about the new launch details revealed in the Marvel Rivals roadmap. 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 #Hitman #World #************** #VR2 #Launch #Delayed #March Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Financial institutions open Detroit area locations based on ******* makeup Financial institutions open Detroit area locations based on ******* makeup Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The placement of banks, credit unions and alternative financial services is significantly influenced by changes in the neighborhoods’ ******* composition, even when factors like income and ******** are taken into account, according to a new University of Michigan study. The research sheds light on the racialized strategies of financial institutions, highlighting their significant role in shaping neighborhood demographics and economic opportunities. The study focused on developments in the Detroit area—involving six counties—from 2000 to 2016. The results are published in the journal Critical Sociology. “These insights challenge common misconceptions about the demand for high-cost financial services and underscore the broader impact of financial institutions on community dynamics,” said Terri Friedline, U-M professor of social work and the study’s first author. Co-authors are Jones Adu-Mensah and Xanthippe Wedel. Financial institutions follow changes in ******* makeup. This is evident from the analysis, which showed shifts rather than reductions in racialized financial service locations after the Great Recession, say Friedline and colleagues. The study showed that white communities benefited from lower financial management costs as they saw fewer alternative financial services but more stable traditional financial services. In contrast, neighborhoods with increasing ****** populations are more likely to face a rise in alternative financial services and a decline in traditional financial services, which may lead to higher financial management costs. Banks and credit unions tend to withdraw from areas as ****** populations grow, whereas alternative financial services target these areas, following nuanced shifts in ******* demographics, the researchers say. The study also found that changes in neighborhood ******* makeup precede the opening of payday lenders and other alternative financial services. This means financial institutions create racialized markets by adjusting their locations, say Friedline and colleagues. “Some may argue that payday lenders open storefronts in ways that respond to market demand, but this argument is rooted in a disingenuous interpretation of demand,” Friedline said. The researchers say the study did not factor how residents were affected by digital technologies, such as online and mobile banking. More information: Terri Friedline et al, Census Tract and Neighborhood ******* Change and the Locational Decisions of Financial Services in Metro Detroit, Critical Sociology (2024). DOI: 10.1177/08969205241287127 Provided by University of Michigan Citation: Financial institutions open Detroit area locations based on ******* makeup (2024, November 18) retrieved 18 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #Financial #institutions #open #Detroit #area #locations #based #******* #makeup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Maker creates thumb-sized Raspberry Pi USB-C Ethernet module using the RP2040 Maker creates thumb-sized Raspberry Pi USB-C Ethernet module using the RP2040 When the Raspberry Pi Pico was first released, the community also benefitted from access to Raspberry Pi’s custom RP2040 chip. This little chip has made it possible to create a wide variety of custom boards that make use of this affordable and practical microprocessor. Today we have a lovely example to share of such a creation, this one put together by a maker and developer known as Alan. Using one of our favorite Arm processors, Alan has designed an incredibly small Ethernet module that also has support for USB Type-C. According to Alan, one of the biggest goals of the project was to make sure the module could use both Ethernet and USB 2.0 at the same time. One side of the board has a USB Type-C port while the other is fitted with a jack for both the Ethernet cable and USB 2.0 port. This adds a great deal of versatility for a variety of use cases in which both Ethernet and USB support is necessary. To pull this project off, Alan designed a custom PCB and ordered a sheet of them from a well known PCB house. This PCB uses a new special chip from WIZnet known as the W55RP20. This is a combination of both the WIZnet W5500 and a Raspberry Pi RP2040. If you’re not familiar with the WIZnet W5500, this is an Ethernet controller module. You can read more about it over at the WIZnet website. When designing your own PCB and assembling such small, surface mounted components, it can be tricky to ensure everything works seamlessly. However, Alan confirmed that both the USB and Ethernet jack were able to provide a stable connection while both are in simultaneous use. The form factor is very similar to Adafruit’s QTPy range, and Seeed’s Xiao. Alan shared a video to YouTube demonstrating his new PCB in action. This was accomplished using an application called Hercules. In the video, we see one module fitted with an Ethernet jack and USB 2.0 connection on one side with the USB Type-C port connected to another one of his boards via USB-C. Using Hercules, we can see the connection successfully connects to the second module. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Alan) (Image credit: Alan) If you want to get a closer look at this Raspberry Pi project, you can explore the project page over at Hackster and see the demo video shared to YouTube. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Maker #creates #thumbsized #Raspberry #USBC #Ethernet #module #RP2040 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** strike hits Beirut area, Gaza aid trucks looted ******** strike hits Beirut area, Gaza aid trucks looted An ******** drone strike has hit a neighbourhood in central Beirut, a Lebanese security source says, the second day in a row that a target within the Lebanese capital has been struck as ******* presses its campaign against Hezbollah militants. Smoke was seen rising from the location of the strike in the Zuqaq al-Blat area, a short distance from the central Beirut district where the Lebanese government is headquartered. The Lebanese health ministry said at least four people were ******* and 18 others were injured in the strike. Since ******* launched a major offensive against Hezbollah in late September, the bulk of its air strikes in the Beirut area have targeted the group’s strongholds in the southern suburbs. But on Sunday, ******* hit targets in the Beirut city limits for the first time in more than five weeks, ******** 10 people in two separate strikes, including Hezbollah’s top media official. ******* has dealt big blows to Hezbollah since late September, ******** its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, pounding wide areas of Lebanon with air strikes and sending troops into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has kept up rocket ***** into northern *******, where sirens sounded again on Monday. In ******* at least six people were wounded on Monday when a rocket struck a building in the northern ******** ***** town of Shfaram, *******’s ambulance service said. One woman was still trapped in the building, it said. The ******** military said about five projectiles had been fired from Lebanon. Nearly 100 trucks carrying food for Palestinians were violently looted on November 16 after entering the Gaza Strip, two ******* Nations agencies told Reuters on Monday. The convoy transporting food provided by UN agencies UNRWA and the World Food Programme was instructed by ******* to depart at short notice via an unfamiliar route from Kerem Shalom border crossing, UNRWA senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge said. Ninety-eight trucks of the 109-truck convoy were raided and some of the transporters were injured during the incident, she said, without detailing who carried out the ambush. “This … highlights the severity of access challenges of bringing aid into southern and central Gaza,” she told Reuters. “⁠The urgency of the crisis cannot be overstated; without immediate intervention, severe food shortages are set to worsen, further endangering the lives of over two million people who depend on humanitarian aid to survive.” A WFP spokesperson confirmed the looting and said that many routes in Gaza were currently unpassable due to security issues. An ******** official said ******* had been working to address the humanitarian situation since the start of the war, adding that the main problem with aid deliveries was UN distribution challenges. Source link #******** #strike #hits #Beirut #area #Gaza #aid #trucks #looted Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

But Another 2024 DLC Got Robbed But Another 2024 DLC Got Robbed The Game Awards has always been a bit of a wild ride, but this year’s Game of the Year nominations just cranked the controversy up to eleven. With Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree making the cut, we’re witnessing something unprecedented in the show’s decade-long history—a DLC competing for the biggest prize in gaming. Not all expansions are created equal, according to The Game Awards. | Image Credit: FromSoftware While everyone expected some surprises in the Game of the Year category, no one could have predicted that The Game Awards would completely rewrite its own rulebook. And in doing so, they might have just opened Pandora’s box—or should we say, Pandora’s DLC? The real kicker? While FromSoftware’s massive expansion made the cut, another equally deserving DLC was left out in the cold. And boy, do we have thoughts about that. When DLC Becomes GOTY Material The Game Awards dropped their nominations ***** earlier today, and let’s just say it’s raised more eyebrows than a FromSoftware difficulty spike: The 2024 Game of the Year Nominees Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Astro **** Metaphor: ReFantazio ****** Myth: Wukong Balatro pic.twitter.com/4SekGwbK0t — ScreenTime (@screentime) November 18, 2024 Let’s address the elephant in the room: Shadow of the Erdtree. Yes, it’s fantastic. Yes, it’s probably ******* than some full games. But here’s the thing—it’s still DLC. By that logic, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty could have moonwalked its way to last year’s GOTY if they’d bent the rules back then. And speaking of rules being more flexible than a Souls character’s dodge roll, where’s The Final Shape in all this? Bungie’s epic conclusion to Destiny 2‘s Light and Dark saga is basically the Avengers: Endgame of gaming—a massive finale that caps off YEARS of storytelling. But apparently, that’s not enough to make the cut, even though we’re now apparently cool with DLC competing for the big prize. The precedent this sets is particularly concerning for the industry as a whole. If DLC can compete for Game of the Year, what’s stopping publishers from chopping up their games into smaller pieces, knowing they could potentially score multiple GOTY nominations across different years? It also raises questions about pricing and value. Shadow of the Erdtree, priced at $39.99, is competing against full-price titles that cost $69.99 or more. Are we saying that a $40 expansion pack can deliver the same impact as a full-priced game? If so, what does that say about the industry’s pricing model? The Great DLC Debate “We are not bound by logic. We define its shape.” | Image Credit: Bungie This isn’t just about one expansion getting the spotlight while another gets the shaft. It’s about what even counts as a “game” anymore. Are we really at a point where DLC—sorry, “Downloadable Content” for those who remember what it actually stands for—can go toe-to-toe with full releases? Let’s be real: Shadow of the Erdtree is riding high on Elden Ring‘s coattails. Would it have gotten the same attention if it wasn’t expanding on 2022’s Game of the Year? Meanwhile, Balatro somehow snuck onto the list—not bad, but GOTY material? Really? For the sake of “variety,” maybe. On the other hand, The Final Shape didn’t just expand Destiny 2; it wrapped up a saga that’s been running longer than some of this year’s nominees have been in development. It delivered an ending worthy of gaming’s own MCU-style epic, but apparently, that’s not enough to qualify for GOTY consideration—unless you’re FromSoftware, apparently. This whole situation sets a dangerous precedent. What’s next? Battle Pass Season 4 getting nominated for Best Narrative? Premium Skin Collection 2025 for Best Art Direction? This debate extends beyond just awards shows. The gaming industry has increasingly blurred the lines between DLC and full games, with some expansions offering more content than their base games. Look at Monster Hunter World: Iceborne or Witcher 3‘s Blood and Wine—both could arguably stand as their own games. But there’s a crucial difference between “could be its own game” and “is its own game.” By including DLC in the GOTY category, The Game Awards risks diminishing the achievements of developers who pour years into creating entirely new experiences from scratch, rather than building on existing foundations. What do you think about this year’s GOTY nominations? Should DLC be eligible for Game of the Year? And did The Final Shape deserve a spot on that list? Let us know in the comments below! Source link #DLC #Robbed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2,200-Year-Old Egyptian Vase Reveals Evidence of Hallucinogenic Rituals 2,200-Year-Old Egyptian Vase Reveals Evidence of Hallucinogenic Rituals Researchers have uncovered traces of a hallucinogenic beverage in a 2,200-year-old Egyptian vase depicting Bes, a dwarf deity associated with childbirth and merriment. The findings, detailed in Scientific Reports on November 13, suggest the vessel was used during rituals to recreate a mythical tale involving the calming of a sky goddess. The vase, held at the Tampa Museum of Art, was analysed using advanced chemical techniques, including ancient DNA extraction and infrared spectroscopy. Chemical Composition Indicates Ritual Use Traces of wild rue, Egyptian lotus, and Cleome plant were detected in the vase, all known for their psychotropic properties, as per a report by University of South Florida. Ingredients like sesame seeds, pine nuts, and grapes were also found, which researchers believe may have been used to mimic the appearance of blood. Human bodily fluids, including saliva and blood, were identified, hinting at ritualistic consumption or deliberate inclusion in the concoction. These findings point towards the use of the drink in reenactments of the “Myth of the Solar Eye,” where Bes pacifies the bloodthirsty goddess Hathor with a spiked, blood-like drink. Potential Link to Oracular Practices The vase may also have been linked to prophetic rituals. Researchers suggest the drink could have been consumed in practices related to the cult of Bes, especially in the Bes-Chambers at Saqqara, where individuals sought dream-induced prophecies. According to Branko van Oppen, curator at the Tampa Museum of Art and co-author of the study, the combination of ingredients might have been used during childbirth-related rituals to predict pregnancy outcomes. Provenance and Future Studies The vase, acquired by the museum in 1984, came from a private collection but lacks precise archaeological context. The researchers believe the analysis provides critical insights into ancient Egyptian mythological and ritual practices, potentially shedding light on broader cultural beliefs surrounding childbirth and divination. Further studies are expected to explore the significance of such rituals in Greco-Roman Egypt. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Elon Musk Expands Lawsuit Against OpenAI, Adding Microsoft and Antitrust Claims Huawei Mate 70 Series Launch Set for November 26; Camera, Charging Details Tipped Source link #2200YearOld #Egyptian #Vase #Reveals #Evidence #Hallucinogenic #Rituals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to send and receive BlueSky posts with a Raspberry Pi Pico W How to send and receive BlueSky posts with a Raspberry Pi Pico W It seems that alternative social media platforms to X (formerly Twitter) are gaining popularity, with BlueSky now reaching 15 million users. Politics aside, I’ve been tri-wielding X, Mastodon and BlueSky and all have their strengths and weaknesses. One of X’s strengths was apps and bots. We could easily use the developer API to build an app that interacted with users, and with the advent of the Raspberry Pi, we were able to use X to interact with the GPIO. A Raspberry Pi with sensors could communicate data to your X followers, your followers could trigger the NeoPixels on your Raspberry Pi Pico W to change ******. We can also do this with Mastodon, and that is something that I need to investigate further, but here is where BlueSky comes in. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Last week I saw a message about atprototools, an API for BlueSky which enables the same functionality found in X, but using the BlueSky platform. I was skeptical at first but I gave it a try. It worked really well and I have a Python app running in less than an hour. But, I wanted something more useful and for that I needed a Raspberry Pi, so I started to investigate migrating the app to a Raspberry Pi 5, and sure that would work, but then fellow maker and BlueSky user Mike Bell had an idea. Bell’s idea was to see if the atprototools module could be used on a Raspberry Pi Pico W. A couple of hours later, we could read posts from BlueSky on a Pico W. A few more hours, and Bell had managed to post to BlueSky from a Pico W. That was all I needed to create this how to. We’ll be building a Raspberry Pi Pico W powered device that reads the latest post from our BlueSky account (and only our account) and then checks the temperature using a DHT11 temperature sensor. The temperature is then posted as a message to BlueSky. The Pico W then waits for another message to trigger the process. Don’t use this to spam or become a nuisance. When testing, use it with a spare account to prevent ruining the experience of your followers. Finally, and most importantly, many thanks to Mike Bell for their help and work which made this how to possible. For this project you will need Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. BlueSky account Raspberry Pi Pico W 1 x Breadboard 1 x LED 1 x 100 Ohm resistor (Brown-******-Brown-Gold) 1 x DHT11 5 x Male to male jumper wires Thonny installed to your computer Building the Demo Circuit (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The demo circuit has two sections. The LED and the DHT11 temperature sensor. First we shall tackle the LED. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Swipe to scroll horizontally Raspberry Pi Pico GPIO Wire ****** LED Connection GPIO 15 Green Anode (+, long leg) GND ****** Cathode (-, short leg) via 100 Ohm resistor The LED has only two pins. The Anode (long leg) and the Cathode (short leg). The Anode connects directly to GPIO 15 on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. The Cathode connects to any GND pin on the Pico W, via a 100 Ohm resistor. The resistor will limit the current that the LED consumes, prolonging the life of the LED. Finally, the DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor. Which has four pins, but only three can be used. Swipe to scroll horizontally Raspberry Pi Pico GPIO Wire ****** DHT11 3V3 (Physical pin 36) Red Pin 1 GPIO 17 Yellow Pin 2 GND ****** Pin 4 Power for the DHT11 comes from the Raspberry Pi Pico’s 3V3 pin which connects to pin 1 on the DHT11. The data connection is pin 2 of the DHT11, and this connects to GPIO 17 on the Pico W. This is how we get the temperature data. Finally pin 4 on the DHT11 is GND, and that can connect to any GND on the Pico. Check your wiring, and when ready move on to the coding section. Coding a BlueSky Temperature **** These steps are how we need to set up the Raspberry Pi Pico W at the time of writing. This is highly likely to change in a few weeks / months, but I will keep an eye on things, and update accordingly. 1. Follow up to, and including step 6 of this how to, so that your Raspberry Pi Pico W is running MicroPython, and connected to your computer running Thonny. 2. Create a new blank project and copy the code from here, and paste it into the new blank file. This is the code that Mike Bell has modified to run on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. 3. Save the file as atprototools.py to the root of your Raspberry Pi Pico W. 4. Create another blank file and copy the code from here and paste it into the blank file. Save the file as datetime.py to the root of the Raspberry Pi Pico W. We need datetime so that the atprototools module can correctly retrieve and send our BlueSky posts. 5. Open a browser to your Bluesky account, and click on the Settings cog and scroll down to App Passwords. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 6. Click on Add App Password. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 7. Name the App password “Python” and click on Create App Password. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 8. Copy the code to a text file and click Done. You will not see this code on Bluesky again! (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 9. Back to Thonny, create a new file and in the file create four objects, SSID, PASSWORD, BSKY_USERNAME and BSKY_PASSWORD. Inside the quotation marks enter your details. Your Bluesky username should be the last part of your profile URL, so for me “biglesp.bsky.social”. The BSKY_PASSWORD is the app password that we created earlier. SSID = “YOUR WI-FI ACCESS POINT” PASSWORD = “YOUR WI-FI PASSWORLD BSKY_USERNAME= ‘YOUR BLUESKY HANDLE” BSKY_PASSWORD = “THE APP PASSWORD” 10. Save the file to your Raspberry Pi Pico as secrets.py. 11. Create a new file for the project code. 12. Import modules of pre-written code for Wi-Fi access (network), BlueSky (atprototools), our Wi-Fi and BlueSky credentials (secrets), Network Time Protocol (ntp), pausing the code (sleep) and controlling the GPIO (machine). import network from atprototools import Session from secrets import SSID, PASSWORD, BSKY_USERNAME, BSKY_PASSWORD import ntptime from time import sleep from machine import Pin 13. Create an object, led, which will tell the code which GPIO pin our LED is connected to. Then use it to turn the LED off. led = Pin(15, Pin.OUT) led.off() 14. Using an object called wlan, connect the Raspberry Pi Pico W to your Wi-Fi. This will set the Wi-Fi to active, then try to connect to your AP, if it fails (False) it will keep trying every second. wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF) wlan.active(True) wlan.connect(SSID, PASSWORD) while wlan.isconnected() is False: print('Waiting for connection...') sleep(1) 15. Using ntp, set the current time and date. We need to do this so that our Pico W and BlueSky have a common time reference, otherwise the code will ******. ntptime.settime() 16. Create an object, session, and use it to connect to BlueSky. session = Session(BSKY_USERNAME, BSKY_PASSWORD) 17. Create an exception handler to try and run the code, which starts with a while True (forever) loop. try: while True: 18. Create an object, latest_bloot, and use it to store the returned data from our BlueSky session. Essentially it is a dump of what the Python API can see from BlueSky, formatted into JSON. latest_bloot = session.getLatestBloot(BSKY_USERNAME).json() 19. Using an if conditional statement, check the last message from your user account. If it contains the phrase “Temp Check” (exactly) then the condition will be True, and the code below will activate. if latest_bloot['feed'][0]['post']['record']['text'] == "Temp Check": 20. Use a for loop to flash the LED three times. This tells us that the Pico W has received the command. for i in range(3): led.on() sleep(0.3) led.off() sleep(0.3) 21. Measure the temperature using the DHT11, round the returned value to two decimal places, and then convert the temperature to a string for use in a message. Note that the returned temperature is in degrees Celsius. sensor.measure() temp = round(sensor.temperature(),2) temp = str(temp) 22. Create a BlueSky post that identifies the context of the message, and appends the data to the end. In this case the room temperature, followed by the actual temperature in degrees Celsius. post = session.postBloot("The room temperature is "+temp+"C") 23. If there is no message from the user, create an else condition to force the Pico W to wait, add a sleep to stop the loop running too fast. Note that BlueSky does have rate limiting, so our constant check for new messages may see the Pico W disconnect. We’d advise checking once per minute at the very most. else: print("Waiting for message") sleep(60) 24. Create an exception to capture any Key Errors. These are errors created when the returned JSON feed contains no data, usually when we hit a rate limit. except KeyError as e: print('I got a KeyError - reason "%s"' % str(e)) 25. Save the code as bsky.py to the root of the Raspberry Pi Pico W. 26. Click on the green Run button to start the code. Your Pico W will attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi, and once connected, the script will check the latest message in your feed for “Temp Check”. When that message appears, the code will activate, flashing the LED three times, and then take a temperature reading, which is then posted to BlueSky. Complete Code Listing for bsky.py import network from atprototools import Session from secrets import SSID, PASSWORD, BSKY_USERNAME, BSKY_PASSWORD import ntptime from time import sleep from machine import Pin import dht sensor = dht.DHT11(Pin(17)) led = Pin(15, Pin.OUT) led.off() wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF) wlan.active(True) wlan.connect(SSID, PASSWORD) while wlan.isconnected() is False: print('Waiting for connection...') sleep(1) ntptime.settime() session = Session(BSKY_USERNAME, BSKY_PASSWORD) try: while True: latest_bloot = session.getLatestBloot(BSKY_USERNAME).json() if latest_bloot['feed'][0]['post']['record']['text'] == "Temp Check": for i in range(3): led.on() sleep(0.3) led.off() sleep(0.3) sensor.measure() temp = round(sensor.temperature(),2) temp = str(temp) post = session.postBloot("The room temperature is "+temp+"C") else: print("Waiting for message") sleep(1) except KeyError as e: print('I got a KeyError - reason "%s"' % str(e)) Source link #send #receive #BlueSky #posts #Raspberry #Pico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy amid financial woes – National Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy amid financial woes – National Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel, stiffer competition from ******* carriers, and a ******* attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue. Spirit, the biggest U.S. budget airline, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition after working out terms with bondholders. The airline has lost more than $2.5 billion since the start of 2020 and faces looming debt payments totaling more than $1 billion in 2025 and 2026. The airline said it expects to continue operating normally during the bankruptcy process. Spirit told customers Monday that they can book flights and use frequent-flyer points as they ordinarily would, and it said it will continue to pay employees and vendors. The airline said it received commitments for a $350 million equity investment from existing bondholders and will convert $795 million of their debt into stock in the restructured company. The bondholders will also extend a $300 million loan that, combined with Spirit’s remaining cash, will help the airline get through the restructuring. Story continues below advertisement 2:06 Spirit Airlines plane hit by gunfire in Haiti’s capital, flight attendant struck Shares of Miramar, Florida-based Spirit dropped 25% on Friday, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the airline was discussing terms of a possible bankruptcy filing with its bondholders. The company missed a deadline for filing its third-quarter financial results, but announced that its operating margin would indicate a ******* loss than the company suffered in the same quarter last year. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. Those were just the latest in a series of blows that have sent the stock crashing down by 97% since late 2018 — when Spirit was still making money. CEO Ted Christie confirmed in August that Spirit was talking to advisers of its bondholders about the upcoming debt maturities. He called the discussions a priority, and said the airline was trying to get the best deal it could as quickly as possible. People are still flying on Spirit Airlines. They’re just not paying as much. Story continues below advertisement In the first six months of this year, Spirit passengers flew 2% more than they did in the same ******* last year. However, they are paying 10% less per mile, and revenue per mile from fares is down nearly 20%, contributing to Spirit’s red ink. It’s not a new trend. Spirit ******* to return to profitability when the coronavirus pandemic eased and travel rebounded. There are several reasons behind the slump. Spirit’s costs, especially for labor, have risen. The biggest U.S. airlines have snagged some of Spirit’s budget-conscious customers by offering their own brand of bare-bones tickets. And fares for U.S. leisure travel — Spirit’s core business — sagged this summer because of a glut of new flights. The premium end of the air-travel market has surged while Spirit’s traditional no-frills end has stagnated. So this summer, Spirit decided to sell bundled fares that include a ******* seat, priority boarding, free bags, internet service and snacks and drinks. It also dropped cancellation fees after rival Frontier Airlines did so. Trending Now Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames ‘bad actors’ Canada Post, union gear up for renewed bargaining with special mediator 6:20 Spirit Airlines eliminates cancellation fees Those are huge changes from Spirit’s longtime strategy of luring customers with rock-bottom fares and forcing them to pay extra for things such as bringing a carry-on bag or ordering a soda. Story continues below advertisement In a highly unusual move, Spirit plans to cut its October-through-December schedule by nearly 20%, compared with the same ******* last year, which analysts said should help prop up fares. But that will help rivals more than it will boost Spirit. Analysts from Deutsche Bank and Raymond James say that Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest would benefit the most because of their overlap with Spirit on many routes. Spirit has also been plagued by required repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines, which is forcing the airline to ground dozens of its Airbus jets. Spirit has cited the recall as it furloughed pilots. More on World More videos The aircraft fleet is relatively young, which has made Spirit an attractive takeover target. Frontier tried to merge with Spirit in 2022 but was outbid by JetBlue. However, the Justice Department sued to block the $3.8 billion deal, saying it would drive up prices for Spirit customers who depend on low fares, and a federal judge agreed in January. JetBlue and Spirit dropped their merger two months later. U.S. airline bankruptcies were common in the 1990s and 2000s, as airlines struggled with fierce competition, high labor costs and sudden spikes in the price of jet fuel. PanAm, TWA, Northwest, Continental, ******* and Delta were swept up. Some liquidated, while others used favorable laws to renegotiate debts such as aircraft leases and keep flying. The last bankruptcy by a major U.S. carrier ended when ********* Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 protection and simultaneously merged with US Airways in December 2013. &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #Spirit #Airlines #files #bankruptcy #financial #woes #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]