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***’s Starmer calls for ‘consistent, durable’ ties with China in Xi meeting ***’s Starmer calls for ‘consistent, durable’ ties with China in Xi meeting RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 18: *** Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, at the Sheraton Hotel, as he attends the G20 summit in on November 18, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Keir Starmer is attending his first G20 Summit since he was elected Prime Minister of the ***. He is expected to hold talks with President Xi Jinping of China, the first time a *** PM has done so for six years. (Photo by Stefan Rousseau – WPA Pool/Getty Images) Wpa Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on ******** President Xi Jinping on Monday to establish “consistent, durable” relations between their two nations, pressing on with efforts to thaw ties between London and Beijing at a G20 summit. The meeting in Brazil was the first between the countries’ two leaders since 2018, and Starmer struck an upbeat tone, saying he would like to engage with Beijing on areas such as trade, the economy and climate, and have broader engagement on science, technology, health and education. The British leader also said he would start plans to have a “full bilateral” with Xi in either Beijing or London and hoped his finance minister Rachel Reeves would meet Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss economic and financial cooperation next year. “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible, and strengthened dialogue should provide stronger understanding,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting. “The *** will be a predictable consistent sovereign actor committed to the rule of law and multilateral system,” he said, adding he appreciated Xi’s candour in a call in August and would match him in tone when raising differences between the two. Xi told Starmer that China and Britain should adopt a rational and objective perspective on each other’s development and the two nations should enhance strategic communication and deepen political mutual trust, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The meeting’s cooperative tone was in stark contrast to ties under the former ************* government, which took a robust approach to differences with China, particularly over human rights, Hong Kong and allegations of ******** espionage. With Starmer focused on rebooting growth in the economy to try to meet his promise during an election in July of rebuilding public services, the British leader is keen to encourage trade and investment from different nations. A Downing Street spokesperson said: “They also discussed deepening the partnership bilaterally on trade and investment, health, education and other areas of mutual interest.” They both agreed climate should be high on the agenda, the spokesperson said. Starmer also said he wanted to engage frankly with China on issues where the two countries had different perspectives, such as human rights, Hong Kong and Ukraine, the spokesperson said. Starmer has long described his ******* to build a “pragmatic” relationship with China that is “rooted in the ***’s national interests”, taking aim at boosting trade, a task that may become more difficult if U.S. President-elect. Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose tariffs on all imports. China is Britain’s sixth-largest trading partner, accounting for 5% of goods and services trade worth 86.5 billion pounds ($112 billion), while Britain has a 1.2% market share of ******** trade. The latest meeting builds on the government’s growing engagement with China, after British Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited China last month, a softening criticised by the now opposition ************* Party which ******** wary of Beijing. Source link #UKs #Starmer #calls #consistent #durable #ties #China #meeting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What we learned in NFL Week 11: Bills get gutsy, Steelers make a statement What we learned in NFL Week 11: Bills get gutsy, Steelers make a statement Josh Allen tried to claim that Sunday’s date with the Kansas City Chiefs was just “a Week 11 game.” The Bills quarterback sat before the cameras in the days leading up to Buffalo’s showdown with the two-time defending champs and said it was “no ******* or no less (important) than the last 10 games we’ve had.” On paper, perhaps. In reality, no way. The Chiefs have sent the Bills home in the playoffs three times in the last four years. Kansas City ******** the biggest roadblock for Buffalo in the franchise’s pursuit of its first Super Bowl title. This year’s matchup carried with it immense postseason implications: the Chiefs entered a perfect 9-0, while the Bills were 8-2. The winner could very well end up earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed and coveted playoff bye. Allen’s play Sunday in Orchard Park, especially on the signature snap of Buffalo’s season to date, spoke to how badly the Bills want it. On a fourth-and-2 with 2:26 left and the Bills leading by two, Allen charged through the teeth of the Kansas City defense for an MVP-caliber, 26-yard touchdown run. Six snaps later, the Bills intercepted Patrick Mahomes to seal the 30-21 victory, dealing the Chiefs their first loss of the season and giving the Bills a critical boost in their pursuit of the AFC’s top seed. “Knowing how things usually go, we’ll probably see this team again at some point,” Allen said afterward. GO DEEPER NFL Week 11 takeaways: Bills make case as AFC’s best team, Bo Nix rookie of the year? On the topic of potential No. 1 seeds, Detroit continues to look like the most complete team in the league. The Lions were so dominant Sunday that they might’ve expedited Doug Pederson’s exit in Jacksonville. A 52-6 loss — the worst in the Jaguars’ 29-year franchise history — could end up being the final straw for the veteran coach. After the embarrassment, Pederson, whose seat has warmed considerably in recent weeks as his team dropped four straight, was asked about his job security. “I can’t control that,” he told reporters. About a year ago, the Jaguars were 8-3 and in contention for the AFC’s top seed. They’re 3-13 since. The Lions, meanwhile, are 9-1 for the first time in 90 years. In Tennessee, the Vikings (8-2) stayed a game behind Detroit in the NFC North with a 23-13 victory over the Titans. It’s Minnesota’s third straight win after consecutive losses in late October. If the NFC North ******** the deepest division in football — three teams are 7-3 or better — then the NFC West ******** the most jumbled. Seattle’s 20-17 win over San Francisco on Sunday means the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are now 5-5, with the Cardinals (6-4) just a game ahead. In Miami, the Dolphins won for the second week in a row, beating the Raiders 34-19. After starting 2-6, Mike McDaniel’s team has rallied to keep its once-slim playoff hopes alive. Miami will face the Patriots next week for a chance to claim a third straight. Those Patriots will be coming off a 28-22 loss to the Rams despite a career-best 282 passing yards from rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The issue Sunday wasn’t Maye, despite his game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter, but instead L.A. quarterback Matthew Stafford, who lit up the New England defense for four touchdowns. Puka Nacua finished with a game-high 123 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Kupp added 106 and two scores of his own. In New Orleans, the Saints rode the full Taysom Hill Experience to rout the Browns, 35-14, their second straight win with interim coach Darren Rizzi. Hill did it all — a career-high 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus 50 more in the air on eight catches. He also returned a kickoff 42 yards and completed a pass for 18. Here’s what we learned across the NFL in Week 11: McDermott plays to win Entering Sunday, the Chiefs hadn’t lost since Christmas Day — a span of 15 games. They hadn’t given up more than 28 points since Super Bowl LVII — a span of 30 games. They had somehow rallied to win nine straight when trailing by seven or more — the longest such streak in NFL history. Those streaks are finished, and the Chiefs have suffered their first loss of 2024. “We’ll get back to work and try to use this as a spark so we can be a better football team in the end,” Mahomes said. “Great game to learn from for some of our young guys,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid added. “When two good teams play each other, the margin between winning and losing is small.” The Bills have now won four straight over the Chiefs in the regular season, but the rivalry’s narrative won’t change until they win one of these in January. Buffalo is just a half-game back of Kansas City (9-1) in the current playoff race, and the Bills (9-2) own the first tiebreaker via the head-to-head victory. Credit Bills coach Sean McDermott for the gutsy call at the end when choosing to go for it on that fourth-and-2 from the Chiefs’ 26-yard-line with 2:26 left. A field goal would’ve given the Bills a 5-point lead, but McDermott knew a field goal likely wouldn’t be enough. Not against that coach and that quarterback. “There have been too many games when Andy and Patrick have come back,” McDermott said later. So he put the ball in the hands of his best player. Allen responded with an emphatic touchdown run, a play only a few other quarterbacks in the league can make — if any. “Would have stood by (the decision) if it didn’t work out,” McDermott added. That’s the right mindset to beat the Chiefs when it really counts. This felt like an AFC North throwback. Defense ruled. Points came at a premium. It went down to the wire. It took six field goals from kicker Chris Boswell, two first-quarter missed kicks from Justin Tucker, a rare fumble from Derrick Henry and a stop on a two-point conversion with 1:09 left. In the end, the Steelers maintained their place atop the division — and stayed in the running for the AFC’s top seed. It wasn’t pretty, but Mike Tomlin’s team isn’t apologizing. The Steelers’ 18-16 victory over the Ravens is their fifth straight win and fourth since quarterback Russell Wilson stepped into the starting role. Pittsburgh (8-2) currently owns the third-best record in the AFC, behind only Kansas City and Buffalo. More than anything, this was a statement by the Steelers’ defense: the Ravens entered the game leading the league in a number of offensive categories, including scoring, total yards, rushing yards and red-zone efficiency. Lamar Jackson was earning significant MVP chatter, and deservedly so. But Pittsburgh’s second-rated scoring defense forced three turnovers and held the Ravens, who’ve averaged nearly 35 points a game over the last month, to just two touchdowns. On the game-deciding 2-point conversion try, linebacker Nick Herbig and cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. pressured Jackson — typically lethal on two-point tries — into a desperation throw that went nowhere. The Steelers are rolling. With two games coming up against the Browns and a date with the Bengals sandwiched in between, they’ll likely remain in front of the AFC North as we inch into December. Chargers hold off Bengals comeback Outside of the splashy hire of Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers did very little in terms of headline-grabbing moves in the offseason. They were quiet in free agency, signing B-list veterans like Gus Edwards, Denzel Perryman and Hayden Hurst. They said goodbye to their top two receivers by releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen to Chicago. They kept veteran pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack but convinced both to take pay cuts and drafted an offensive tackle — Notre Dame’s Joe Alt — fifth. On paper, this is mostly the same team that finished 5-12 in 2023 and got Brandon Staley fired 14 games into the season. But the eye test doesn’t match up. Harbaugh’s version looks like a contender because no other coach in the sport rebuilds faster. The Chargers are now 7-3 after a wild win over the Bengals Sunday night. Up 27-6 early in the third, L.A. withstood 21 straight from the Bengals, then rallied with an 84-yard drive in 27 seconds to finish off the 34-27 victory. With 26 seconds left, J.K. Dobbins burst through the Cincinnati defense for a 29-yard game-winning run. Justin Herbert, who finished 17 of 36 for 297 yards and two touchdowns, connected on two deep throws to get the Chargers in scoring range before Dobbins ended it. The game felt like it was over before Joe Burrow started heating up. And no matter what Cincinnati’s record is, Burrow at his best is still good enough to carve up any secondary in the league. He did that most of the second half Sunday, avoiding about a dozen sacks and finding Tee Higgins deep for one touchdown and Ja’Marr Chase for two more. But two late misses from kicker Evan McPherson — one from 48 yards, one from 51 — proved costly. For a minute it looked like the Bengals (4-7) were going to pull off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. Instead, it’s their sixth one-score loss of the season. The Chargers have their fourth win in a row, and suddenly, they’re just two games back of the Chiefs in the AFC West. Richardson, Williams bounce back Following a tumultuous month, two young quarterbacks badly needed bounce-back games Sunday. Both got them. But only one left with a win. The Colts’ Anthony Richardson, benched the past two weeks for veteran Joe Flacco, returned to the starting role Sunday against the Jets and delivered one of the best games of his young career in a 28-27 win over the Jets. Richardson flashed the type of talent that led the Colts to draft him fourth in 2023 with his 272 passing yards — on a 66.7 completion percentage — and two bruising touchdown runs, the second of which provided the game’s deciding points. He is a physical specimen the league has rarely seen at quarterback. “It’s pretty cool, especially to do it against the Jets and Aaron Rodgers,” Richardson said after the first game-winning touchdown of his young career. “I’ve been watching him since I was a ****. So, it’s a blessing just to be able go against a legend.” The win snaps a three-game skid for the Colts (5-6), who remain alive in the AFC wild-card race. As for the Jets, it’s the latest ***** in what’s become a lost season. New York is now 3-8, 1-5 since ******* coach Robert Saleh. Anthony Richardson led the Colts on the first game-winning drive of his career on Sunday. (Al Bello / Getty Images) In Chicago, Caleb Williams played his best game in a month, and the Bears’ offense found new life after the ******* of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. All of which made the result — a 20-19 loss to the Packers — even more gutting. Three weeks after their Hail Mary loss in Washington, the Bears suffered more last-second heartache. Maybe this team is cursed. Williams drove Chicago 42 yards on seven plays to set up a 46-yard field goal attempt from Cairo Santos that would’ve won it as time expired. But Green Bay defensive end Karl Brooks penetrated Chicago’s line just enough to get a finger on the kick, and his block sealed the Packers’ win. It’s Green Bay’s 11th straight victory over its longtime rival and keeps Packers coach Matt LaFleur a perfect 11-0 in the series. Even in defeat — Chicago’s fourth in a row — there were positives for the Bears. Williams ran for a season-high 70 yards and threw for 231, his highest since Week 5. It was a strong debut from new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who got Williams going with some quick throws and helped revive a run game that piled up 179 yards. The Bears were also much more efficient on third down: after converting 6 of 40 the last three games, they were 9 of 16 Sunday. And the Bears’ streak of 25 straight drives without scoring a touchdown is finally over. Nix cuts into Daniels’ Offensive Rookie of the Year lead For a stretch, it seemed like the Offensive Rookie of the Year race was Jayden Daniels’ to lose, and it still might be. But another quarterback has, at the very least, climbed into the conversation. And it’s not Williams, last spring’s No. 1 pick. Bo Nix has been excellent of late and shined in the Broncos’ 38-6 rout of the Falcons on Sunday, Denver’s biggest win at home in a decade. The Oregon product missed just five throws all day, finishing 28 of 33 for 307 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Nix’s 84.8 completion percentage is the third-highest for a rookie QB (minimum 30 attempts) in NFL history, and he joined Peyton Manning as the only rookie QB with at least 200 passing yards and multiple touchdowns in four straight home games. Nix just might be the quarterback the Broncos have been looking for since Manning left. A rebuild that was supposed to take some time is coming together quickly. Nix has had a lot to do with that. Stats never tell the full story — both rookies have been instrumental in turning their teams around this season — but Nix’s numbers stack up well against Daniels’. Nix has thrown for 2,275 passing yards with a 66 completion percentage, piled up 18 touchdowns and thrown four interceptions in the Broncos’ 6-5 start. Daniels has 2,338 passing yards with a 69 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions for the 7-4 Commanders. Most importantly for Denver, after a pair of losses to Super Bowl contenders in Baltimore and Kansas City, the Broncos rebounded in a big way. If the playoffs started today, they would own the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. (Photo: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images) Source link #learned #NFL #Week #Bills #gutsy #Steelers #statement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senator Accuses Valve Of Allowing Hate To Spread On Steam Senator Accuses Valve Of Allowing Hate To Spread On Steam Since its launch in 2003, Steam has grown to become one of the biggest digital stores for PC games. But bringing so many players together has also had some unexpected consequences in the real world. Now, Virginia Senator Mark Warner is accusing Steam’s parent company, Valve, of allowing hate speech, white-supremacist content, and even comments praising terrorists to go unchallenged by the company. Warner shared his letter with Bloomberg, and addressed his concerns to Valve co-founder Game Newell. Citing a recent report from the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Extremism, Warner writes that Steam has become “an unsafe place for teens and young adults to purchase and play online games” and adds that if the Valve fails to address these issues then it will allow “harmful ideologies to spread and take root among the next generation.” The report mentioned by Warner reportedly identified 1.83 million instances of extremist or hateful content on Steam. Some of examples include ***** imagery, tributes to individual terrorists, and support for ********** groups like ISIS. Earlier this year, a Turkish teenager planned a ****** ******* with someone he met on Steam before carrying out his plans in August while wearing a neo-***** symbol. In his letter, Warner promised “more intense scrutiny from the federal government” while alleging that Steam’s “complicity in allowing hate groups to congregate and engage in activities that undoubtedly puts Americans at risk.” The senator also requested information about Valve’s moderation policies and its commitment to fighting hate content. Earlier this year, Steam got ahead of a new California law by changing the way it lists games online. In accordance with the law that won’t go into effect until 2025, Steam now explicitly states that players are buying a license for the games they purchase, rather than actually owning the games themselves. Source link #Senator #Accuses #Valve #Allowing #Hate #Spread #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ugandan TikToker jailed for 32 months for insulting President Yoweri Museveni Ugandan TikToker jailed for 32 months for insulting President Yoweri Museveni A 21-year-old has become the latest Ugandan TikToker to be sent to prison after creating a video that was said to insult President Yoweri Museveni. Emmanuel Nabugodi appeared for the sentencing on Monday after pleading guilty last week to four charges, including hate speech and spreading malicious information about the president. He was sentenced to 32 months in jail. Nabugodi, known for sharing comedy content to his 20,000 followers, made a film of a mock trial of the head of state. In it he called for Museveni’s public flogging. Rights groups have frequently complained about restrictions on the freedom of speech in the country, alleging that the president – in power since 1986 – does not tolerate criticism. In July, Edward Awebwa was handed a six-year sentence on similar charges to Nabugodi regarding a TikTok post. Three others are awaiting trial over content on the social media app. When handing down Nabugodi’s sentence, Stellah Maris Amabilis, the chief magistrate of the court in Entebbe, said he was not remorseful and the sentence would serve in helping to stop social media attacks against people including the person of the president. “This court hopes that by the time the convict leaves prison, he would have learnt that abusing people in the name of getting content is bad,” she said. She added that he had the right to appeal against the sentence within 14 days. He was convicted under a controversial amendment in 2022 to the Computer Misuse Act. It made it ******** to “write, send, or share any information through a computer, which is likely to ridicule, degrade, or demean another person, group of persons, a tribe, an ethnicity, a religion or gender”. In its human rights report on Uganda last year, the US State Department said the “authorities used this law to intimidate internet users from criticizing government policies”. Rights groups also regularly denounce the Ugandan authorities over violations of human rights and the freedom of expression. In 2022, award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of “offensive communication” after making unflattering remarks about the president and his son on Twitter. He fled the country to Germany after spending a month in jail, where he said he had been tortured. Source link #Ugandan #TikToker #jailed #months #insulting #President #Yoweri #Museveni Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Have NHL players maxed out the slap shot? The science behind the speed Have NHL players maxed out the slap shot? The science behind the speed Thirty years ago, the average PGA golfer drove the ball 261.84 yards. Davis Love III was the longest hitter at 283.8 yards. In 2024, the average distance is 300.9 yards, with Cameron Champ leading the way at a whopping 323.3 yards. Technological advances for both clubs and golf ****** — combined with a greater focus on fitness — have turned 7,000-yard tracks into pitch-and-putts for the world’s best golfers. Thirty years ago, Al Iafrate won the NHL’s hardest shot competition at the All-Star skills competition with a 102.7 mph blast, down from his 105.2 a year before. At the 2024 All-Star weekend, Cale Makar won with a slap shot of 102.5 mph. Utah’s Michael Kesselring and the Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson recently had blasts of 103.77 mph and 104.69 mph, respectively — the only two 100 mph clappers in the league this season. Last season, the 10 biggest ******** combined for 26 shots at or above 100 mph, with the Winnipeg Jets’ Colin Miller topping out at 102.59. What gives? Iafrate was using an old-school wooden stick. Makar, Kesselring, Thompson, Miller and everyone else in the league is using a custom composite stick, designed to their exact body and mechanical specifications to generate maximum force. Yet the numbers are comparable. There might be more big shooters in the league — tracking data in the NHL only dates back to the 2021-22 season, so we’ll never know for sure — but they’re not really raising the bar by much. Certainly not to the degree that golfers are. Or tennis players are, for that matter. In fact, it’s more akin to baseball, in which pitchers seem to have reached the limit of human capability at about 105 mph. More and more pitchers throw hard every year — 203 pitchers averaged a four-seam fastball of 95 mph or more this season, up from 123 just seven years ago — but the ceiling isn’t budging. Since Aroldis Chapman hit a record 105.8 mph back in 2010, only Ben Joyce and Jordan Hicks have touched 105, and only once each (Chapman did it nine times). Of course, pitchers aren’t using any equipment. It’s just muscle and mechanics. The human body can only do so much, no matter how feverishly you exercise, no matter how impeccable your nutritional habits are. Hockey’s different, right? Shouldn’t there be 110 mph shots by now? Or 120, for that matter? Shouldn’t we be talking about scaling back the technology to preserve the integrity of the game, the way the golf world always is? Like every other sport, hockey players keep getting ******* and stronger. But the low-100s ******** the gold standard for shot speed. It begs two questions: Have we reached the ceiling of what a slap shot can be? And why? “There’s always a limit,” said Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, who has reached 95.54 mph this season, in the league’s 91st percentile. “The human factor only allows you to do so much. And there does come a point where we’re not superhuman.” Alain Haché knows a thing or two about high-speed projectiles. The experimental physicist and University of Moncton professor seemed to defy the very laws of physics in 2002 when he and one of his students sent a pulse of radiation 120 meters at superluminal speed — that’s faster than the speed of light. But Haché is a hockey nerd, too, the author of two books on the science behind the sport. It makes him uniquely qualified to address such an esoteric topic. He believes the plateauing speeds of NHL slap shots means that we might have reached our technological limit when it comes to hockey sticks. Iafrate and Al MacInnis and Bobby Hull were physical freaks in the wooden-stick days. All the composites have done is let the rest of the league catch up to them. “What it means probably is the limitation is no longer the stick itself,” Haché said. “Hockey sticks are pretty efficient already.” A slap shot is pretty simple from a physics standpoint. When a player rears back and fires, he doesn’t aim for the puck, but rather a foot or so behind the puck. When the stick hits the ice, it flexes, or bends. By flexing the stick, a player is storing potential energy into the stick. When the stick unbends and whips back around, it’s turning that potential energy into kinetic energy, sending the puck on its way. Energy is always lost in the bending and unbending of the stick, Haché said. A perfectly elastic stick would convert 100 percent of a player’s potential energy into kinetic energy, but modern sticks are pretty close. Haché estimated that modern composites convert “maybe 90 percent.” “So if you improve your stick (even further), you’re not going to gain a lot,” he said. “You’re not going to double the amount of energy you can transfer. So the energy becomes limited by the player.” In Iafrate’s and MacInnis’ day, the wooden sticks could flex only so much, and there wasn’t any significant variety from twig to twig. These days, players have all sorts of options with composite sticks. A stick’s flex — or “whippiness,” in the players’ parlance — is assigned a number. A number above 100 is stiffer, a number below 100 is “whippier.” Zdeno Chara, a nearly 7-foot-tall giant who holds the record for hardest shot in an NHL skills competition at 108.8 mph, used a famously stiff stick. Alex Ovechkin, on the verge of becoming the league’s all-time leading goal scorer largely on the strength of his cannonading one-timer slap shot, uses an extra whippy stick, in the mid-to-upper-70s. Connor Bedard, who doesn’t have the physical stature of either of those players, uses a super-whippy stick in the low-70s. Whatever suits the player’s mechanics best. Chicago’s Connor Bedard uses a particularly “whippy” stick, with a flex in the low-70s. (Chris Tanouye / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images) Naturally, there’s more to it than that, depending on how deep into the scientific weeds you want to get. There’s the “bounce effect,” which means a shot will have more velocity if the puck is moving toward the player at speed when he hits it — think of big Aaron Judge squaring up a 100 mph fastball and imagine the exit velocity. Judge wouldn’t be able to hit a ball off a tee nearly as far, or as fast. It’s not a one-for-one factor because it’s not a perfectly elastic collision; if a 60 mph pass from behind the net is one-timed back toward the net, the shooter won’t get an additional 60 mph on his shot. But he will get a bump. Now if the player is carrying the puck up the ice at speed and manages to get off a ******** on the rush, he will get all that additional speed. Let’s say Connor McDavid is carrying the puck up ice at 23 mph, his top speed so far this season. If he somehow managed to rip a full slap shot at 83 mph, his top shot velocity this season, while the puck was still moving at 23 mph, his shot would go 106 mph. Easier said than done, but maybe Hall of Famer Marián Hossa was onto something when he would blast those slap shots while racing into the low slot during shootout attempts. The stick — wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum, whatever — is just a tool, though. Technique matters more than anything else. But a little muscle mass doesn’t hurt. “The power comes entirely from the player,” Haché said. “He will rotate his body. He will time the slap shot so that he can put as much flex as he can in the stick.” That’s why San Jose defenseman Jake Walman says his shots are ******* and heavier earlier in the season, while he still has all the muscle he added over the summer. Players typically lose much of their bulk over the course of the grueling season, as weight-lifting takes a back seat to the endless cardio they’re doing night after night. Their shots can fade along with their weight. But while behemoths such as Chara and Shea Weber (who nearly caught Chara with a 108.5 at the 2015 All-Star weekend) and the 6-6 Thompson have an inherent advantage, size isn’t everything. Timing is crucial. Pick the puck clean instead of hitting the ice first and the stick won’t flex and the puck will flutter weakly. Hit too far behind the puck and most of the kinetic energy will be spent before the blade even gets to the puck. “Everyone shoots different, but there are certain things you have to do in order to have a hard shot,” said Chicago’s Seth Jones, who topped out at 97.97 mph last season. “You see small guys have hard shots all the time. You don’t need to be 220 pounds and 6-3 to have a hard shot. And the flex is whatever you’re comfortable with. Some guys ****** ******* with (a) 100 flex, some guys ****** even ******* with a 75. There’s no one way to do it.” Zdeno Chara unleashes a 108.8 mph slap shot at the NHL’s 2012 hardest shot competition in Ottawa. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) Power in one sport doesn’t necessarily mean power in the other. Walman’s best golf drives go a relatively modest 270 yards down the middle. But oh, man, can Walman spin the ball. “I’m hitting down on it pretty hard,” he said. The Sharks defenseman blasted a ******** 101.6 mph last year in Vancouver when he was with the Detroit Red Wings. This year, he’s topped out at 94.93 mph. And it’s the same body mechanics that allow him to put so much backspin into a 9-iron that allow him to so consistently hit a hockey puck really hard — the way he rears back and opens up his upper body, the way he transfers nearly all the weight into his front foot with vicious body torque, the way he leans into the stick to create all that flex as he hits the ice six to 12 inches behind the puck, the way he follows through with all of his weight moving forward. “You’re leaning over way more in hockey than in golf,” he said. “I’m bent over, all my power is generating into that one spot in front. … I’m leaning so far over the puck that all my weight is going down into the puck.” Hardest shots by year since NHL tracking data implementation Year Season Leader Speed (mph) 2024-25 104.69 2023-24 102.59 2022-23 101.71 2021-22 101.95 Walman’s always had a big shot, even when he didn’t have the right tools. He said he was pretty much the last **** in youth hockey to play with a wooden stick. His teammates chirped him for it, and his coaches “gave my mom and dad heck” for not buying him a composite stick. But even at a young age, Walman was able to bring out the flex in the wood and launch missiles all day. To this day, he still wonders which kind of stick is really more powerful when leveraged perfectly. “I’d say the first 50 percent is everything that you do — the power you’re generating, leaning into it,” Walman said. “And then the stick takes over after that. The second half is the technology.” So while Haché thinks sticks might be approaching the point of perfection, players aren’t so sure. Jones, for one, was skeptical when asked if the NHL had hit the ceiling. “It depends on where the technology can go,” Jones said. “Athletes are developing every year, we’re getting faster and stronger and *******, but it’s not just the human body. It’s a little different than pitching, where it’s just you and your arm and the ball. Here, we’re using equipment. Right now, it seems like it maxed out with how light and strong sticks are with the carbon fiber. But who knows in 10 years where the ***** technology can be?” There’s another question that needs to be addressed here: Does any of this even matter? While MLB teams have high-tech “pitch labs” and huge staffs devoted to squeezing every last bit of velocity and spin out of their pitchers — if a pitcher’s velocity drops a single mile per hour from one start to the next, team medical staffs kick into gear and fan bases go into a panic — NHL players seem a lot less concerned with the science behind the shot. See puck, hit puck. Puck go fast. “I honestly have no idea” how the science works, said Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, who hit 103 in an AHL skills competition. Most of the biggest shots in the game come from defensemen, and you’ll see them ******* off blasts from the point at that night’s starting goalie at the tail end of every morning skate. It’s more of a ritual than a rigorous scientific process, though. “I just figure the more you do it, the better you get at it,” Bouchard said. “It’s just practice, repetition.” When told he was in the top 10 percent in the league when it came to shot speed, Seider said: “That’s obviously cool. But that’s not a stat I’ve ever checked.” See, a 100 mph shot is a great ******* in hockey. But there are several reasons why it’s not the be-all, end-all the way a 100 mph four-seam fastball is. For one, full-bore slap shots are very difficult to get off in game situations. There’s a reason most of the biggest blasts come from skills competitions with pristine conditions — a free run-up, a stationary puck (the timing is too tricky to risk playing for the aforementioned bounce effect) and no defender. In a game, time and space are often nonexistent. “The game is just way too fast for taking the time, going all the way to the top and letting one rip,” Seider said. “People are just in your way more. There’s better coverage, opponents have better sticks on you. You hardly ever get off your best slap shot in an actual game.” Another reason it’s not as critical: ******* isn’t always better. Back when the Blackhawks were winning championships, they had big Brent Seabrook blasting shots from the point on the power play. But light-hitting Michal Rozsíval would get his share of power-play time, too. And his wimpy little shots just seemed to have a knack for getting through traffic, hitting the net and creating rebounds. “It’s hard to get off a big shot nowadays,” Bouchard said. “Sometimes it’s better to throw a quick wrist shot on net and see what happens. It doesn’t always have to be as hard as you can hit it. That’s not always the best shot.” A big windup also gives a defender an extra split second to throw himself in front of the puck. That said, Jones posited that one big shot that gets very painfully blocked might lead to an open lane later in the game, as a defender thinks twice about stepping in front of the next one. But even he acknowledged that rarely happens. “It’s a competitive sport,” Jones said. “You’re still going to see guys laying out in front of shots to win the Stanley Cup, whether it’s 80 miles per hour or 120.” After all, physics might be able to explain how flex and torque and weight transfer and potential energy all add up to a classic clapper. But there’s no explaining what drives someone to step in front of one. “No one said we’re smart,” Jones said with a chuckle. “We’re athletes.” (Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic. Photos: Bruce Bennett, Patrick Smith, Steph Chambers / Getty Images) Source link #NHL #players #maxed #slap #shot #science #speed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Swan Helmet of Tintignac, the Pinnacle of Gaulish Elegance The Swan Helmet of Tintignac, the Pinnacle of Gaulish Elegance France has always been the heartland of the Celtic world. Once the home to the fierce Gallic tribes, this nation is dotted with their remnants and their lasting heritage. One such remnant is the archaeological site of Tintignac, nestled in the heart of the French region of Corrèze. A major discovery related to the ancient Celts; this site provided one of the most intriguing glimpses into their world. The site dates back to the Iron Age and shows later influences of the arriving Romans. But even so, Tintignac provided a wealth of ancient artifacts that revealed many new elements of the religious and cultural traditions of the Gauls. And one of the foremost finds from the site is the iconic Tintignac Swan Helmet, a ceremonial item that captivates with its elaborate and unique appearance. Bronze swan helmet of Tintignac. (Siren-Com/CC BY-SA 3.0) The Swan Helmet of Tintignac The origins of the modern village of Tintignac date to the middle ages. Previously known as Tintinhac, the village is commonly associated with Castle Tintignac, where the Gascon troubadour and nobleman, Arnaut de Tintinhac, was born. However, thanks to the archaeological discoveries made here, Tintignac is best known as a major Gallic site. It was discovered in the 19th century in the modern-day commune of Naves, but remained somewhat unexplored until the late 20th century. Systematic excavations that began at that time revealed a major ceremonial site, surrounded by remnants of dense population. All the findings indicate that this was a major site for the Gauls, most likely for the tribe of Lemovices, which historically lived in the area. The site’s most crucial phase of activity dates to the ******* from the 3rd century BC to the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD. Map of Gaul in the 1st century BC, showing the relative positions of the Celtic tribes. (Feitscherg/CC BY-SA 3.0) Of course, Tintignac was situated in a strategic location, placed along the major trade routes of the time, which only served to boost its importance as both a cultural center and a major religious site. And needless to say, such importance gave archaeologists a lot of work, offering many unique finds. But among the site’s most extraordinary discoveries is a collection of unique bronze objects, many of which are rare carnyx trumpets, but also the famed swan helmet. This helmet, dating to around the 1st century BC, is unlike any other found in Celtic or Roman contexts. The Celts were known to put birds on their helmets, but never in such a way. The bird depicted here is either a crane or a swan, both of which were commonly depicted on items of the Lemovices tribe. The whole design of this helmet, better known as a casque, is quite striking. It features an ornately sculpted swan (commonly accepted to be) head, extending from the top of the helmet with its neck gracefully curving upward and its wings forming part of the helmet’s structure. The neck is particularly long, extending in a gentle curve towards the back of the helmet, where the bird’s tail is featured. Of course, the helmet is crafted so that it fits appropriately on the wearer’s head and protects the ears and the back of the head accordingly. But even so, it was likely never used in battle, but was rather a major ceremonial item, possibly worn by a high-ranking member of society, like a chieftain of great renown. The Gaulish Taste for Elegance The Tintignac swan helmet is made from bronze and features an exceptionally high level of craftsmanship. It is certain that many hours of painstaking work went into creating this item, which is imbued with deep symbolic meaning. Of course, the one that commissioned its creation had to be powerful and wealthy and was most likely the tribe’s chieftain. Scholars accept that the bird depicted is likely a swan, rather than a crane. The swan, as a motif, holds significant symbolic value in Celtic mythology and art. Swans were often associated with the divine, connected to deities and stories that revolved around transformation and otherworldly journeys. And, having mastered both the air and the water, the swan was seen as a powerful animal, connected with fertility, growth, and healing. Copy of a bronze helmet decorated with a bird (3rd-2nd century BC) from a ******** in the sanctuary of Tintignac (Corrèze). Musée de Bibracte, Bourgogne. (Bibracte5871/CC BY-SA 3.0) To that end, it is possible that the helmet was also worn by a high-ranking priest or a religious figure, such as a druid. It would have been worn in elaborate ceremonies, where the wearer of the swan helmet would represent the gods of fertility and growth. As such, the Tintignac swan helmet embodies the Celts’ fusion of art, religion, and warfare, emphasizing the spiritual dimension they attributed to combat and ceremony alike. And due to this, the helmet ******** one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in France, but also one of the most elaborate relics of the entire Celtic world. Besides this majestic helmet, archaeologists also discovered an impressive cache of weapons at Tintignac. This included spears, swords, shields, and knives, many of which were deliberately bent and broken, as per the common Celtic custom. This was a widespread tradition in Ancient Europe, and was a major part of offering items to the Gods. These ritual deposits reinforced the sacred nature of warfare amongst the ********* peoples and emphasized the community’s belief in the spiritual protection provided by their chief deities. When War and Art Entwine The Celtic peoples were at one time amongst the most widespread of all Europe’s cultures. Their languages, their art, and beliefs spread across the continent, shaping societies for generations. Today, their influences are best felt amongst the British, Irish, and Scottish peoples, as well as peoples of France. And wherever one might venture across this Celtic sphere of influence, new discoveries and relics would await. From the lavish bronze shields of Celtic Britain, to the complex burials of Celtic Germany, and all the way to Tintignac and the stunning swan helmet – the Celts left their unmistakable traces and their distinct eye for beauty. Top image: Bronze helmet decorated with a swan shape (between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC). Discovered in 2004 in a ******** of bronze objects on the Tintignac site in Naves (Corrèze, France). Source: Claude Valette/CC BY-SA 3.0 By Aleksa Vučković References Canestrelli, G. 2022. Celtic Warfare: From the Fifth Century BC to the First Century AD. Pen and Sword Military. Various. 2023. The Oxford Handbook of the ********* Iron Age. Oxford University Press. Various. 2014. Celtic Art in Europe: Making Connections. Oxbow Books. Source link #Swan #Helmet #Tintignac #Pinnacle #Gaulish #Elegance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arcane 2’s Success Confirms More League Of Legends Shows but One Major Issue Has Fans Concerned Arcane 2’s Success Confirms More League Of Legends Shows but One Major Issue Has Fans Concerned Arcane 2 opened up to a successful release several weeks back, and the animated show based on the widely celebrated game League of Legends is topping the charts at the moment. Arcane Season 2 opened up to a great response. Image Credit: Riot Its success has paved the way for more League of Legends content in the future, and it is highly likely that we will be seeing more shows based on its lore. However, there is a major issue with these projects going forward. We Might See More League of Legends Shows In The Future After Arcane Season 2 Arcane’s success has enabled more screen adaptation of League of Legends. Image Credit: Riot Arcane 2’s success is the perfect example of why a show based on the game’s lore will be hugely successful. However, one of the major reasons why the show became a success is largely due to the team behind it. It is currently believed that the creative team, Fortiche, behind the game, will not be involved in future projects. This was the team that enabled the show to set itself apart from all the other shows by using its unique art and animation style. Posts from the loreofleague community on Reddit Comment byu/Ennard115441 from discussion inloreofleague Comment byu/Ennard115441 from discussion inloreofleague Comment byu/Ennard115441 from discussion inloreofleague Fortiche’s involvement in future productions is crucial since it has proved to be one of the best in the industry. Arcane stands out due to its unique cinematic style and narrative progression, most of which are largely thanks to Fortiche. There might be a possibility that Fortiche will be involved in all of the animated projects while the other team focuses on live-action adaptations of the game. This is another major cause of criticism since fans are not ready to accept a live-action League of Legends adaptation just yet. League of Legends Has An Extensive Lore Fit For More Adaptations The studio behind the show might be cutting off ties with Riot. Image Credit: Riot League of Legends is known for its wide arsenal of characters, each with their own backstory, intricately and masterfully connected with each other within the game’s universe. Arcane follows the story of Vi, Jinx, Catlyn, Jace, and Ekko. These are just a few characters from the game. There are many more with richer stories waiting to be explored in the same way. Fans believe that only an animated series will be able to do justice to its universe; they do not want to see their favorite characters turn into a caricaturist version of themselves. Whether Fortiche will be involved in future projects or not is still not entirely confirmed. Fans want to see the team behind Arcane work on more projects in the future. Arcane is one of the most beautifully written and ********* adaptations of the game yet, and if people were to trust someone to work on future projects, then it has to be the same team. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Arcane #Success #Confirms #League #Legends #Shows #Major #Issue #Fans #Concerned Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vital Atlantic Ocean current is already weakening due to melting ice Vital Atlantic Ocean current is already weakening due to melting ice A study modelling the impact of melting ice suggests scientists have underestimated the risk that an important ocean current will shut down and cause climate chaos Source link #Vital #Atlantic #Ocean #current #weakening #due #melting #ice Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Denmark’s AI-powered ******** system fuels mass surveillance Denmark’s AI-powered ******** system fuels mass surveillance Artificial intelligence (AI) tools used by the Danish ******** authority violate individual privacy, risk discrimination and breach the ********* Union’s (EU) AI Act’s regulations on social scoring systems, according to analysis from Amnesty International. Udbetaling Danmark (UDK, or Payout Denmark) – established in 2012 to centralise the payment of various ******** benefits across five municipalities – uses AI-powered algorithms to flag individuals who are considered at the highest risk of committing social benefits ****** for further investigation. These were developed in partnership with ATP, Denmark’s largest pensions processing company, and various private multinational corporations. The report details how UDK’s ****** control algorithms breach the human rights of social security benefits recipients, including their rights to privacy, equality and social security. It also concludes that the system creates a barrier to accessing social benefits for certain marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, low-income individuals and migrants. “This mass surveillance has created a social benefits system that risks targeting, rather than supporting, the very people it was meant to protect,” said Hellen Mukiri-Smith, Amnesty International’s researcher on artificial intelligence and human rights. “The way the Danish automated ******** system operates is eroding individual privacy and undermining human dignity. By deploying ****** control algorithms and traditional surveillance methods to identify social benefits ******, the authorities are enabling and expanding digitised mass surveillance.” Amnesty argues that UDK’s ****** detection system likely falls under the “social scoring” ban under the EU’s AI Act, which came into force on 1 August 2024. The act defines AI social scoring systems as those that “evaluate or classify” individuals or groups based on social behaviour or personal traits, causing “detrimental or unfavourable treatment” of those people. Mukiri-Smith said: “The information that Amnesty International has collected and analysed suggests that the system used by the UDK and ATP functions as a social scoring system under the new EU Artificial Intelligence law – and should therefore be banned.” UDK and ATP provided Amnesty with redacted documentation on the design of certain algorithmic systems, and allegedly rejected Amnesty’s requests for a collaborative audit, refusing to provide full access to the code and data used in their algorithms. The Danish authority also rejected Amnesty’s assessment that its ****** detection system likely falls under the AI Act’s social scoring ban, but did not offer an explanation for this reasoning. In response to this, Amnesty has called on the ********* Commission to issue clear guidelines on which AI practices constitute a social scoring system in its AI Act guidance. The organisation has also requested that the Danish authorities stop using the system until it can be confirmed that it does not fall under this ban. Mukiri-Smith added: “The Danish authorities must urgently implement a clear and legally binding ban on the use of data related to ‘foreign affiliation’ or proxy data in risk scoring for ****** control purposes. They must also ensure robust transparency and adequate oversight in the development and deployment of ****** control algorithms.” Computer Weekly contacted UDK about the claims made by Amnesty International but received no response by the time of publication. Violation of privacy Alongside ATP, UDK uses a system of up to 60 algorithms to identify fraudulent social benefit applications and flag individuals for further investigation by Danish authorities. To power these models, Danish authorities have enacted laws enabling the extensive collection and merging of personal data from public databases of millions of Danish residents. This includes information on residency status, citizenship, and other data that can also serve as proxies for a person’s race, ethnicity or ******* orientation. Mukiri-Smith added: “This expansive surveillance machine is used to document and build a panoramic view of a person’s life that is often disconnected from reality. It tracks and monitors where a social benefit claimant lives, works, their travel history, health records, and even their ties to foreign countries.” Individuals interviewed by Amnesty described the psychological impact of being subjected to surveillance by ****** investigators and case workers. Describing the feeling of being investigated for benefits ******, Stig Langvad of Dansk Handicap Foundation told Amnesty that it is like “sitting at the end of a ****”. UDK stated that its collection and merging of personal data to detect social benefits ****** is “legally grounded”. Exacerbation of structural marginalisation The report also reveals that the benefits ****** control system developed by UDK and ATP is built on inherently discriminatory structures in Denmark’s legal and social systems, which categorises people and communities based on difference. According to the report, Danish law already creates a “hostile environment for migrants and people who have been granted ******** status”, with residency requirements for those seeking to claim benefits that disproportionately affect people from non-Western countries, with many refugees in Denmark, including Syria, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The Really Single ****** control algorithm predicts a person’s family or relationship status to assess risk of benefit ****** in pensions and childcare schemes. One of the parameters employed by the algorithm includes “unusual” or “atypical” living patterns or family arrangements, but contains no clarity on what constitutes such situations, leaving room for dangerously arbitrary decision-making. Mukiri-Smith added: “People in non-traditional living arrangements – such as those with disabilities who are married but live apart due to their disabilities; older people in relationships who live apart; or those living in a multi-generational household, a common arrangement in migrant communities – are all at risk of being targeted by the Really Single algorithm for further investigation into social benefits ******.” Gitte Nielsen, the chairperson of the social and labour market policy committee at Dansk Handicap Foundation, described the feeling of being constantly scrutinised and reassessed: “It is eating you up. A lot of our members … have depression because of this interrogation.” UDK and ATP additionally use inputs related to “foreign affiliation” in their algorithmic models. For example, the Model Abroad algorithm identifies groups of beneficiaries deemed to have “medium and high-strength ties” to non-EEA countries and prioritises these groups for further investigation. Amnesty’s research found that algorithms such as these discriminate against people based on factors such as national origin and migration status. In a response to Amnesty, UDK stated that the use of “citizenship” as a parameter in their algorithms does not constitute processing of sensitive personal information. Source link #Denmarks #AIpowered #******** #system #fuels #mass #surveillance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Trump’s win could change your health care How Trump’s win could change your health care U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives on November 13, 2024 at ****** Base Andrews, Maryland. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House is poised to have big impacts on consumer health care. Republicans may face few legislative roadblocks with their goals of reshaping health insurance in the U.S., experts said, after the party retained its slim majority in the House of Representatives and flipped the Senate, giving it control of both Congress and the presidency. Households that get health insurance from Medicaid or an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan may see some of the biggest disruptions, due to reforms sought by Trump and *********** lawmakers, according to health policy experts. Such reforms would free up federal funds that could be used to help pay for other *********** policy priorities like tax cuts, they said. Just under 8% of the U.S. population is uninsured right now — the lowest rate in ********* history, said Michael Sparer, a professor at Columbia University and chair of its Department of Health Policy and Management. That figure was 17% when the Affordable Care Act was enacted over a decade ago, he said. “That rate will start going up again,” Sparer said. Trump announced on Nov. 14 that he wants to tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS, in turn, administers the Affordable Care Act marketplace and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), among other endeavors. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks with *********** presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a Turning Point Action Rally in Duluth, GA on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. The Washington Post | The Washington Post | Getty Images Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic who’s been accused of spreading *********** theories, has vowed to make big changes to the U.S. health care system. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team did not respond to a request from CNBC for comment about the President-elect’s health policy plans. Here’s how health care could change for consumers during the incoming Trump administration, according to experts. Affordable Care Act marketplace A lab technician cares for a patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center on March 11, 2022 in Apple Valley, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images ‘********’ premium subsidies will expire Based on how the election went, the enhanced subsidies on the Affordable Care Act will likely not be renewed once they expire at the end of 2025, said Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of the ACA program at KFF, a health policy research organization. “If I was going to place a bet on this, I’d be much more comfortable ******** that they are going to expire,” Cox said. More from Personal Finance: What Trump’s tariff plan may mean for your wallet What a Trump presidency could mean for your taxes What Trump could mean for the housing market That government-backed aid, originally passed during the pandemic under the ********* Rescue Plan in 2021, has significantly lowered the costs of coverage for people buying health insurance plans on the ACA marketplace. Those customers include anyone who doesn’t have access to a workplace plan, such as students, self-employed consumers and unemployed people, among others. An individual earning $60,000 a year now has a monthly premium of $425, compared to $539 before the enhanced subsidies, according to a rough estimate provided by Cox. Meanwhile, a family of four making about $120,000 currently pays $850 a month instead of $1,649. Permanently extending the enhanced ACA subsidies could cost around $335 billion over the next 10 years, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. “They’re concerned about the cost, and they’re going to be cutting taxes next year likely,” Cox said, of Republicans. Still, it’s a ‘big’ gamble to forgo health insurance Around 3.8 million people will lose their health insurance if the subsidies expire, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Those who maintain their coverage are likely to pay higher premiums. “The bottom line is uncertainty,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. “The good news for marketplace consumers is that the enhanced [subsidies] will be available through 2025, so there should be no immediate changes,” Corlette added. Even if the subsidies disappear, experts say it’s important to stay enrolled if you can, even if you have to make tradeoffs on coverage to keep the costs within budget. Enrolling in a plan, even a cheaper plan with a big annual deductible, can provide an important hedge against huge costs from unforeseen medical needs like surgery, said Carolyn McClanahan, a physician and certified financial planner based in Jacksonville, Florida. “I can’t emphasize how big a gamble it is to go without health insurance,” said McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners and a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. “One heart ******* easily costs $100,000” out of pocket for someone without insurance, she said. “Do you have that to pay?” Medicaid A ‘pretty big target’ for lawmakers Medicaid is the third-largest program in the federal budget, accounting for $616 billion of spending in 2023, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump campaigned on a promise not to make cuts to the two largest programs: Social Security and Medicare. That makes Medicaid the “obvious place” for Republicans to raise revenue to finance their agenda, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF. “Medicaid will have a pretty big target on its back,” Levitt said. The bottom line is uncertainty. Sabrina Corlette co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy Cuts would “inevitably mean” fewer households would get benefits, Levitt said. Medicaid recipients tend to be lower-income households, people with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes, he said. Medicaid cuts were a big part of the push among Trump and other *********** lawmakers to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) in 2017, Levitt said. Those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. How Medicaid might be curtailed Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The new Medicaid cuts may take many forms, according to experts, who cite past proposals and remarks from the Trump administration, *********** lawmakers and the Project 2025 ************* policy blueprint. For example, the Trump administration may try to add work requirements for Medicaid recipients, as it did during his first term, said Sparer of Columbia University. Additionally, Republicans may try to cap federal Medicaid spending allocated to states, experts said. The federal government matches a portion — generally 50% or more — of states’ Medicaid spending. That dollar sum is uncapped. Republicans may try to covert Medicaid to a block grant, whereby a fixed amount of money is provided annually to each state, or institute a per-capita cap, whereby benefits are limited for each Medicaid enrollee, Levitt said. Lawmakers may also try to roll back the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which broadened the pool of people who qualify for coverage, experts said. They could do this by cutting federal financing to the 40 states (plus the District of Columbia) that have expanded Medicaid eligibility. That would shift “an enormous financial risk to states, and many states as a result would drop the Medicaid expansion,” Levitt said. Short-term health insurance plans Under the previous Trump administration, consumers saw an increase in the availability of non-ACA compliant health insurance options, including short-term plans, experts say. The same is likely to happen over the next four years. Short-term health insurance plans offer coverage for limited amounts of time, and typically on fewer medical services than comprehensive coverage. Proponents of these plans say they allow insurers to offer consumers lower monthly premiums because they’re not required to cover as many services. At the same time, the plans are able to ******* people with pre-existing conditions or charge them more. While Trump was in office, enrollment in short-term plans spiked. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2023. Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images “The previous Trump administration and many in the GOP have called for expanding the marketing and ***** of short-term plans and other insurance products that do not have to satisfy the ACA’s pre-existing condition standards and other consumer protections,” said Georgetown University’s Corlette. She said that consumers can be attracted to the plans for their low costs, but often learn too late how thin the coverage is. ***** prices The Trump administration’s stance on ***** pricing is murkier, health experts said. The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2022, introduced many ***** price reforms. Trump has vowed to roll back parts of the law, which also contains many climate-related provisions and tax breaks toward which he is hostile. It’s unclear if lawmakers would keep the ***** policies intact, experts said. Trump signed executive orders in 2020 aimed at lowering costs for prescription medications, for example. “It’s not at all clear Trump will be a friend of the pharma industry,” Sparer said. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act gave the federal government — for the first time — the authority to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies over some drugs covered by Medicare. That provision is slated to kick in for 10 drugs — some of Medicare’s “most costly and most used” medications, treating a variety of ailments like heart ********, diabetes, arthritis and ******* — in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The measure will save patients $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2026, CMS estimates. The federal government would expand the list of medications in ensuing years. The Inflation Reduction Act also capped Medicare co-pays for insulin at $35 a month. They were previously uncapped. The average Medicare Part D insulin user had paid $54 out-of-pocket a month per insulin prescription in 2020, according to KFF. The law also capped out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 a year for prescription drugs covered by Medicare, starting in 2025. There was previously no cap. About 1.4 million Medicare Part D enrollees paid more than $2,000 out-of-pocket for medications in 2020, KFF found. Those costs averaged $3,355 a person. Source link #Trumps #win #change #health #care Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Snow and ice expected as *** braces for ‘first taste of winter’ Snow and ice expected as *** braces for ‘first taste of winter’ More snow and ice is forecast across parts of the *** in the coming days, in what the Met Office has said will be the country’s “first taste of winter”. Temperatures will be much lower than the mid-November average by day – and may reach below freezing by night. The early hours of Monday saw the coldest temperatures since last winter, with ****** 7.8C logged in Tulloch Bridge, Scotland. Snow was already falling across northern Scotland by Monday afternoon. The Met Office has issued three yellow warnings for snow and ice across northern Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and parts of the Midlands. It has warned bus and train services may be delayed or cancelled, with some road closures and longer journey times possible. Temperatures are predicted to drop to -2C in London on Friday, -4C in Birmingham and -7C further north. There is a possibility of 15-20cm (6-8in) of snow on the ground above 300m (984ft) and 5-10cm (2-4in) in areas higher than 200m (656ft), with a “chance” that snow could hit lower levels and cause road disruption. “It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.” The *** health security agency (UKHSA) has issued a rare amber cold weather health alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. The agency has warned of an increased risk to vulnerable people and expected impact across the whole health service. “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk,” Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said. Source link #Snow #ice #expected #braces #taste #winter Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Reassessing AFC contenders: Bills the best? How dangerous are the Steelers? Sando’s Pick Six Reassessing AFC contenders: Bills the best? How dangerous are the Steelers? Sando’s Pick Six Sunday in the NFL was all about AFC contenders bullying each other for position in the conference as the season’s stretch run awaits. The Buffalo Bills showed calm and efficiency while handing Kansas City its first defeat after nine consecutive Chiefs victories to open the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers proved they still have the formula for containing MVP favorite Lamar Jackson. Their 18-16 victory over Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens, enabled partly by two more angst-inducing Justin Tucker missed field goals, lifted the Steelers to 8-2 and third in the AFC. Finally, the Los Angeles Chargers blew a 21-point lead, then survived to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, marking them as a team in transition away from its disappointing past, willed into relevance by new coach Jim Harbaugh. The Pick Six column leads this week with an updated look at the Bills, Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Chargers — the five AFC teams with seven or more victories and the best postseason prospects. The full Pick Six menu: • AFC contenders recalibrated • The Bears’ post-Waldron bump • Seahawks’ Macdonald asserting? • Jon Gruden is no Gregg Williams • Fangio, Kingsbury and Moore • Two-minute drill: 49ers’ window 1. What a day atop the AFC. Let’s run through the key takeaways. Let’s begin in Orchard Park, N.Y., where the Bills’ 30-21 victory over the Chiefs marked their fourth consecutive regular-season victory over Kansas City. • Bills: Quarterback Josh Allen got it right afterward, downplaying the victory because he and everyone else know the postseason is what will matter ultimately, and the Chiefs hold the big edge there. Buffalo still must prove it can operate in those high-leverage situations under the pressure of an elimination game in January. This November tuneup was a step in that direction. Case in point No. 1: Trailing 14-13, the Bills ran the final 2:44 off the clock before halftime with a 12-play drive, making a 33-yard field goal as the half expired. Getting points without leaving Patrick Mahomes any time for a rebuttal drive was textbook game management and ********** — exactly what Buffalo must do to win these games. Case in point No. 2: Leading 23-21 midway through the fourth quarter, the Bills put together another 12-play drive, this one ending with Allen’s ridiculous 26-yard scramble touchdown on fourth-and-2. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?! : @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/HjhmBiLbcr — Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 18, 2024 “I’m picking Josh Allen if we have a draft now to start a franchise,” an NFL exec texted after this Bills victory. GO DEEPER Josh Allen emerges as MVP favorite following signature play in win over Chiefs Mahomes will have something to say about that in the playoffs, but this Bills team, with its improved run game and calmer feel about it, might be better by then. That’s because linebacker Matt Milano, Buffalo’s most important player on defense, will be returning from injury soon. • Chiefs: The Chiefs were going to lose at some point, and there was a great chance that time would come Sunday. The Bills were favored. The path to a third consecutive Super Bowl victory is still there. My prescription for the Chiefs: adding a healthy Isiah Pacheco to the offensive backfield next week while continuing to develop rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, who for the second time in three weeks ******* to get his second foot down inbounds on what should have been a rather routine big play. This was otherwise an excellent game for Worthy. He scored on a 10-yard catch-and-run and held onto the ball after absorbing a big hit following a 31-yard reception. WORTHY SPEEDS IN @XavierWorthy pic.twitter.com/l2TicCUNkY — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 17, 2024 The offense is still evolving. Travis Kelce is averaging 8.2 yards per catch, which is down from 10.6 last season, which was down from 12.2 in each of the two years before that, which was down from 13.5 in 2020. The trend for him is unmistakable now. DeAndre Hopkins’ addition at the trade deadline fills some of that void. With Pacheco returning and Worthy emerging, look for coach Andy Reid to hone this team’s offensive identity over the final seven weeks. “It will look just like last year, right?” an opposing coach said. “Where they run the ball, then they run scramble drill, then they get some key receptions, and if you play too much one-high safety, they throw it up and someone catches it for 35 yards. Remember when (Marquez) Valdes-Scantling dropped all those ****** and then made the catches to win the games? That is what they do.” • Steelers: The Steelers’ 8-2 start is tied for their second-best under coach Mike Tomlin. They own a league-high five victories over teams that currently have winning records (Detroit and Kansas City are second with four apiece, while Baltimore and Tampa Bay are next with three). “I still think they have to run the ball a little better, but the match of the offensive coordinator and the quarterback are made in heaven, as long as Russell (Wilson) doesn’t decide he has to start cooking all the time,” an exec said. The Steelers are better in the passing game with Wilson behind center than they were when Justin Fields was in the lineup, but Sunday proved there’s room for both in the offense. Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith worked Fields into the game for 8- and 13-yard runs on two second-and-long plays after halftime. Could we see Fields in the red zone next? Wilson has completed only 7 of 24 passes (29 percent) in the red zone with Pittsburgh. The interception he threw on third-and-goal from the Baltimore 5 could have cost the Steelers the game. Fields has completed 13 of 19 passes (68 percent) without any interceptions in the red zone. These are relatively small samples, but the rushing threat Fields adds to the offense could help in that area of the field, especially if Wilson struggles there. It’s something to consider as the Steelers, led by a defense that ranks seventh in EPA per play, prove they belong among contenders. “I’m not saying they are going to advance to the Super Bowl,” an exec said of the Steelers, “but can they advance a round or two? Absolutely, especially if their defense is healthy. I have so much more confidence in their scheme on offense now compared to in the past.” GO DEEPER Steelers announce themselves as contenders with vintage defensive performance vs. Ravens • Ravens: Lamar Jackson ranked No. 1 on the QB Betrayal Index entering Week 10 because his MVP-caliber production had overcome the Ravens’ poor play on defense and special teams during a 7-3 start. Against Pittsburgh, it was the Jackson-led offense and those troubled special teams that betrayed a solid effort from Baltimore’s embattled defense. It’s ********** to say formerly all-world kicker Justin Tucker is finished, but he’s definitely slumping, and unless there’s an unreported injury or some other explanation, that is troubling for a Ravens team that realistically needs two of three phases to be solid for the team to deliver on its Super Bowl potential. The chart above puts into perspective Tucker’s issues this season. The blue bars represent the EPA added through 11 games each season on kicks Tucker made. The red bars show the EPA lost by kicks he has missed. His current season resembles his 2015 season, which Tucker followed with a career year in 2016. The Ravens cannot take much solace in the thought that perhaps Tucker will bounce back next season. They needed him to be better Sunday, when he missed from 47 and 50 yards in a critical game the Ravens lost by two points. They will need him to be better in the playoffs. • Chargers: Are the Chargers truly contenders? I see them as a team in the process — not quite there, but closer than they’ve been in years, and headed in the right direction under a coach who knows how to get them there. They are 7-3, and if their 27-6 lead over the Bengals had not turned into a 34-27 ***** drill complete with two missed Cincinnati field goal tries when the score was tied in the final eight minutes, we might be using exclamation points instead of question marks. Harbaugh has improbably replicated with the Chargers much of what he accomplished in his first 10 games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. The table below lays out the similarities, which also include the manner in which Harbaugh has breathed confidence into the highly drafted quarterbacks he coached in both places. Harbaugh Team 2011 49ers 2024 Chargers W-L 9-1 7-3 PPG 25.6 22.0 PPG allowed 14.3 14.3 OFF EPA/play -0.01 -0.01 DEF EPA/play +0.12 +0.11 Pass TD 13 13 Rush TD 9 10 Those 2011 49ers beat New Orleans in the divisional round, a game that validated the confidence Harbaugh had shown in Alex Smith, whose four total touchdowns in that game proved, finally, that Smith could win in the playoffs on the strength of an elite performance. That 49ers team lost at home to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. It’s too early to know how far these Chargers might advance. They still must play Kansas City and Baltimore, plus an improved Denver team. In the meantime, we trust the Harbaugh process. 2. The Chicago Bears played their first game after ******* offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and replacing him with Thomas Brown. All was not lost, even though the Bears lost. The Bears lost to the Packers (again), and if that’s all that matters to you, skip ahead. But how could it be all that matters to a Bears fan in the context of this season and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ career? Chicago changed coordinators and played one of its best offensive games of the season, complete with a two-minute drive to the would-be winning field goal try (it was blocked, of course). The table below shows the Bears’ offensive production Sunday ranking among the team’s top four performances in 10 games this season for points, yards, first downs, points per drive, EPA, EPA per play, success rate and third-down conversion rate. Bears’ Week 11 offensive season ranks Bears Offense Sunday Season Rank Points 19 4th Yards 391 3rd First downs 23 4th Points/drive 2.7 3rd EPA +13.4 2nd EPA/play +0.20 2nd Success % 43.8% 4th 3rd down % 56.3% 1st Red zone TD % 50% T-5th We can question why the Bears, with 35 seconds left and one timeout in their possession, did not run one more play to gain a few more yards before kicking for the win from 46 yards. The coordinator change could have worked against the Bears in this situation, given the coordination that goes on between coaches in these situations. Over the past decade, kickers had made 7 of 8 tries from 45 to 50 yards at Soldier Field in November. Weather conditions were favorable Sunday. Those were extraneous details on a day when Chicago’s offense made the most of its season-worst average starting field position (own 20.6-yard line) and nearly overcame the Bears’ worst statistical game of the season on defense (-12.6 EPA). The Bears coaching staff was fired up after the team’s go-ahead touchdown shortly before the half! pic.twitter.com/7QUuHfUqFj — FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 17, 2024 Williams set season highs for designed rushes (four), scrambles (five) and combined rushes/scrambles (nine). He scrambled for 16 yards on third-and-8 and for 13 yards on third-and-5. Three of four designed rushes combined for 5.3 EPA. Brown had Williams under center on early downs 36 percent of the time, a season high and twice the Bears’ rate for the season. He schemed easy completions to D.J. Moore, who caught all seven targets on throws traveling less than a yard past the line of scrimmage on average. Moore set a season high with 56 yards after the catch, including two receptions with 15-plus YAC, double Moore’s previous season total. Taking the game clock down from 2:59 to 0:00 on the final drive was another plus, highlighted by Williams’ back-shoulder throw to rookie Rome Odunze for a 21-yard gain on fourth-and-3. None of this was guaranteed. New play callers are usually stepping into bad situations. While with Carolina in 2023, Brown replaced then-Panthers coach Frank Reich for nine games. ’23 Panthers by play caller in Young’s starts Play Caller Reich Brown W-L 0-7 2-7 OFF PPG 13.0 10.8 EPA/play -0.17 -0.20 Success rate 36.8% 35.7% Cmp% 61.7% 58.2% Pass yds/gm 155.0 146.9 Yards/att 5.3 5.6 TD-INT 7-5 4-5 Rating 76.7 71.3 Sack rate 10.0% 10.9% EPA/pass play -0.15 -0.21 As the table above shows, Carolina’s production when its then-rookie No. 1 draft choice quarterback, Bryce Young, was in the starting lineup wasn’t any better with Brown calling plays than it was with Reich. That situation was possibly futile. This one in Chicago is more favorable. Minnesota’s defense should present a tougher test next week. 3. A tumultuous Seattle Seahawks bye week produced a signature victory for new coach Mike Macdonald against the San Francisco 49ers. Did it also hint at a new vision for style of play as Macdonald asserts himself? The Seahawks cut their starting middle linebacker and processed their starting center’s retirement during their recently completed bye week. Then, they defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the first time since 2021 after six consecutive defeats (by an average of two touchdowns) in the series. The 20-17 victory featured an 11-play, 80-yard drive to the winning touchdown in the final 2:38, with Geno Smith rushing for 29 of the final 37 yards. GO DEEPER How Geno Smith and the Seahawks saved their season: ‘He gets that look in his eyes’ This was a signature victory for first-year Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald in an up-and-down initial season. His defense tackled better at the linebacker level, a huge point of emphasis punctuated by Tyrel Dodson’s surprise release. His defense also held 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to 5.7 yards per attempt, the second-lowest figure for Purdy in 37 total career starts. This was the first time since 2019 that Seattle held the 49ers below 20 points. There was also a subtle shift away from the shotgun formation, including on running back rushing plays. Did this reflect Macdonald asserting some influence over an offense that, through formation and play calling, has been perhaps too strongly oriented toward the pass? Seahawks offense above 2:00 in each half Week Range Wk 6-9 Wk 11 Under center % 16% 40% % RB rushes in **** 71% 24% Early down pass % 58% 58% The table above shows the shift after filtering out the final two minutes of halves, when teams are frequently in pass mode or running down the clock. The pivot toward more run-friendly formations Sunday did not steer first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb toward the running game, however. The Seahawks’ 58 percent pass rate on early downs outside the final two minutes of halves Sunday mirrored the rate during the pass-happy previous four games heading into the Week 10 bye. Kenneth Walker III finished the San Francisco game with only 14 carries even though Seattle never trailed by more than four points. Might Macdonald, as a defensive-minded coach who came up under John Harbaugh in Baltimore and spent two years with Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, want more carries for his featured back? Early down rates above 2:00 in each half Seahawks OC Cook Index Pass % Shotgun % Ryan Grubb 61% 62% 76% Jeremy Bates 57% 56% 24% Shane Waldron 53% 51% 58% Brian Schottenheimer 50% 46% 61% Darrell Bevell 48% 45% 44% The table above shows offensive tendencies for the Seahawks on early downs under all of their offensive coordinators since 2010. Seattle ranks second on the Cook Index this season, with only Cincinnati passing more frequently on early downs in the first 28 minutes of games, before the clock and score differential exert more influence. That will be one area to watch as Seattle finds its way under its new coach. 4. Jon Gruden’s hiring by Barstool Sports has unleashed a less-filtered, more entertaining version of the exiled former coach. He’s no Gregg Williams, and here’s why that matters. The version of Gruden fans are getting to see in the R-rated Barstool Sports clips like the one below is closer to the version I knew while traveling with “Monday Night Football” and reporting from the “Gruden’s Quarterback Camp” tapings from 2014 into 2019, when we both worked for ESPN. His love for the game and knowledge of it, his irreverence and his storytelling make him a unique character in the game. Analytical guys… pic.twitter.com/RxJRO3lbNb — Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) November 15, 2024 If you liked Gruden before, you’ll probably love him now. GO DEEPER Former NFL coach Jon Gruden joins Barstool Sports What if you are NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and you did not like Gruden before? This is where things get interesting, because for as much as Gruden would love to become a head coach again, this Barstool incarnation of him shatters any notion Gruden would ever repent his way back into the league. Williams’ experience is instructive. The league suspended Williams more than a decade ago for running the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program rewarding ******** hits, at a time when the NFL was facing concussion lawsuits and was under ***** on the player safety front. Williams got back into the league after apologizing profusely, cooperating with the NFL’s investigation and pledging to “focus my energies on serving as an advocate for both player safety and sportsmanship.” Gruden has not been suspended, but he resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders under pressure following the 2021 release of *******, homophobic and misogynistic emails, at a time when the league was under ***** on the diversity front and about to require all 32 teams to implement DEI programs. Instead of cooperating with the NFL and pledging to advocate for diversity, which would have mirrored Williams’ approach with player safety, Gruden sued the league and Goodell, accusing them of selectively leaking emails to ruin his career (including emails mocking Goodell). 4th & 1 and the Chargers ran 14 Blast to perfection for the touchdown pic.twitter.com/ENo0RUhvdw — Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) November 18, 2024 “Gregg revived his career because he repented and did community service for Goodell,” a veteran coach said. “If the league waited to get Gruden on the emails (as Gruden has alleged and the league has denied) because they thought he was a thorn in their side by running his mouth, Gruden is reprising what contributed to his demise.” 5. Tale of two play callers: Vic Fangio’s defenses tend to improve, while Kliff Kingsbury’s have headed in the opposite direction. Oh, and let’s not forget about Kellen Moore. The Philadelphia Eagles held the Washington Commanders at or below season lows for points, first downs, EPA and EPA per play during a 26-18 victory Thursday night. The game highlighted important potential ramifications: • Fangio vs. Kingsbury: This game bolstered perceptions that the Eagles’ defense is getting better while the Commanders’ offense could be hitting a wall, and that both trends could reflect the coordinators leading each unit. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury were key additions for both teams in the offseason. Kingsbury’s offense set a record pace from the start of the season before slowing as quarterback Jayden Daniels dealt with injured ribs and the schedule delivered tougher defensive opponents. Fangio’s defense has gained traction more recently as rookie defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have hit stride. The chart above illustrates EPA per game for Fangio and Kingsbury over the course of a season for every season they’ve been NFL play callers since 2000 (19 seasons for Fangio, five seasons for Kingsbury). The diminishing late-season returns for Kingsbury reflect his experience with the Arizona Cardinals from 2019 to 2022. Finishing strong this season could help change the narrative for Kingsbury while enhancing his chances of becoming a head coach again. • Barkley’s brilliance: Quarterback production is typically what launches offensive coordinators to head-coaching opportunities, but as one NFL team exec said of Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, “He is going to get (offensive coordinator) Kellen Moore a job.” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a rough game Thursday night, but it didn’t matter. Philly won with its Fangio-coordinated defense and its Barkley-powered offense. Moore, in his first season with Philadelphia, is leaning on the run more than he did in past coordinator stops with the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. Kellen Moore situational pass rates Team Eagles Chargers Cowboys Cook Index 49% 56% 51% When tied 46% 59% 55% Early downs, tied/ahead 30% 55% 43% The table above shows Moore passing less frequently across three situations. The 49 percent pass rate on the Cook Index ranks 21st and is below the 51 percent league average on early downs in the first 28 minutes of games, before score and clock exert greater influence on tendencies. The Eagles’ pass rate across all downs when the score was tied is 46 percent. That ranks 30th. Philadelphia has passed just 30 percent of the time on early downs when tied or leading, excluding the final four minutes of regulation, when leading teams prioritize using the clock to a greater extent. That ranks 31st. The rate for Moore in these situations was much higher previously. • Sirianni’s status: The Eagles lost five of their final six games last season to finish 11-6, then got blown out by Tampa Bay in the playoffs. The current team faces a roughly average remaining schedule (.485) and seems to have a stable formula for winning with its defense and run game. Coach Nick Sirianni’s 42-19 record (.689) is tied with Sean McVay and John Harbaugh for the third-best through 61 games among coaches hired since 2000. Jim Harbaugh (43-17-1, .713) and Matt LaFleur (43-18, .705) are ahead of Sirianni on that list. Some coaches high on the list did not maintain their early pace, from Mike Martz to Mike Smith to Mike Sherman, Chuck Pagano and Mike Vrabel. But it’s a good spot from which to work, for sure. 6. Two-minute drill: Is the 49ers’ Super Bowl window shrinking? The supposed Super Bowl ******’s curse hasn’t been so bad for most runners-up recently. Perhaps it applies only to the 49ers. The 2020 49ers followed the previous season’s Super Bowl defeat with a 6-10 season marked by injuries to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and pass rusher Nick Bosa. The current 49ers, who missed running back ********** McCaffrey until recently and played most of the second half Sunday without Bosa, have a 5-5 record since their Super Bowl defeat last season. SB ****** Next Season Next Season Record 2022 12-4 (.750) 2021 12-5 (.706) 2018 11-5 (.689) 2023 11-6 (.647) 2015 10-6 (.625) 2017 10-6 (.625) 2019 9-7 (.563) 2024 5-5 (.500) 2020 6-10 (.375) 2016 6-10 (.375) The table above shows the season-after fates for the last 10 Super Bowl losers. The 49ers remain only one game behind 6-4 Arizona in the NFC West race, so nothing has been decided yet. But The Athletic’s model has downgraded their chances of reaching the playoffs from 42 percent before Sunday to 23 percent afterward. GO DEEPER NFL playoff projections 2024: Bills beat Chiefs; can they take AFC No. 1 seed, too? The special teams units have become unreliable, which could reflect diminished depth. Injuries have slowed or sidelined core players: Bosa, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, McCaffrey, Trent Williams, etc. Can this team rally to make another Super Bowl run, this year or next? • Broncos breakthrough: Teams hiring coaches with Super Bowl victories on their resume do not always know whether they’re getting the most all-in version of the legacy coach. Sean Payton using a first-round pick on Bo Nix, who was not a consensus top draft prospect, put pressure on the Broncos’ second-year coach to make the selection succeed, especially after the Russell Wilson saga last season. Are we seeing what it looks like when a top coach is supremely motivated to help his hand-picked quarterback succeed? Denver’s 38-6 victory over Atlanta was more than just the bounce-back performance the Broncos needed after their crushing defeat at Kansas City on the last-second blocked field goal last week. This game also marked the fourth time this season Nix finished with two or more touchdown passes, no interceptions and a passer rating of at least 115. Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud, Dak Prescott and Wilson are the only rookies since 2000 to do that four times in a season. None did it five times. Nix still has six more regular-season games to play. GO DEEPER Bo Nix’s latest career day illustrates Broncos’ ceiling: ‘You’re trying to win MVP’ That’s a good sign for a franchise that has searched desperately for a quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement following the 2015 season. The Broncos’ performance against the Falcons marked their best for EPA per play (0.31) in 142 games since Manning retired, per TruMedia. The 38 points on offense tied for the most Denver has scored in the post-Manning era. The Broncos won’t be winning the AFC West this season, but they should be honorary NFC South champs. Payton’s Broncos went 4-0 against his old division with a plus-88 point differential. Denver is 2-5 with a ******-36 differential against all other opponents this season. • Richardson’s return: Anthony Richardson completing all four passes for 64 yards and the winning touchdown in the final minutes against the New York Jets was exactly what he needed in his return after two weeks on the bench. He completed 20 of 30 passes for the highest single-game completion percentage of his career when attempting more than 12 passes. He did it while averaging 10.5 air yards per attempt. His passes, rushes and scrambles totaled 11.7 EPA, by far a single-game high for him. GO DEEPER After redemptive win, Colts QB Anthony Richardson lets emotion flow: This was a ‘blessing’ • Raiders’ new OC: The Raiders fell 31-19 at Miami in Scott Turner’s first game as offensive coordinator after Luke Getsy’s *******. Las Vegas finished with positive EPA on offense (+5.9) for the first time in 10 games this season, but with the defense turning in its worst statistical showing of the season (-23.2), the Raiders did not threaten Miami. This was only the second game all season in which Las Vegas never led (vs. Carolina in Week 3 was somehow the other). The following table comes to mind when I think of the Raiders losing to a team with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and multiple game-breaking backs. Raiders Past Now No. 1 QB Derek Carr Gardner Minshew No. 1 RB Josh Jacobs Alexander Mattison No. 1 WR Davante Adams Jakobi Meyers What would you expect after systematically downgrading at key skill positions over multiple seasons? • Rizzi’s special powers?: The New Orleans Saints are 2-0 with an incredible +15.9 EPA on special teams (excluding two-point tries) since special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi became interim coach following Dennis Allen’s *******. The two victories, 20-17 over Atlanta last week and 35-14 over Cleveland on Sunday, marked the first time since 2002 that the Saints finished consecutive games with at least +6.0 EPA on special teams in each. No NFL team since at least 2000 has strung together more than four such games consecutively. The key for New Orleans? Five missed field goal tries by the Saints’ opponents, including one that was blocked. It’s unlikely Rizzi as head coach has suddenly unlocked the key to making opponents miss field goal tries, so this sort of streak is not sustainable. The Browns and Falcons have missed five of six tries against the Saints over the past two games, creating 14.6 EPA for the Saints in the process. At the risk of oversimplifying things after New Orleans beat Cleveland in a game Taysom Hill dominated with touchdown runs of 10, 33 and 75 yards, consider the Saints’ QB splits this season. They are 4-4 and averaging 27.1 offensive points per game when Derek Carr starts at quarterback. They are 0-3 and averaging 12.0 points per game on offense in the games Carr does not start. Third-down play has been especially strong with Carr. • An endorsement for Maye: New England’s Drake Maye completed 30 of 40 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. It wasn’t enough to overcome Matthew Stafford’s four-touchdown masterpiece as Los Angeles prevailed, 28-22. But it was enough to impress former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, the Hall of Famer. Warner called this the third-best quarterback performance he’s seen from a rookie this season. The game that #DrakeMaye played today was the 3rd best rookie QB performance I have seen all year (the other 2 were by #JaydenDaniels)!!! Saw the field, made the throws, anticipated, threw it away when needed to & made some off schedule plays when nothing was there!! #Impressive — Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) November 18, 2024 • Lions’ yardage fallout: Detroit’s 675 yards against Jacksonville were the sixth-most in an NFL game and the most allowed by the Jaguars, per Pro Football Reference. The 675-170 yardage differential (+475) was also the sixth-largest in league history and, more notably, the largest since 1979, let alone the salary-cap era, which dates to 1993. The last time a game produced a yardage differential close to this large was when Dallas outgained the Giants 640-172 late last season. Surely there will be major ramifications in Jacksonville with the 2-9 Jaguars entering their bye week. • Belichick to Jaguars?: NBC’s Mike Florio suggested Jacksonville could keep general manager Trent Baalke and pair him with Bill Belichick, as the two worked together with the New York Jets in the late 1990s. Mike Florio reports on Football Night in America that Jaguars GM Trent Baalke could keep his job into next season… and be joined “as part of a package deal” in Jacksonville by Bill Belichick as the new head coach. #NFL pic.twitter.com/qTeYx5pa0O — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 18, 2024 I’ve thought Jacksonville would be an ideal spot for Mike Vrabel, who could bring needed toughness and identity to the Jaguars, plus a working knowledge of the AFC South from his days coaching the Tennessee Titans. Belichick could bring some of those things to Jacksonville as well. • Jets lose again: There might not be anything left to say. (Photo of Josh Allen, left, and Dawson Knox: Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images) The Football 100 The story of the greatest players in NFL history. In 100 riveting profiles, top football writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NFL in the process. The story of the greatest players in NFL history. Buy Source link #Reassessing #AFC #contenders #Bills #dangerous #Steelers #Sandos #Pick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to Become a Sage in Dragon Quest III Remake How to Become a Sage in Dragon Quest III Remake NoobFeed editor Joy Rahman writes – DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake successfully revitalizes a classic with stunning and enjoyable gameplay updates. While the frequent random battles and grind can be off-putting, the remake offers a fresh yet nostalgic experience. Source link #Sage #Dragon #Quest #III #Remake Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

G20: Albanese raises climate, Ukraine war as Biden looks to Trump proof G20: Albanese raises climate, Ukraine war as Biden looks to Trump proof Rio de Janeiro: Australia has called on G20 leaders to confront the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and stay the course on fighting climate change as the world braces for a significant ******* of uncertainty. Anthony Albanese will make the case in two interventions at the G20 in Brazil on Monday and Tuesday (local time) around meetings with ******** President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU President Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting with Mr Xi, the third one since Mr Albanese took office, is likely to focus on trade amid high anxiety around tariffs and regional security. Camera IconPresident-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have stepped out at a New York mixed martial arts event. Credit: AAP While US President-elect Donald Trump will likely form the backdrop to that meeting, Mr Albanese will also address the threat the incoming administration poses to global climate action in his message to all leaders. Mr Trump has indicated he would withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement and reverse climate investment, which Mr Albanese last week suggested could benefit Australia. In the speech he’ll give to fellow leaders on Tuesday, Mr Albanese will urge them to mobilise capital to reach net zero and say the forum had the chance to send a “clear message… that the biggest economies in the world remain committed to tackling one of the biggest challenges facing the world.” “Climate change doesn’t just mean greater risk of extreme weather… The human toll is immeasurable,” he will say as he commits Australia to helping end global hunger and ********. His speech will come after outgoing US President Joe Biden became the first US president to visit the Amazon and pledge an additional $50m to protect the rainforest — a move anticipating Mr Trump’s likely climate change shift. Global leaders also anticipate what a second Trump presidency will mean for global security. In a separate intervention on Monday (local time), Mr Albanese will also call for more urgency to end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, asking leaders to be more assertive as he warns about the loss of innocent lives and the global economic fallout from the conflicts. Camera IconPrime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: News Corp Australia His plea will come just days after he joined like-minded allies at APEC to call for consensus on treating the conflicts as economic issues — an attempt thwarted by Russia and others. Last year’s G20 ended without mentioning ******’ October 7 attacks or *******’s subsequent attacks on Gaza, and while the final communique expressed concern about the war in Ukraine, it did not condemn Russia for its invasion. But after thousands of North Korean troops arrived in Russia in recent weeks, the conflict will be high on the agenda. Before arriving in Rio, US President Joe Biden on Sunday (local time) approved Ukrainian use of US long-range weapons to strike Russia in yet another move that pre-empts an anticipated Trump policy shift. Mr Albanese will say the G20 is a “vital opportunity for the international community to call for a de-escalation of the ********* in the Middle East and to condemn the ******** and immoral actions of Russia and North Korea”. He will argue that the conflicts are directly connected to global inflation, energy prices, hunger, and ********. “We should be very clear about the link between international conflict and global hunger,” he will say. “Because there can be no food security without national and regional security. And while peace alone does not guarantee prosperity – conflict always brings ********.” Regional security will likely also feature in Mr Albanese’s meetings with his *** counterpart and AUKUS ally Sir Keir and Mr Xi. Camera IconUS President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with ******** President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, November 16, 2024. Credit: LEAH MILLIS/AFP Mr Xi has used the back-to-back APEC and G20 summits to shore up economic ties amid fears of a trade war with Donald Trump, who has vowed to impose 60 per cent tariffs on ******** goods. Beijing last week praised Mr Albanese for his “strategic autonomy” in managing Australia’s relationship with both the US and China amid the ******* of “global uncertainty” and painted him as a role model for other US allies trying to navigate its partnerships. Source link #G20 #Albanese #raises #climate #Ukraine #war #Biden #Trump #proof Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rafael Nadal’s Davis Cup retirement and the tennis tournament that made the world take notice Rafael Nadal’s Davis Cup retirement and the tennis tournament that made the world take notice Of all the silly records that Rafael Nadal has compiled during his epic career, the silliest might be in the competition where it will all come to an end. Since his debut in 2004, Nadal has played 30 singles matches for Spain in the Davis Cup. He has lost once, 20 years ago, to Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic. The defeat was the start of a tournament that would serve as a yearlong announcement to the world of a teenager fashioned in red dirt, who would become a 22-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of the greatest men’s players. Two decades later, Nadal is back with Spain, this time in Malaga, for one last go-round. How much will he play? How many matches can his creaky body still take, especially on an indoor hard court? Will he play singles or doubles? Or both? In doubles, will he reunite with his heir, the 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, to form the “Nadalcaraz” duo of the 2024 Paris Olympics once more? Only Nadal and David Ferrer, Spain’s captain, will be qualified to answer those questions. Everyone knows that this banged-up Nadal, who is heading toward the finish line after battling an ailing hip, a sore back, balky knees and other calamities over the past two years, is a shadow of his former self. But even if he does not strike a tennis ball, his mere presence at “that beautiful competition”, as he once described the Davis Cup, is perhaps more sneakily befitting of the end than a farewell at Roland Garros in Paris, where his legacy has stood in statue since even before he won his last title. GO DEEPER What’s it like to play Rafael Nadal on clay? We asked the players Nadal won the French Open 14 times. His clay-court legacy at Roland Garros will stand, seemingly forever, at 112-4. But the Davis Cup also brought out the best in Nadal. He has played in 23 Davis Cup ties, accumulating a record of 37-5 inclusive of his 8-4 record in doubles. Spain won the Davis Cup five times during his career, more than any other country in that *******, including in 2004 on the clay of Seville, where Nadal rubberstamped his authority on tennis for the first time. Rafael Nadal doing his signature trophy ***** with David Ferrer (left), Albert Costa (second left) and Fernando Verdasco (right) after winning the 2009 Davis Cup (Denis Doyle / Getty Images) It all began with that loss to Novak in an indoor stadium in Brno in the middle of the Czech winter. “I beat him because he was still a ****,” Novak said in an interview in October, from his hometown of Zin in the Czech Republic. If that sounds like a player demurring in the face of a half-formed legend, Novak is plenty proud of having this small claim to fame. Given Nadal’s career, any win against him is something grandchildren need to hear about. All the same, the Czech, now 49, believes it’s a triumph that requires a bit of perspective. The tale begins in Auckland, nearly a month before the first-round tie between the Czech Republic and Spain. Auckland, now an ATP 250 and then known as a World Series, was Novak’s favorite tournament. He had won it in 1996 and always came to New Zealand brimming with confidence. In 2004, he won three consecutive matches to set up a semifinal against a teenager from Spain he had never heard of. Novak wandered the locker room, buttonholing fellow players for any information they had about some **** named Nadal. He quickly learned that he was a newcomer and something of a hot prospect, since he had already cracked the top 50. Novak was 28 and ranked inside the top 15 in the world. It seemed like a manageable match. It wasn’t. Nadal took Novak apart 6-1, 6-3. Next, they both made the third round in Australia. Nadal lost to Lleyton Hewitt; Novak to Andrei Pavel of Romania in a surprising reverse. Then came the Davis Cup, the first weekend of February. Some of Spain’s better and more experienced players were injured, so Nadal got the nod, his first for the Davis Cup team. Once more, Novak liked his chances. Like most Spanish players, Nadal had a game built on and for red clay. He could hit hard but he was largely a defensive player still, who had not yet developed his ****** strength and was entering into the pressure cooker of the Davis Cup representing his country away from home. Novak thrived in the heat and pressure. The team format usually brought out the best in him, especially at home in front of the often rowdy Czech fans. Brno offered him a fast carpet court to zip the ball through the febrile atmosphere. It all cohered. Novak beat the Spanish phenom in three tight sets, 7-6(2), 6-3, 7-6(3). Novak learned that Nadal was a warrior, but his backhand was then eminently attackable. He saw his opponent as a fellow solid player, early on in his tennis journey. Never in his wildest dreams did he think Nadal was headed for all-time greatness. “Not like now,” he said. Jiri Novak blasted and lunged his way to victory over Rafael Nadal in Brno (Joe Klamar / AFP via Getty Images) He saw Nadal again the next day in the doubles. Novak paired with Radek Stepanek to beat Nadal and Tommy Robredo, also in straight sets. Two days, two losses. Not exactly a storybook start to a national team career. It was the sort of weekend that could send a teenager into a bit of a tailspin. Instead, the opposite happened. Early on Sunday afternoon, just ahead of his match, Feliciano Lopez heard Nadal calling his name as he ran after him in a stadium corridor. Jordi Arrese, Spain’s captain, had selected Lopez to play Tomas Berdych in the fourth match, with Spain down 2-1. Nadal would play the fifth and deciding match against Stepanek, if proceedings got that far. “He goes, ‘Feli, please win this match, then I’m going to take care of the rest of this tie’,” Lopez recalled in an interview in October. “He’s making his debut in Davis Cup after losing two matches and he was convinced that if I were to win against Berdych, he’s going to win the deciding match.” Inspired by Nadal’s confidence, Lopez beat Berdych in four sets. Then Nadal came on and beat Stepanek in three. The Czechs weren’t sure exactly what had happened; what had happened was exactly what Nadal had planned. Ten months later, Patrick McEnroe brought the ******* States Davis Cup team to Seville for the final against Spain. McEnroe recalled in an interview in October that he and the rest of the team were pretty confident, even though they were playing on the road and on clay, a surface on which Americans have tended to slip up. Team USA included the Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, who were on their way to becoming arguably the greatest doubles duo in tennis history. They also had Andy Roddick, then the world No. 2. Mardy Fish, that summer an Olympic silver medalist, in the second singles slot. The Bryan brothers looked a lock to win the doubles, so if Roddick could win his singles matches, the U.S. would prevail. They spent the week before the event practicing on the slow clay of Seville’s Estadio Olimpico. It wasn’t ideal for Roddick, a classic hard-court **** from Texas, but he remained confident. The day before the tie began, McEnroe received what he thought was some really good news. Spain had selected Nadal to play the second match on the opening night against Roddick, following Carlos Moya’s defeat of Fish in three sets. Roddick had just drubbed Nadal at the U.S. Open, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4. Nadal was clearly a talented young player, but slotting him in against the world No. 2 in a Davis Cup final seemed like a big ask. Spain had serious options in Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero, both French Open champions. They weren’t necessarily in their prime but were pretty close. GO DEEPER What Andy Roddick, the last ********* man to win the U.S. Open, did next What was Spain thinking? It didn’t take long to figure that out, even if on the old grainy video Nadal’s arms coming out of his sleeveless maroon shirt are about half the size they would eventually be. His cheeks still have a touch of baby ****. He looks like a boy. He had his teeth into the match from the beginning, pushing Roddick to a tiebreak in the first set and then winning the second convincingly, 6-2, to level. More than 27,000 delirious fans were packed into the stadium. They had heard all about Nadal and what he might become. Less so who he already was. They were playing outdoors, and it was getting cold. The third set stretched on and went to another tiebreak. Then something weird happened. McEnroe said Roddick liked being coached but always wanted to be left alone on his serve. His serve was his money shot and one of the best in the game. He did not need guidance. Serving at 5-4 up in the tiebreak after Nadal missed one of those lassoed forehands down the line that would mint highlight reels for years to come, Roddick looked over at McEnroe and asked him which way to go. Roddick, who declined to be interviewed for this story, was asking for help on a shot he never needed help with. McEnroe told him to go down the T to Nadal’s backhand. He did, but missed the tape by an inch. Then Roddick dumped his second serve into the net. He served and volleyed on second serve on the next point to get to 6-5, but he couldn’t catch up with a Nadal drop shot to put the set away. Nadal then rolled winners on the next two points and never looked back, winning the final set 6-2. When it was over, he danced in front of the crowd in celebration. Rafael Nadal’s defeat of Andy Roddick in Seville was a pivot point in his career (Christophe Simon / AFP via Getty Images) “He just got better as the match wore on,” McEnroe, who did not share Novak’s measured forecast of Nadal’s talents, said of that harbinger of a night. “We all knew we were watching someone who was going to be an all-timer. We were like, ‘Wow, this **** is the real deal’.” The Bryan brothers did their job, conceding just five games to Ferrero and Robredo in the doubles. But With Nadal waiting to play the deciding match, Moya clinched the trophy with a straight-sets win over Roddick on Sunday. After the loss, Roddick said the atmosphere in the vast stadium was unlike anything he had ever experienced. More than 27,000 people had watched him lose to Nadal. “You’re busy focussing on the task at hand, then you look up and there are people for as far as you can see just going nuts.” Three years later, the Americans would get some revenge, beating Spain in a quarterfinal tie in North Carolina. This time, McEnroe knew exactly what he was going up against. He ordered the construction of a fast hard court that would be installed in an indoor arena in Winston-Salem. Two weeks before the tie, he tested it out himself. His ball was jumping off the court instead of sliding. The court was too slow. He ordered the manufacturer to repaint it with less sand in the paint, which creates the friction that slows down the ball. He wanted a Rafa-proof court that Roddick and his serve could thrive on. “Lo and behold, Rafa pulled out, and we ended up beating Spain easily,” McEnroe said. The U.S. went on to win the Davis Cup that year. The reign would be short-lived. Spain won the next two — and Nadal would never lose another singles match in the tournament. (Top photos: Getty Images; Design: Meech Robinson) Source link #Rafael #Nadals #Davis #Cup #retirement #tennis #tournament #world #notice Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple’s M4 Mac mini drops to a record low of $549 for ****** Friday Apple’s M4 Mac mini drops to a record low of $549 for ****** Friday Apple’s new Mac Mini has only been out in the world for only a few weeks but its already on *****. Right now, you can get the Mac Mini with Apple’s M4 chip for $549, down from $574, thanks to a $25 coupon. You can click the coupon right on the product page and it should apply your discount at checkout. This $25 ***** is available on the Mac Mini with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of SSD storage. The 2024 Mac Mini is available with an M4 or M4 Pro chip, both of which give the desktop computer a real boost from its previous version. We gave the upgrade a 90 in our review, in part due to the Pro’s perks (which we’ll get into later), but also general features like the base level being 16GB of RAM. This generation also offers front USB-C and headphone ports, as well as a design that’s less than half the size of its predecessor. Apple The Mac Mini with M4 chip should be plenty of power for all your basic tasks. But, if you need a ******* boost, then check out Mac Mini with an M4 Pro chip. It’s currently on ***** for $1,270, down from $1,370, due to a $100 coupon available on the product page. This deal is available on the model with 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage. It’s remarkably fast and offers Thunderbolt 5 support, rather than the M4’s Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 5 can triple data transfer speeds to 120GB/s, up from 40GB/s. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Apples #Mac #mini #drops #record #****** #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xiaomi Said to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India Xiaomi Said to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India Xiaomi will likely soon discontinue its GetApps app store for Indian users. Although the company has yet to officially announce the store’s discontinuation, information regarding the same has surfaced online. The ******** smartphone maker is said to replace the app store with Indus Appstore, an Android-based mobile app marketplace by PhonePe. The Indian digital payment platform introduced the storefront in the country in February. Indus Appstore supports English and 12 Indian regional languages. Xiaomi to Replace GetApps With PhonePe’s Indus Appstore in India According to an X post by user Aryan Gupta (@SavageAryan007), Xiaomi has begun notifying Indian users about PhonePe replacing its GetApps store. The move will affect Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices purchased in the country. The post claims that some Xiaomi users in India have started receiving a notification about the impending change within the GetApps store. MAJOR NEWS: Xiaomi is phasing out and removing GetApps for Indian users! Some users (including me on my Xiaomi 14) have received this notice within the GetApps store on Xiaomi phones. Here are the changes: Indian users will no longer get GetApps on existing and future… pic.twitter.com/tP6gcMzXhj — Aryan Gupta (@SavageAryan007) November 15, 2024 The post shared a screengrab of the notification, which suggests that Xiaomi users in the country will not have access to the GetApps store from January 2025. The marketplace is said to be replaced by the Indus Appstore, which was introduced by PhonePe on February 21 this year. The transition is expected to trim down bloatware on Xiaomi phones. The screenshot of the notification suggests that Xiaomi users in India need not take any action for the transition. As per the notification, the GetApps team will continue to provide installation and support services for apps under the moniker of “Indus Services App”. The Indus Appstore is available in English and 12 Indian regional languages like Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and more. The app storefront launched with 200,000 apps, including several thousand games. App listings on the developer platform will be free for the first year, however, an annual fee will be charged thereafter. Additionally, PhonePe announced that the marketplace would not impose any platform fees or commissions on developers for in-app payments if they use separate payment gateways. Source link #Xiaomi #Replace #GetApps #PhonePes #Indus #Appstore #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Post-Election Rally Stalls, but These 3 Stocks Can Keep Going Post-Election Rally Stalls, but These 3 Stocks Can Keep Going A weaker dollar boosts manufacturing exports and favors companies like Caterpillar with international exposure. Exxon Mobil is set to gain from rising oil prices and strong institutional interest. Adobe’s subscription model and high margins offer growth and stability in uncertain markets. Right after the ******* States presidential election, markets seemed pleased with the results and the potential new policy paths that might develop in the coming years. What might eventually be termed the “everything rally” the days after the election, when virtually every asset class saw bullish price action, is starting to cool off. However, the footprints are still there, as investors can deduce enough from the sectors and stocks that did best during that *******. It seems that the manufacturing sector, particularly the U.S. basic materials sector, is poised to outperform the market in the coming years. More than that, it appears that some of Wall Street’s best are starting to shift their capital into the energy sector and international technology stocks with high margins. Investors could benefit from analyzing the strategic moves surrounding Caterpillar (NYSE:), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:), and Adobe (NASDAQ:)—here’s why. 1. Caterpillar: Primed for Double-Digit Gains in the Next Quarters Even after delivering a rally of up to 54.7% during the past 12 months—an impressive feat considering this is a $187 billion behemoth—Wall Street analysts still think another double-digit rally is possible Caterpillar as the economic tide shifts. The new direction seems to call for a weaker dollar, which would help boost employment figures in the manufacturing sector. According to the manufacturing PMI index, the sector has been contracting for over 24 months now. A weaker currency would incentivize foreign buyers, who would then have a relatively stronger currency, to buy ********* exports. If that were to happen, corporate earnings in the space would benefit, but not all companies would be treated equally. A weaker also means potentially weaker consumer cycles in the ******* States, so manufacturing companies with international exposure, such as Caterpillar, are poised to do well. JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:) and Truist Financial (NYSE:) would agree, as they have recently called for $500 and $456 share price targets, respectively, on Caterpillar stock. To prove each of these rights, the stock would have to pull off a rally as big as 30.2% from where it trades today, confirming this potentially weaker dollar narrative. 2. Exxon Mobil: Why Warren Buffett Believes in Oil With the implications of a better Caterpillar stock and manufacturing sector comes the implication of inflation, as the dollar needs to decline to make this happen. Just like any other dollar-quoted commodity, oil prices could be set to rally as the dollar falls. This is why Buffett bought up to 29% of Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:). However, there is a more scalable way to invest and ride the wave of the energy sector through a more significant player like Exxon Mobil. The stock has delivered a rally 16.5% over the past 12 months. However, Exxon’s scale may limit the potential for another similar rally, much like Caterpillar. Jefferies Financial Group recently reiterated their Buy rating on Exxon Mobil stock, this time placing a price target of $145 a share. This new view implies that the stock needs to rally by up to 21.5% from where it trades today, not to mention a new high for the year. Of course, the primary catalyst for this one to pay off is a lower dollar, which is almost a given considering the way Buffett is ******** today and how analysts are boosting the stocks that do well on a weaker dollar. Then there’s the institutional buying side of things, where Geode Capital Management recently boosted their holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1.8%, netting their position to a high of $10.8 billion today, or 2% ownership in the company. 3. Adobe: Why High-Margin Tech Stocks Will Dominate This Market Cycle Stanely Druckenmiller has recently shuffled his portfolio around a bit. In a recent Bloomberg interview, he stated that he’s going to short bonds in anticipation of high inflation. Remember, this also means a weaker dollar ahead, giving more momentum to the previous stocks in this list. Druckenmiller has now focused his portfolio on high-margin technology stocks in the ******* States. However, due to the size of his fund, he can only buy into the biggest ones. But retail investors can ride this theme with more flexibility on the size of the companies they choose to buy, and this is where Adobe stock comes into play. Adobe’s transition to a subscription-based business model has significantly enhanced the stability and predictability of its financial performance. This approach provides consistent revenue streams, which is particularly advantageous in uncertain market conditions. With a ****** margin of up to 88.7%, Adobe’s management can reinvest more capital into further growth, creating a compound effect in its valuation. It shouldn’t come as a surprise for investors to see analysts at Bank of America raise their price targets to $640 a share for Adobe stock. They call for a rally as big as 27.1% from where it trades today, which is not too far away from a new 52-week high for the stock as well. Original Post Source link #PostElection #Rally #Stalls #Stocks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Trump’s win could change your health care How Trump’s win could change your health care U.S. President-elect Donald Trump arrives on November 13, 2024 at ****** Base Andrews, Maryland. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House is poised to have big impacts on consumer health care. Republicans may face few legislative roadblocks with their goals of reshaping health insurance in the U.S., experts said, after the party retained its slim majority in the House of Representatives and flipped the Senate, giving it control of both Congress and the presidency. Households that get health insurance from Medicaid or an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan may see some of the biggest disruptions, due to reforms sought by Trump and *********** lawmakers, according to health policy experts. Such reforms would free up federal funds that could be used to help pay for other *********** policy priorities like tax cuts, they said. Just under 8% of the U.S. population is uninsured right now — the lowest rate in ********* history, said Michael Sparer, a professor at Columbia University and chair of its Department of Health Policy and Management. That figure was 17% when the Affordable Care Act was enacted over a decade ago, he said. “That rate will start going up again,” Sparer said. Trump announced on Nov. 14 that he wants to tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS, in turn, administers the Affordable Care Act marketplace and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), among other endeavors. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic who’s been accused of spreading *********** theories, has vowed to make big changes to the U.S. health care system. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team did not respond to a request from CNBC for comment about the President-elect’s health policy plans. Here’s how health care could change for consumers during the incoming Trump administration, according to experts. Affordable Care Act marketplace A lab technician cares for a patient at Providence St. Mary Medical Center on March 11, 2022 in Apple Valley, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images ‘********’ premium subsidies will expire Based on how the election went, the enhanced subsidies on the Affordable Care Act will likely not be renewed once they expire at the end of 2025, said Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of the ACA program at KFF, a health policy research organization. “If I was going to place a bet on this, I’d be much more comfortable ******** that they are going to expire,” Cox said. More from Personal Finance: What Trump’s tariff plan may mean for your wallet What a Trump presidency could mean for your taxes What Trump could mean for the housing market That government-backed aid, originally passed during the pandemic under the ********* Rescue Plan in 2021, has significantly lowered the costs of coverage for people buying health insurance plans on the ACA marketplace. Those customers include anyone who doesn’t have access to a workplace plan, such as students, self-employed consumers and unemployed people, among others. An individual earning $60,000 a year now has a monthly premium of $425, compared to $539 before the enhanced subsidies, according to a rough estimate provided by Cox. Meanwhile, a family of four making about $120,000 currently pays $850 a month instead of $1,649. Permanently extending the enhanced ACA subsidies could cost around $335 billion over the next 10 years, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. “They’re concerned about the cost, and they’re going to be cutting taxes next year likely,” Cox said, of Republicans. Still, it’s a ‘big’ gamble to forgo health insurance Around 3.8 million people will lose their health insurance if the subsidies expire, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. Those who maintain their coverage are likely to pay higher premiums. “The bottom line is uncertainty,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. “The good news for marketplace consumers is that the enhanced [subsidies] will be available through 2025, so there should be no immediate changes,” Corlette added. Even if the subsidies disappear, experts say it’s important to stay enrolled if you can, even if you have to make tradeoffs on coverage to keep the costs within budget. Enrolling in a plan, even a cheaper plan with a big annual deductible, can provide an important hedge against huge costs from unforeseen medical needs like surgery, said Carolyn McClanahan, a physician and certified financial planner based in Jacksonville, Florida. “I can’t emphasize how big a gamble it is to go without health insurance,” said McClanahan, founder of Life Planning Partners and a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. “One heart ******* easily costs $100,000” out of pocket for someone without insurance, she said. “Do you have that to pay?” Medicaid A ‘pretty big target’ for lawmakers Medicaid is the third-largest program in the federal budget, accounting for $616 billion of spending in 2023, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump campaigned on a promise not to make cuts to the two largest programs: Social Security and Medicare. That makes Medicaid the “obvious place” for Republicans to raise revenue to finance their agenda, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF. “Medicaid will have a pretty big target on its back,” Levitt said. The bottom line is uncertainty. Sabrina Corlette co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy Cuts would “inevitably mean” fewer households would get benefits, Levitt said. Medicaid recipients tend to be lower-income households, people with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes, he said. Medicaid cuts were a big part of the push among Trump and other *********** lawmakers to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) in 2017, Levitt said. Those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. How Medicaid might be curtailed Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The new Medicaid cuts may take many forms, according to experts, who cite past proposals and remarks from the Trump administration, *********** lawmakers and the Project 2025 ************* policy blueprint. For example, the Trump administration may try to add work requirements for Medicaid recipients, as it did during his first term, said Sparer of Columbia University. Additionally, Republicans may try to cap federal Medicaid spending allocated to states, experts said. The federal government matches a portion — generally 50% or more — of states’ Medicaid spending. That dollar sum is uncapped. Republicans may try to covert Medicaid to a block grant, whereby a fixed amount of money is provided annually to each state, or institute a per-capita cap, whereby benefits are limited for each Medicaid enrollee, Levitt said. Lawmakers may also try to roll back the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which broadened the pool of people who qualify for coverage, experts said. They could do this by cutting federal financing to the 40 states (plus the District of Columbia) that have expanded Medicaid eligibility. That would shift “an enormous financial risk to states, and many states as a result would drop the Medicaid expansion,” Levitt said. Short-term health insurance plans Under the previous Trump administration, consumers saw an increase in the availability of non-ACA compliant health insurance options, including short-term plans, experts say. The same is likely to happen over the next four years. Short-term health insurance plans offer coverage for limited amounts of time, and typically on fewer medical services than comprehensive coverage. Proponents of these plans say they allow insurers to offer consumers lower monthly premiums because they’re not required to cover as many services. At the same time, the plans are able to ******* people with pre-existing conditions or charge them more. While Trump was in office, enrollment in short-term plans spiked. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2023. Yasin Ozturk | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images “The previous Trump administration and many in the GOP have called for expanding the marketing and ***** of short-term plans and other insurance products that do not have to satisfy the ACA’s pre-existing condition standards and other consumer protections,” said Georgetown University’s Corlette. She said that consumers can be attracted to the plans for their low costs, but often learn too late how thin the coverage is. ***** prices The Trump administration’s stance on ***** pricing is murkier, health experts said. The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden signed into law in 2022, introduced many ***** price reforms. Trump has vowed to roll back parts of the law, which also contains many climate-related provisions and tax breaks toward which he is hostile. It’s unclear if lawmakers would keep the ***** policies intact, experts said. Trump signed executive orders in 2020 aimed at lowering costs for prescription medications, for example. “It’s not at all clear Trump will be a friend of the pharma industry,” Sparer said. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act gave the federal government — for the first time — the authority to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies over some drugs covered by Medicare. That provision is slated to kick in for 10 drugs — some of Medicare’s “most costly and most used” medications, treating a variety of ailments like heart ********, diabetes, arthritis and ******* — in 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The measure will save patients $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2026, CMS estimates. The federal government would expand the list of medications in ensuing years. The Inflation Reduction Act also capped Medicare co-pays for insulin at $35 a month. They were previously uncapped. The average Medicare Part D insulin user had paid $54 out-of-pocket a month per insulin prescription in 2020, according to KFF. The law also capped out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 a year for prescription drugs covered by Medicare, starting in 2025. There was previously no cap. About 1.4 million Medicare Part D enrollees paid more than $2,000 out-of-pocket for medications in 2020, KFF found. Those costs averaged $3,355 a person. Source link #Trumps #win #change #health #care Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Reveal They Visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago: ‘Time for a New Approach’ ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Reveal They Visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago: ‘Time for a New Approach’ ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Reveal They Visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago: ‘Time for a New Approach’ Source link #Morning #Joe #Hosts #Reveal #Visited #Trump #MaraLago #Time #Approach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WNBA mock draft: After Wings win lottery for Paige Bueckers, who goes next? WNBA mock draft: After Wings win lottery for Paige Bueckers, who goes next? The WNBA Draft lottery is in the books, setting the order for April’s 2025 draft. Similar to the past two years, there shouldn’t be much drama at the top, considering the only way Paige Bueckers doesn’t get drafted first is if she elects to stay at UConn for an additional season. For the most part, this mock draft doesn’t include players who have another year of eligibility, but I’ve included a couple of exceptions, namely Bueckers, who said she is treating 2024-25 as her final season. Take a look at the final results for the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by @StateFarm The @DallasWings will have the #1 overall pick in the Draft on April 14th pic.twitter.com/l9C6zpL167 — WNBA (@WNBA) November 17, 2024 This is the league’s first draft with 13 teams, as the Golden State Valkyries will begin play in the 2025 season. However, there are still only 12 picks in the first round because the Las Vegas Aces lost their pick for providing impermissible player benefits. GO DEEPER Dallas Wings score No. 1 pick in 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery Let’s look at which players are the best fit for each WNBA team. Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn This is a dream scenario for the Wings, who have tons of depth in the frontcourt with Satou Sabally, Teaira McCowan and Maddy Siegrist, but Dallas needs an organizing force in the backcourt. Bueckers has vacillated on the positional spectrum throughout her UConn career, but her playmaking has thrived regardless of where she is placed on the court. She has ranked in at least the 92nd percentile in assist percentage every season while also placing in the 98th percentile or above in assist-to-turnover ratio. Even if Bueckers isn’t a prototypical point guard (and won’t be asked to play that role with KK Arnold and Kaitlyn Chen on the Huskies’ roster this season), her selflessness means she’s constantly looking to create for others. Bueckers is also an exceptionally efficient scorer who finishes at an elite rate at all three levels (in the paint, midrange and beyond the arc). On defense, Bueckers has shown the ability to guard one through four. She is strong in isolation but a menace as a help defender, reading the floor as well as she does on offense to pick off passes and jump-start the Huskies’ transition *******. The No. 1 recruit in her high school class has been as good as advertised, showcasing a complete set of skills in college that also figures to translate seamlessly to the *****. I just fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD! — Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) November 17, 2024 Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame It’s risky to draft for need at the No. 2 pick, and Kiki Iriafen is the higher-rated prospect, but the Sparks need a guard in a bad way, especially since they already sent away their 2026 first-round pick to the Seattle Storm. There is nothing to be gained from another year of missing the playoffs. With Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson already on the roster — as well as a still-in-her-prime Dearica Hamby — Los Angeles needs someone to lead its offense, and that’s Miles. Although she missed her junior season with a torn ACL (and can technically return to Notre Dame for one more year), Miles has looked spry through the Irish’s first four games, gliding up and down the court and showing off her trademark passing vision. Miles is always looking to generate offense in transition, and she creates windows in the half court with her accurate ball delivery. She keeps defenses honest with her drives to the hoop and seems to have used the year off to refine her ********* *******, as she’s making 47 percent of her 3s and 83 percent of her free throws. The Irish have generally relied on perimeter talent during Miles’ tenure, but she should have minimal difficulty transitioning into a post-heavy offense with her IQ. Miles is also a strong defender with good size for her position. It’s easy to imagine her covering ones in isolation but also switching on the perimeter alongside Rae Burrell and Jackson. Could Kiki Iriafen thrive with the Sky despite their bevy of bigs? (Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images) Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 forward/center | USC This isn’t an ideal fit for the Sky, who already have Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. However, the franchise is only one year out of the playoffs and can afford to be patient in the rebuild, even if that means overloading in the frontcourt to get another talented player. Iriafen came on a little late in her college career because of the glut of bigs ahead of her at Stanford, but she excelled when given a regular role. She’s a high-usage, high-efficiency scorer, and she improves when the lights are brighter. Iriafen’s athleticism pops on the floor, whether it’s her first step when facing up, her elevation at the rim or her competitiveness on the glass. Ideally, she’d harness that athleticism more on defense, where she hasn’t been an elite playmaker — the Cardinal’s defense wasn’t noticeably different with her on or off the court. However, her physical tools suggest she can be impactful on this end, and USC will be reliant on that. Stanford’s history of producing high-level frontcourt players also works in Iriafen’s favor. Before the 2024 draft, WNBA general managers compared her game to Nneka Ogwumike’s. The 2012 No. 1 pick’s college career was far more decorated than that of Iriafen, but they have similar builds and play styles, providing an ideal ceiling for Iriafen in the W. Dominique Malonga | 6-6 center | Lyon (France) The Mystics are yet to hire a GM or coach, so the decision-making falls to Michael Winger, the president of Monumental Basketball for the Mystics and the NBA’s Wizards. What we know about Winger from his NBA experience is that he believes in building patiently through the draft. From his two drafts with the men’s team, it’s clear he loves young French prospects, as the Wizards drafted 18-year-old Bilal Coulibaly in 2023 and 19-year-old Alex Sarr in 2024. That makes this the perfect franchise to swing big on Malonga, who will turn 20 before the draft. Malonga is a special athlete, vertically and laterally, as the first Frenchwoman to dunk in a game. She averaged 11.9 points and 8.9 rebounds in the French league in 2023-24 despite being several years younger than most of her competition, and she improved those numbers to 19.3 points and 13.3 rebounds during the playoffs. She also came off the bench for France during the Olympics as the home team won a silver medal. Her ability to create with the ball in her hands is also unique for a frontcourt prospect. Dominique Malonga au dunk, c’est trop #PassionnémentBleu pic.twitter.com/VmVA90et06 — Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) October 30, 2024 The Mystics already have Shakira Austin as a young center, but injuries have limited her to 31 games through the past two seasons. Malonga’s age and the uncertainty over Austin’s health make taking a shot on the young French star worth it. 5. Golden State Valkyries Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky It is challenging to pick a player for a team with an empty roster, so expect this spot to change significantly until the draft. For now, let’s start with a point guard who knows how to run a pro-style offense: Amoore. Amoore has been confidently operating out of the pick-and-roll for three years, leading one of the country’s best offenses at Virginia Tech. She’s a superb ballhandler and decision-maker, even if her flair sometimes gets her into trouble. Like another point guard who plays for a Golden State team, Amoore also loves to ****** from long distance, creating massive space despite her small frame thanks to her side-step takeoff. Her percentage has cratered on self-created 3s, though those shots are often forced upon her when the offense can’t generate a better look; however, she shot 43 percent on spot-up 3s over the past two seasons and has great ********* form provided she can limit her volume. Amoore has been learning from fellow small guard Kelsey Plum for the past two seasons and would benefit from playing for Natalie Nakase, Plum’s former assistant who happens to be another short guard. Amoore is personable and marketable, and she makes a ton of sense as a building block for a new franchise. 6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas) Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame Ideally, Citron would land on a team better positioned to compete immediately — and perhaps someone will trade up for her — but she’s simply too talented and productive to fall below this spot. Citron is a career 37 percent 3-point shooter and 83.4 percent free-throw shooter who can also drive and finish through contact. She rebounds well for a perimeter player and is also a terrific defender from one to three. She’s overtaxed creating with the ball in her hand but is an outstanding secondary option. In a league thin on wings, Citron will have a role to play for years. The Indiana Fever would be a perfect landing spot for Citron if they are willing to fork over some assets to Washington. As it stands, the Mystics would be fortunate to have her as part of their rebuild. Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 forward | Notre Dame The Liberty thrived with a wing-heavy, physical identity last season, particularly during the postseason and especially when they went with three bigs in the decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Even if Maddy Westbeld seems positionally redundant, New York will find a way to get her on the court given her toughness, ability to defend multiple positions and 3-point *********. It’s easy to imagine Westbeld eventually taking over for Kayla Thornton as an interior defender — nobody gave Elizabeth Kitley more difficulty than Westbeld during the All-*********’s 2023-24 season. Although Westbeld doesn’t have noteworthy athleticism, her production has never suffered for it. Westbeld is also an intuitive offensive player who moves off the ball well, a necessity in New York’s system. If worse comes to worst and Westbeld’s injury issues to start the season linger, New York has proved it’s among the best places to rehab in the WNBA. 8. Indiana Fever Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina The Fever need to improve their defense and perhaps find a combo forward who can improve on what NaLyssa Smith brought last season. However, that type of player isn’t available at this point in the draft, so why not double down on what Indiana does well? The Fever already have offensive firepower with the backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, and bringing in Paopao as a sub for either keeps the level high. Paopao is one of college basketball’s most outstanding shooters in recent memory; she made 46.8 percent of her attempts last season, leading the nation. She also runs a mean pick-and-roll, reads the floor well, has a developing floater and generally executes everything you would want from a lead guard or two-guard offensively. GO DEEPER To keep South Carolina on top, Dawn Staley had to change Defensively, being at South Carolina has worked wonders for Paopao. She has improved at staying in front at the point of *******, and she positions herself well in help defense. Paopao isn’t the type of player who will single-handedly raise Indiana’s defensive floor, but she can earn minutes by avoiding mistakes. But this pick isn’t about the defense. Just imagine trying to defend a Clark/Aliyah Boston pick-and-roll with Mitchell and Paopao surrounding them. It seems physically impossible. Shyanne Sellers might be a steal late in the first round. (Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images) 9. Seattle Storm Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland The Storm need some young talent with upside. They have Jordan Horston but no one else who is realistically on the front end of their development curve now that Nika Mühl is out for the season with a torn ACL. This feels like an opportune moment to bring in Sellers, a player with great athleticism and a high IQ. Sellers is a dynamic downhill attacker who has a good-looking jump shot. She has incredible pace in the open court and is the foundation for Maryland’s transition *******. Her point guard reps in college have been useful, but at 6-2, she can play multiple positions, giving her additional utility in the *****. The sky is the limit with Sellers. Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State The early returns from Rivers’ senior season have indicated she is best with the ball in her hands as the lead guard, so it might seem strange to attach her to Miles in Chicago. However, Miles is capable of playing off the ball — and she will have to do plenty of that with Hannah Hidalgo this season — allowing Miles and Rivers opportunities to run the point. Furthermore, Marsh comes from Las Vegas, which used multiple ballhandlers (Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young). Joining Marsh also explains why this fit makes sense for Rivers. She is hyper-athletic and gets into the paint with ease, and being disruptive doesn’t begin to describe the defensive havoc she can wreak. But her jumper and decision-making need some work. Rivers’ physical tools bring to mind a younger Young. Marsh helped turn the Aces star into an efficient offensive player, and that will be the task with Rivers. Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA The Lynx got quality play out of their lead guard spot from Courtney Williams, but they could still use a true point guard to set up their scorers. Leger-Walker is a wonderful passer in the half court — her skip passes out of the pick-and-roll demand multiple rewatches. She’s been inconsistent as a shooter, but perhaps sitting out for a year with a torn ACL will force her to develop her jumper. Leger-Walker hasn’t brought much to the floor as a defender, but Minnesota drafted Alissa Pili last year, so that doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite. 12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York) Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 forward | LSU Phoenix played most of last season without a true power forward, which creates an opening for Morrow. She puts pressure on the basket, rebounds the ball better than almost anyone at her position, consistently makes plays on defense and gets buckets no matter who else is on the court. Those attributes would benefit the Mercury. The one issue for Morrow in Nate Tibbetts’ system is that she doesn’t take or make 3s, but she does so many other things well that it would be hard to pass on her at the end of the first round. Also in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott. (Top photo: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images) Source link #WNBA #mock #draft #Wings #win #lottery #Paige #Bueckers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fallout TV Show Helped The “Quirky” Game Series Be Embraced By Wider Audience, Phil Spencer Says Fallout TV Show Helped The “Quirky” Game Series Be Embraced By Wider Audience, Phil Spencer Says Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has commented on the success of the Fallout TV series on Prime Video, saying it helped the “quirky” Fallout game series appeal to a wider audience. This was made possible, he said at a Variety event, in part because of the creative trust and collaboration between Fallout executive producer Jonathan Nolan and game developer Todd Howard from Bethesda. “It was critical early on to have that creative trust so that our game teams could both understand what they brought to the equation in terms of the world, the setting, some of the camp humor, but also be willing to step back and let another very talented creator take the reins in a medium that we don’t have an expertise in,” Spencer said. “Anytime we try to do something new it should be advancing what that world is. One thing I really loved about the television show is it made the somewhat quirky world of Fallout more accessible to more people.” The Fallout TV show on Prime Video reached more than 100 million viewers, becoming the network’s second-biggest show ever after The Rings of Power. A second season is in the works now, and Macaulay Culkin recently joined the cast. Also in the interview, Spencer said no one should expect Microsoft to make a TV show or movie out of every single one of its franchises. In the end, it will come down to whether the creative partnership is right. “We don’t have to do a television show or a movie for any of the individual properties, so it better be something that we do with someone we trust, with someone we think will raise the bar for what the franchise stands for,” Spencer said. In addition to Fallout Season 2, Microsoft is working with Netflix on a Gears of War TV show and movie. Then there’s the Minecraft movie with Jack ******, which releases in 2025. A TV show based on the game Grounded is also in the works. Source link #Fallout #Show #Helped #Quirky #Game #Series #Embraced #Wider #Audience #Phil #Spencer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hurry: Exclusive discounts on Anker chargers and power banks Hurry: Exclusive discounts on Anker chargers and power banks Anker is well-known for making some of the world’s best fast chargers, power banks, and docks. Having sold over 200 million products worldwide, they certainly know what they’re doing and can be trusted to keep your devices up-and-running as well as connected. With the number of electronic devices we own growing all the time, we need products that can charge them and connect them to one another. They must also be well-made and trustworthy so our phones and laptops are always ready-to-go. Anker delivers on all these fronts. Quality products are worth paying for but it’s always great to benefit from a discount. We’ve partnered with Anker to offer TechRadar readers in the US an extra 20% off Anker products, including chargers, power banks, cables, hubs, and docks. To make use of the offer, you’ll need to use one of our exclusive codes at checkout. This limited-time deal runs through to December 31st. If you’ve missed out on this latest deal you can always check out our Anker coupon codes hub for more offers throughout the year. Our top picks from Anker Why we love Anker Anker has one of the best reputations for designing and manufacturing mobile charging products. They have appeared on Yahoo, CNN, Forbes, Cnet, iMore, The Verge, as well as our very own TechRadar. All products include a warranty so you can rest assured that any problems you encounter will be sorted out quickly. These warranties range from 24-months to lifetime with details to be found on each product page. If you do encounter any problems then the friendly Anker customer service team will be glad to help you. We also love their AnkerCredits Rewards program which gives access to exclusive discounts and offers to its members. Benefit from an instant 500 credits when you register and one additional credit for every dollar you spend. Source link #Hurry #Exclusive #discounts #Anker #chargers #power #banks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision Russia warns U.S. is adding fuel to ***** with long-range missile decision POKROVSK, UKRAINE – NOVEMBER 16: Local residents walk past destroyed houses in the city, approximately 10 km from the frontline, on November 16, 2024 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Vlada Liberova/Libkos/Getty Images) Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images The Kremlin has lashed back against a White House decision to now allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range weapons for limited strikes inside Russian territory. The decision, reported by NBC News, marks a major reversal in Washington policy a mere two months before the mandate expiry of President Joe Biden, who has steered U.S. engagement in the Ukraine conflict since Russia’s wholescale invasion in February 2022. Previously, the Biden administration had limited the deployment of *********-made long-range arsenal to the Ukrainian battlefield, but had green lit Kyiv’s use of U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMAR) in cross-border attacks to defend Ukraine. The latest authorization follows the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow in the stagnating conflict, along with what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy qualified as “one of the largest Russian strikes” against his country over the weekend. “It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps to continue adding fuel to the ***** and continue to provoke tension around this conflict,” Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Monday, according to Reuters. “If such a decision was really formulated and communicated to the Kyiv regime, then, of course, this is a qualitatively new round of tension and a qualitatively new situation from the point of view of the US involvement in this conflict,” he added, in Google-translated comments reported by Russian state news agency Ria Novosti. Ukraine depends on Western allies for military and humanitarian aid, including the provision of weapons — which NATO members have largely supplied for defensive purposes on Ukrainian grounds, amid fears of further war escalations and Russian retaliation. Speaking to journalists on Sept. 12, Kremlin leader Vladimir ****** had warned that a then-potential decision on behalf of any NATO country to allow Ukraine the use of long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil would amount to direct participation in the war. “The issue is not about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia with these weapons or not. The issue is about making a decision: NATO countries directly participate in the military conflict or not. If this decision is made, it will mean nothing other than the direct participation of NATO countries — the ******* States, ********* countries — in the war in Ukraine,” ****** said at the time, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Yet analysts at the Institute for the Study of War warn that Washington’s limited authorization could prove insufficient to materially alter the course on the battlefield. “The partial lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-provided long-range weapons against military objects within Kursk Oblast will not completely deprive Russian forces of their sanctuary in Russian territory, as hundreds of military objects remain within ATACMS range in other Russian border regions,” they said in a note, with reference to the U.S. long-range Army Tactical Missile System. They added that “Russian forces will benefit from any partial sanctuary if Western states continue to impose restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and that the US should allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate military targets within Russia’s operational and deep-rear within range of US-provided weapons – not just those in Kursk Oblast.” “The only way to truly stop this ******* is to eliminate Russia’s ability to launch attacks. And this is absolutely realistic,” Zelenskyy said on social media on Monday, without directly referencing the reports of the U.S. permission. “It is not just defense; it is justice— the right way to protect our people. Any nation under the ******* would act this way to defend its citizens. We must do the same, together with our partners. Russia must be left with no capacity for *******.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses lawmakers as he presents the so-called ‘Victory Plan’ during a parliament session, amid Russia’s ******* on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 16, 2024. Andrii Nesterenko | Reuters It ******** to be seen whether ********* countries will follow Washington’s suit over Kyiv’s use of their weapons. CNBC has reached out to the foreign ministries of major Western NATO allies Germany, France and the U.K. for comment. EU foreign affairs ministers are meanwhile gathering in Brussels on Monday to hold talks that will also touch on the Ukraine conflict. “I’ve been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arms we provided to them, in order to not only to stop the arrow, but also to be able to hit the archers. I continue to believe this is what has to be done. And I’m sure will be discussed once again. I hope members will agree on that,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said prior to the meeting. Such a decision raises questions over the extent of Ukraine’s current long-range missile arsenal to support direct attacks, at a time when NATO braces for the White House return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump – who has previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine within a day of assuming power, without supplying details. Nevertheless, the U.S. authorization “could mark a paradigm shift in the war,” Tytti Tuppurainen, member of the Finnish parliament, told CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Monday. “If it is true … I think we welcome that, we welcome that full-heartedly. If it is one thing we regret, it is that it comes so late,” she added. “Europe has to stand up now. This is a critical moment. This is certainly a wake-up call for Europe. From the U.S. side, the election of Donald Trump tells us that we have to take the responsibility of our own destiny, and if Russia wins in Ukraine, it means that Russia will only continue.” Source link #Russia #warns #U.S #adding #fuel #***** #longrange #missile #decision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch After a year-long wait, the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets are a hard watch EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Jets players and coaches often talk about how they can’t resort to finger-pointing, even when things are at their worst — which they are right now. There was a play late in the fourth quarter on Sunday, a coverage bust that fit perfectly in a season of misery and befuddlement. But that play was set up by a decision made on the other side of the ball a few minutes earlier. It felt like a game the Jets were going to win. They stole momentum back at the start of the second half, with a takeaway on a forced fumble and then a Breece Hall touchdown a few plays later. They went up 24-16 on a Kenny Yeboah touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter. The Colts cut it to a two-point game, and then Aaron Rodgers worked the offense up the field, ******** the clock and getting them to the Colts’ 25-yard-line with 3:30 left. On fourth-and-2, Rodgers went to the line of scrimmage. Jets cornerback D.J. Reed thought they were going to go for it. Instead, Rodgers tried to draw the Colts offsides. It didn’t work, so the Jets called timeout. Anders Carlson converted a 35-yard field goal. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich considered this a show of confidence in a Jets defense that, many times over the 2022 and ’23 seasons, did its job at the end of games. “When we saw the field goal team go on we were all happy like: Let’s do what we do,” Reed said. “The last three years, that’s what we did.” That’s not what they did on Sunday. This is 2024. On the second play of the drive, Anthony Richardson aired it out for Alec Pierce down the right sideline. Cornerback Sauce Gardner passed the route off to safety Jalen Mills, who was supposed to be in position to prevent Pierce from catching the ball, possibly even intercepting it. Instead, Pierce easily caught it, a 39-yard gain. At the end of the play, Gardner ran over and pointed at Mills. Literal finger-pointing. Twice. What a pass by Anthony Richardson! @Colts are threatening : #INDvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+ : pic.twitter.com/xTTdoEKmMs — NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024 “It’s a play that shouldn’t have happened,” Gardner said. A few plays later, Richardson ran for a 4-yard touchdown. The Colts didn’t convert their two-point conversion but it didn’t matter. The Jets offense, without any timeouts, fumbled on the first snap then ******* the clock on second down. Rodgers was sacked on third down and the clock ran out. The Jets, in embarrassing fashion, lost another game they should have won. Final score: 28-27. The Jets’ record: 3-8. The Jets’ season: in the toaster. “It’s tough to process,” Reed said. “That’s what your play for. You want to play meaningful football in November, December, January … We want to stick together. We have to stick together. The outside world is going to be pointing fingers — and understandably so — but the guys in the locker room, we have to stick together and I feel like we have the right character guys to do that.” In what has turned into arguably the most disappointing season in Jets history, it is clear that even if the Jets have the right character guys, they don’t have the right guys. The Jets are at the point of the season when their offense is being booed off the field at their home stadium in the first quarter. The point that, when fans do cheer, it’s typically in a mocking tone — like when, on Sunday, the Jets offense converted its first first down just as the first half was about to end, or when Gardner made an impressive tackle in the second quarter after struggling for weeks to get opponents on the ground. They were supposed to combine a winning defense with one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks to become a bonafide playoff contender. Instead, since Robert Saleh was fired and replaced by Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator, the defense has looked like one of the NFL’s worst, allowing 26.2 points per game, failing in fundamentals and crumbling in key moments. “I have noticed that,” Reed said. “The last couple games we haven’t played to our standard on defense. We’ve given up touchdowns, or given up explosive plays. I can’t really account for what it is. Coach Ulbrich does have a lot on his plate but he’s a grown man and he can handle it. I just think it comes down to executing and playing our role. I feel like we’re not executing, no matter what we’re being told to do, we’re just not executing on the field.” GO DEEPER What happens if Jets owner Woody Johnson leaves for the Trump administration again And there’s the Rodgers part of it all. Earlier in the week, he was asked if he still planned on returning in 2025, as he stumbled to the end of the worst season of his career. He responded, tepidly: “Yeah, I think so.” Sunday’s showing did nothing to make it feel like Rodgers returning to the Jets would be a good thing, for team or player. The 40-year-old didn’t even surpass 100 passing yards until the third quarter. He’s looked unwilling (or unable) to throw the ball down the field, and his excuses for that — last week he said the offensive line needs to block for longer, Sunday he blamed his lack of deep throws on the Colts playing a two-high defense — aren’t quite up to snuff. Over the last two weeks, Rodgers is 1 of 6 on passes thrown more than 10 yards downfield, the one completion coming on a nice sideline throw to Xavier Gipson in Sunday’s fourth quarter. Those moments have been few and far between, and the Jets offense has somehow become less explosive since trading for Davante Adams. Rodgers finished Sunday with 184 yards on 29 pass attempts. Ulbrich was asked if Rodgers’ reticence is holding the Jets offense back. He deflected in his response. “We’ll take a hard look at the tape,” Ulbrich said. “There’s an element to, of course, injury is going to hamper anybody in these types of situations, but it never comes down to one man. It comes down to protection, receivers, running backs, the running game, all those things. So, I know Aaron would love to be playing better, but it’s not just him, it’s all of us.” Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up Rodgers simply doesn’t look like Rodgers anymore, even if no one around the Jets organization wants to admit it publicly. “Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t my best performance,” Rodgers said. “I felt like I did a few good things, but unfortunately in this game sometimes you have to make a decision and pick a side and sometimes you pick the right side and sometimes you pick the wrong side … It’s just one of those weird things. Sometimes you pick the right side and get lucky and sometimes you don’t and you have to look at the ***** tablet and see a guy was open.” He was asked about that sort of struggle being something he hadn’t dealt with before — he pushed back at the assertion. “It happens all the time,” Rodgers said. “It does happen all the time, but sometimes you just pick it right and you get on a roll and seem to pick it right all the time. Sometimes it’s a hunch. I’m going through progressions. Sometimes in those two situations I would’ve had to have skipped over a progression and just trust the guy as being open. Sometimes that hits, sometimes you wish you would have just stayed with the progression. It’s the beauty and the frustration of the game.” The Jets are 3-8. Their playoff hopes, if there are any, range from one to four percent, depending on your source. There is plenty to be frustrated about. And none of it is pretty. “It’s very hard to fathom,” Reed said. “I’m still processing it right now.” (Top photo: Al Bello / Getty Images) Source link #yearlong #wait #Aaron #Rodgersled #York #Jets #hard #watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]