Pelican Press

Dragons suffer fresh blows in defeat against Bulldogs Dragons suffer fresh blows in defeat against Bulldogs St George Illawarra look set to expedite their pursuit of Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer after the Dragons’ front-row stocks took a further hit in their 28-20 loss to Canterbury. Middle forward Ryan Couchman limped off Kogarah Oval on Saturday with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury and Emre Guler was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Jacob Preston. The Dragons are already without Queensland State of Origin prop Francis Molo, who has taken a leave of absence from the club, but the Red V expect Blake Lawrie to recover from a hamstring injury to face South Sydney next week. With the Saints down on middles, Canterbury interchange duo Sitili Tupouniua and Harry Hayes swung the game in the Bulldogs’ favour with impressive stints off the bench. Tupouniua scored two tries in his first game since leaving the Roosters. The only concern for Canterbury was the fact that captain Stephen Crichton failed to finish the game with a lower leg injury and was also placed on report in the first half. The Dogs drew first blood in the 13th minute when the Dragons were penalised for failing to pack a midfield scrum before the shot clock sounded. Canterbury spread the ball to the left, with winger Marcelo Montoya breezing through a Clint Gutherson challenge to bring up his 50th NRL try. But Montoya went from hero to zero very quickly as Damien Cook jolted the ball from the winger’s grasp as he made an exit carry on the next set. The Dragons were quick to hit back as Valentine Holmes sent Christian Tuipulotu in on the left flank for a 16th-minute equaliser. As Tuipulotu slid in to score, Crichton appeared to lead with his knees, and the Dragons were awarded a penalty try as the Bulldogs skipper was placed on report. Crichton was already unpopular at Kogarah after he accused Kyle Flanagan of biting him in the same clash last season, and Tuipulotu’s animated response to the Canterbury centre whipped up the crowd. What followed was a chaotic 15-minute ******* where Preston was placed on report for a bell-ringer on Holmes, Moses Suli ragdolled Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton into touch, and Flanagan and Crichton renewed their simmering feud. In that same *******, Jack de Belin went off for a head injury assessment – which he later passed – and Ryan Couchman came on and then went off with a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury. But Canterbury were able to rise above the chaos and hit the Dragons twice before the halftime break through Blake Wilson and Connor Tracey to lead 16-6 at the end of the half. The game was slipping from the Dragons’ grasp and neither Lachlan Ilias nor Flanagan were creative enough to drag them back into the game. Tupouniua grabbed two short-range tries in the 45th and 51st minutes to pull Canterbury clear. A stunning Jacob Liddle run and Tuipulotu’s third in the final quarter of an hour cut the deficit, but the Dragons had left their comeback too late. Source link #Dragons #suffer #fresh #blows #defeat #Bulldogs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian killed in Jordan was victim of job scam, family say Indian killed in Jordan was victim of job scam, family say Imran Qureshi BBC Hindi, Bengaluru BBC The family of Thomas Gabriel Perera told the BBC he was the victim of a job scam The family of an Indian man who was shot dead while illegally crossing into Israel say he was a victim of a job scam. Thomas Gabriel Perera was killed by Jordanian security forces by the border with Israel on 10 February. He was lured to Jordan by the promise of a lucrative job, and when it did not materialise he tried to enter Israel as he was told he could find work there, his family told the BBC. Reports of Indians falling for employment scams and illegally entering other countries to look for work have become increasingly common. Perera, 47, had been accompanied by his brother-in-law Edison Charlas, who was injured in the incident. Mr Charlas was treated in hospital and spent a fortnight in prison before he was repatriated to India. The two men were from the southern Indian state of Kerala where they worked as auto-rickshaw drivers. An agent had promised them they could get blue-collar jobs in Jordan earning 350,000 rupees ($4,000; £3,110) a month. Mr Charlas told the BBC he paid 210,000 rupees to an agent before they left India, and paid an additional $600 after reaching Jordan on a tourist visa. But when the two men arrived in Jordan’s capital city Amman in early February, they were told by the agent that there were no jobs available. The agent then suggested they should try illegally crossing into Israel, claiming there were plenty of opportunities there. On 10 February, Mr Charlas and Perera joined a group that drove for hours to Jordan’s border with Israel. “We were taken in a car. It was a long distance. We got into the car at 2pm and reached the location only around midnight. Then we were made to walk several kilometres along a coastline. It was while walking in the dark that we were shot,” said Mr Charlas. The BBC has seen a letter sent to Perera’s family by the Indian embassy in Jordan. It states that “security forces tried to stop them but they did not listen to the warning, the guards opened fire on them”. “One bullet hit Mr Thomas [Perera] in his head and he passed away on the spot.” Mr Charlas, however, disputed this account and said there was “no such warning (from the guards). They just shot.” “I was walking slowly behind the others in the dark… That was when the bullet hit me and I lost consciousness. I had no clue what happened to Thomas,” he said. The BBC has asked India’s foreign ministry and Jordanian authorities for comment on Mr Charlas’ allegation. Mr Charlas said he was later taken to a hospital for treatment and then moved between several Jordanian government offices before being transferred to prison, where he was kept for 18 days. While in prison, he managed to contact his wife and told her what had happened, and his wife contacted Indian embassy officials. Mr Charlas was deported to India on 28 February. Perera’s body is still in Jordan. In response to BBC queries, India’s foreign ministry said they were working to bring the body back to India as soon as possible. “I am told that it will take one or two days for the process of documentation and other things to be completed,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the foreign ministry. On Monday, Shashi Tharoor, the member of parliament representing Perera’s constituency Thiruvananthapuram, said that members of the Indian embassy in Jordan had verified the victim’s identity and that the process of transportation of the body had begun. Getty Images The Middle East is a popular destination for South Asian migrant workers, including Indians Despite numerous government warnings, many Indians are still falling prey to job scams and taking the risk of entering countries illegally to find work, say observers. “The modus operandi is to get a tourist visa for one country and then enter the neighbouring country,” said Ajith Kolassery, the CEO of Norka, the Kerala government’s department overseeing migration. “No country will accept ******** entry. We have been consistently issuing advisories to people to be wary of job rackets, but they are still going.” In recent years hundreds of Indians have been rescued from scam centres in Cambodia and other parts of South East Asia. They were trafficked to the centres after they were lured overseas by promises of good jobs. Scores of Indian nationals were also tricked into fighting for Russia in the war with Ukraine after they were offered fake jobs and opportunities to study abroad. The 100 Indians who were deported from the US last month after being accused of entering the country illegally had also been lured by the hope of a better life, pointed out Irudaya Rajan, who chairs the International Institute of Migration and Development in Thiruvananthapuram. “They also paid money to agents and were cheated. It’s the struggle to get better wages [that is driving this],” he said. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. Source link #Indian #killed #Jordan #victim #job #scam #family Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Worst yet to come’ as ex-cyclone nears Australia ‘Worst yet to come’ as ex-cyclone nears Australia Hundreds of thousands of homes are without power as Storm Alfred brings strong winds and heavy rains to Australia’s central east coast. Initially called Cyclone Alfred, the weather front was downgraded to a tropical low with winds set to reach up to 85km/h, less strong than first forecast. The BBC’s Katy Watson reports from the Gold Coast. Source link #Worst #excyclone #nears #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EXOcars Races onto PSVR 2 EXOcars Races onto PSVR 2 EXOcars is now available on PSVR 2, delivering a high-speed racing experience with cross-platform multiplayer support. Source link #EXOcarsRaces #PSVR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to fix Salmon Skin Problems in 3D Prints How to fix Salmon Skin Problems in 3D Prints Salmon skin or Moire issue in 3D prints is where repeating patterns or wavy lines appear across the print, and they resemble the scales of a salmon. It affects the appearance of the design and makes it hard to achieve a perfect finish, and you will need extra post-processing, which takes a lot of time. The problem can also compromise the dimensional accuracy of the print, especially for functional parts where precision is important. Salmon skin problems are almost similar to ringing issues, but the difference is that ringing is not continuous. It appears on specific areas in your 3D print, and salmon skin, on the other hand, is consistent across the surface of the design. This issue can still occur even with the best 3D printers, and it results from many issues, including problems with stepper motor drivers, 3D printer vibrations, high 3D printing speeds, and even worn-out or loose 3D printer belts. Like any other 3D printing issue, this problem can be fixed using the strategies described below. Check 3D Printer Belts 1. Properly tighten 3D printer belts and replace them if they are worn out (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Loose 3D printer belts can make the print head wobble or skip some steps, which results in uneven filament deposition, which can result in salmon skin. As you tighten it, ensure it’s not too tight as it can introduce unnecessary strain on the motors that can introduce vibrations. You should also ensure the belts are not worn out, as it can result in inconsistent tension during 3D printing. You can buy one from Amazon and replace it if you see signs of being worn out. In addition to that, you can also tighten the screws on your 3D printer to ensure no component is loose, but be careful not to overtighten. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Also, inspect the rods and rails to ensure they are securely mounted and not misaligned or bent. Check 3D Printer Motor 2. Install TL smoothers (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) 3D printer motors not running smoothly is another leading cause of salmon skin issues in 3D prints. This can be caused by voltage spikes and electrical noise in the motor signals and it is common in older stepper drivers. When the motors are not running well, it results in inconsistent movements of the print head. To address this issue, you need to use TL Smoothers, which are simple add-ons that you install between the stepper drivers and the stepper motors to filter out voltage spikes and ensure smoother motor operation. They solve the problem by acting as a filter, which reduces the irregularities of the electricity that cause the motors to move in uneven steps. They also tune the drivers to provide only the required amount of power. You can buy them from Amazon, and they come in a 6-pack. It is easy to install as you only plug them in using each of its two connectors: One is for the signal input which you connect to the pins of the stepper driver and the other is the output side, which you connect to the motor’s wiring. You don’t need to solder anything as the smoothers are designed to fit well in the electronic enclosure of the 3D printer. A Reddit user has reported improvement in the quality of the 3D print after using TL smoothers. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Latest firmware and better stepper motor 3. Update the Firmware and Upgrade the Stepper Motors Outdated firmware may lack the advanced motion control features that optimize stepper motor performance and might not allow fine-tuning settings like jerk and acceleration. Updating it improves how your 3D printer handles motor control and allows for customization of the stepper driver settings, which might be challenging to achieve in outdated firmware. In addition to updating the firmware, you can also consider upgrading to higher-quality stepper motors, as the regular ones could have inaccuracies that result in uneven motion mainly due to heavy usage, or they could have a lower micro stepping rating. Microstepping rating is the division of a single step of a stepper motor into small controlled steps in order to achieve a smoother and precise movement. High quality stepper motors like TMC2209, which you can find on Amazon have been designed to handle small, precise steps more accurately. They can also follow the signals from stepper drivers more smoothly, reducing vibrations. Lower 3D printer speed 4. Reduce the 3D Printing Speed (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) High 3D printing speed causes the stepper motors to struggle to keep up with rapid changes in direction and hence reducing it allows them to move more smoothly and consistently. Also, when 3D printing at a low speed, each layer of the filament has more time to adhere properly to the previous one, allowing the nozzle to maintain a consistent extrusion. Moreover, sometimes 3D printing at high speeds results in vibrations and mechanical stress on the components of the 3D printer, like the belts, which can also result in defects. Printing at a lower speed prevents this from happening. You can adjust the speed on the 3D slicer. Keep in mind that while slower speeds help improve the surface quality of your print, they also increase the print time, and in some cases, they can result in other issues. As you reduce the speed, ensure you don’t reduce it too much that it results in other 3D printing defects. The default and ideal 3D printing speed in most 3D slicers is usually 50 mm/s. If yours is above that, you should reduce it. Source link #fix #Salmon #Skin #Problems #Prints Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bali’s Denpasar International Airport shut down: Plane landing debacle shuts main airport for several hours Bali’s Denpasar International Airport shut down: Plane landing debacle shuts main airport for several hours Bali’s main international airport was thrown into chaos on Saturday when a runway was completely shut down after a plane was stranded on the tarmac. The Airfast plane was flying from Benete in West Sumbawa when it “encountered a technical issue“ while landing at Denpasar International Airport, just before 9.30am on Saturday. It prompted authorities to close the runway to all aircraft, leaving the plane on the tarmac as emergency services rushed to the scene. The closure delayed the departure of 10 flights, five domestic and five international, as passengers onboard the Indonesian carrier’s plane were evacuated. “The aircraft had seven passengers on board, all of whom were safely evacuated and did not sustain any serious injuries,” said Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, general manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport/Denpasar International Airport. It’s believed the technical issue was related to the plane’s landing gear not descending properly. Almost two dozen incoming flights were diverted to alternative airports, six of which were sent to Lombok, five to Surabaya, three to Makassar, two to Semarang, one to Jakarta, and one to Banyuwangi. A Perth Airport spokeswoman confirmed one inbound Jetstar flight was cancelled, and another 10 were delayed or rescheduled — five inbound and five outbound. Flights coming from Melbourne and Cairns were also diverted. The runway was reopened after around two hours. Mr Shahab said authorities also conducted a thorough inspection of the plane “to ensure no foreign objects remained on the runway, which could pose a safety risk to aviation operations”. “All relevant parties are currently working to resolve the situation, and efforts are underway to reopen the runway as soon as possible,” he said. Source link #Balis #Denpasar #International #Airport #shut #Plane #landing #debacle #shuts #main #airport #hours Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cricut Maker 4 review: elevating your crafting to whatever height you leap off Cricut Maker 4 review: elevating your crafting to whatever height you leap off Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. Cricut Maker 4 review: One-minute review Cricut Maker 4 is an excellent addition to the impressive lineup of crafting machines from Cricut. If you want to craft at home and produce professional-level results, the Maker 4 can help you create decorations, gifts, jewelry, clothing, keepsakes, and much more. It isn’t the easiest tool to use – Maker 4 will help your crafting reach new heights, but it won’t make things for you – yet with some patience and practice, the results can be truly astonishing. Cricut Maker 4 is the most capable Cricut machine you can buy. There is a larger, commercial-strength Cricut Venture machine, but the Maker 4 can cut a wider variety of materials. Every Cricut cutting machine can cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, and similar materials, but only the Cricut Maker series can cut thick materials like wood and leather. It’s strong enough to engrave aluminum sheets, but delicate enough to cut fine details into felt. You don’t need to upgrade to the new Cricut Maker 4 if you have an earlier Cricut Maker machine, unless you are turning out huge volumes of projects and you want a machine that is much faster. Maker 4 is up to twice as fast as Cricut Maker 3, but that’s the key difference. Otherwise, the capabilities and even the design are essentially unchanged. If you don’t have a Cricut machine yet, the good news is that the new Cricut Maker 4 starts at a lower price than before, and bundles are available that give you everything you need to jump into crafting on day one. Cricut Maker 4 has space for a blade (right) and a pen (left) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) If you’re totally new to Cricut, your first question will be what exactly is a Cricut machine? Cricut hates when people call its machines a printer, and it’s closer to a laser cutter than a printer. So imagine a printer, but instead of spraying ink on paper, it uses a blade (or a variety of blades) to cut. You can cut designs into permanent stickers made of vinyl, and then apply the design to your favorite mug, your walls, even your car. You can buy iron-on material or heat-transferable ink that will stick to a shirt or hat and make your own souvenirs. And I’m just getting started, this is only the tip of the Cricut iceberg. As a long-time Cricut user I’ve made t-shirts and hats, mugs and travel tumblers, and decorations for my house and my classroom back when I was a high school teacher. I’ve made simple labels for spice jars and tea containers, and I’ve made complex, multi-layered shadowbox designs with paper, felt, and faux leather that I hang on my wall. My years of Cricut experience have been with a Cricut Explore and recently a Cricut Joy Xtra that I got from Cricut when that smaller machine launched. Those machines are great for my decorative needs, but Cricut Maker 4 can handle thicker materials like wood, leather, and aluminum. However, significant caveats apply. I was very excited to try cutting new materials. Cricut Explore can use special tools, like the scoring wheel to create precise folds in cardstock, but it can’t cut wood or leather. Cricut was nice enough to send me samples of felt, basswood, faux leather, and aluminum to try, along with a selection of cutting blades and cutting tips, like the embossing tip for aluminum and the rotary cutting tool that slices up fabric like a fishing line through water. The results were mostly spectacular, with one sad exception. Cricut Maker 4 easily cut through faux leather, creating an intricate and detailed design, then it handled a sheet of soft felt with the same finesse. It took some time, but it’s cool to watch the machine chug along. Cricut Maker 4 slices into basswood over and over (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Sadly, things came to a halt when I cut the basswood layer for my project. While Maker 4 can cut through wood, it requires 14 separate passes with the blade to cut all the way through. My Maker 4 failed during every attempt. It didn’t ruin the wood, it simply stopped cutting and gave me an error message. Cricut says there is a firmware fix coming that will fix the problem, and I’m excited to put Maker 4 to the test with tougher materials. This brings me to my biggest complaint about Cricut Maker 4, and all of Cricut’s cutting machines. To use a Cricut machine, you must use Cricut Design Space on your desktop, phone or tablet. It works on Mac and PC, iPhone and Android. Unfortunately, it’s a bad piece of software, being buggy and difficult to use. The performance is so sluggish that I often wondered if it had registered my input at all. Options would appear and disappear, and it is hard to figure out how to make things work properly. If you’ve used real design software like Photoshop or Illustrator, or even more basic layout tools like Apple Pages or Google Slides, you’ll be confounded by Cricut Design Space. Most of the problems I had in the month I’ve spent with Cricut Maker 4 came down to fighting the software and figuring out how to make it actually do what I assumed I’d asked it to do. I’ve asked Cricut on numerous occasions if there is any major update coming and they have no plans for any big fix. The cool design on the Cricut Maker 4 lid (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) The good news is that it is easy to get help. There is a huge community of crafty people who share tips and offer advice. If you buy a Cricut machine, or if you’re even considering a Cricut, I would start watching YouTube video tutorials now. Read the Reddit subgroups, or join a group for Cricut beginners on Facebook. You’ll find help, and you’ll find people meeting the same obstacles. Because Cricut Maker 4 is an amazing tool, and it makes precise and delicate cuts at an astonishing speed, resulting in a final product that looks professionally produced – if you know what you are doing. Maker 4 won’t make the projects for you. This isn’t a turnkey solution where you insert materials at one end and out pops a completed project. This is a tool that will get you from point A through points B, C, and D with more precision than you imagined. But there is still plenty of work for you to do. Cricut Maker 4 review: price and bundles Starts at $399 / £399 / AU$699 with basic materials and tools Cricut’s bundle is better when you buy a month of Cricut Access Cricut Maker 4 looks a lot like a printer, but it’s totally not a printer (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Cricut Maker 4 starts at $399.99 in the US, which is a bit less than the Maker 3’s $429.99 starting price; in Britain you’ll pay £399 and AU$699 in Australia. The Maker 4 comes with more accessories and tools than before, enough to actually start crafting a few projects and get the hang of the machine, but you’ll need a lot more once you really get into crafting with Cricut. There is an Everything bundle that includes many more necessary tools for $459 / £469.99, currently discounted for the launch of Maker 4. Another cost to consider is Cricut Access, a monthly subscription service through the Cricut Design Space app. Cricut Access provides a massive supply of stock images and patterns that you can use, as well as a library of fonts. If you don’t subscribe, you can use your own system fonts, which are not designed to look good on crafts, and you can supply your own images. When I’m feeling crafty, I usually subscribe for a couple of months and then cancel until I want to make stuff again. Cricut Access costs $9.99 per month or $95.88 for a full year (scroll down for *** and Australia bundle prices). With the subscription, you also get a discount on Cricut supplies and machines, and a discount if you buy licensed images and fonts from Cricut Design Space, like Star Wars characters or recognizable Disney-branded fonts. Frankly, buying a Cricut machine opens a Pandora’s box of buying. If you want to make hats, you’ll want a Cricut Hat Press. If you want to make mugs, the Cricut Mug Press is essential. If you are simply making shirts and or pressing vinyl only fabric, you’ll want a good hot press to use instead of a clothes iron. I’ve used all of these accessories from Cricut and they all work remarkably well, making the crafting process as easy as possible with app controls and timers. You’ll also need materials like permanent vinyl sheets and iron-ons. I’ve purchased cheap brands from Amazon and also the good stuff from Cricut. Both options work, but Cricut-brand materials have a much higher success rate for me – and thankfully you can always find some Cricut material on ***** either at Cricut.com or at stores like Michael’s in the States. Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 – Cell 0 USD GBP AU$ Cricut Maker 4 $399 £399 AU$699 Maker 4 + Everything Bundle $509 £524.99 N/A Maker 4 + Bundle + Cricut Access $459 £469.99 N/A Cricut Explore 4 $249 £269.99 AU$399 What comes with the Cricut Maker 4? Cricut Maker 4 machine Fine-Point Blade Light Grip Mat (12 in x 12 in) Fine Point Pen (0.4mm) Mini Weeder tool Materials for practice crafting What more do you get with the Cricut Everything Bundle? Card Mart (13 in x 16.25 in) 24 insert cards Scoring Stylus Scraper Spatula Weeder tool Portable Trimmer Fine Point Pen in Magenta 2 rolls + 6 sheets Smart Iron-On 2 rolls + 6 sheets Smart Vinyl – permanent 12 sheets printable vinyl 24 sheets cardstock 1 roll + 5 sheets transfer tape (for vinyl projects) 1 Tote Bag Subscription to Cricut Access Standard (1 month included) Cricut Maker 4 review: What can you make? Cricut Maker 4 starts with a small blade attachment, so you can make anything that starts with cutting. You can also insert a pen to draw on your projects with the same precision. You can cut paper, vinyl stickers, iron-on vinyl (heat transfer vinyl), cardstock, and other thin materials to make interior decorations, small crafts, cards, and clothing decorations. There are many different blades and attachments available separately for Cricut Maker 4 that extend its capabilities significantly. There are deep cutting blades for thicker materials, or rolling blades for soft materials and fine, continuous cuts. There are tools that score cardstock and paper for perfect folds and creases, tools for engraving in metal and debossing leather, and tools to create perforations to tear later. There are also a wide variety of pens you can use alongside the blades. The variety of blades and tools available is what sets Cricut Maker 4 apart from Cricut Explore 4 and the other Cricut machines. For instance, you can use the rotary blade with Cricut Maker 4, but not with Explore. I tried cutting felt with the add-on rotary blade and with the included fine blade and the results were much better with the rotary blade. The pattern was cut perfectly and much easier to lift from the mat without tearing or weeding too much excess. (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) The real time you spend crafting will come after Cricut Maker 4 finishes its work. A Cricut machine almost never leaves you with the finished project. You’ll need to weed out all the scraps and bits you don’t want, and attach different pieces together. This requires time and patience, as well as proper tools for weeding and dealing with lots of sticky trash. Cricut Maker 4 comes with a very simple weeding tool – you’ll want to buy more tools before your first project. The Cricut Design Space software offers a rotating set of suggested projects, with new ideas popping up as the seasons change. There is a community of contributors who post new ideas almost daily – from home decorations to drinkware to clothing to container labels and much more. You could definitely use Cricut Maker 4 as the foundation for a small crafting business, like a souvenir shop or an Etsy store. My favorite use for my Cricut so far has been making t-shirts for inside jokes. When somebody makes a good joke one day, I’ll put it on a shirt that night and come to work the next day wearing what they said. I also love the quality of Cricut Mugs, but my cabinet is full so I’ll need to accidentally break some before I can make more. Cricut Maker 4 review: Design Wider than a printer and needs space in front and behind Convenient storage for tools, pens, and blades Cricut Maker 4 needs room in front and behind to move the mat around (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Cricut Maker 4 looks a lot like a very wide printer. It is a squat box that opens to reveal a headliner and a tray for your materials or a cutting mat. If you don’t use Cricut Smart Material rolls, you’ll need a cutting mat to hold your material while the Cricut blade slices. The machine comes with a light grip mat that is appropriate for paper and vinyl, but you’ll need a stronger grip for thicker materials. Cricut Maker 4 needs plenty of room in front and behind when it’s working, but it closes up to be much more compact. The machine can handle cutting mats up to 12 inches wide, and it can cut projects that are very long if it uses Smart Materials. The machine has convenient storage space for some Cricut tools built in. I was able to store a number of extra cutting blades, as well as my weeding tools, all inside the Cricut’s storage compartment. It couldn’t hold everything – the brayer tool for pushing materials flat is too large, for instance – but it’s a convenient use of device space. My Cricut Maker 4 sample came in the seashell color, which is a lovely, light pink. However, I was jealous to learn that Michael’s has an exclusive sage color available. The capabilities are the same, I just like exclusives. Cricut Maker 4 can connect to your computer via Bluetooth, but it will need to connect via USB at least once for a firmware update and initial setup. It comes with a very long USB-C to USB-B cable, as well as a power adapter. Cricut Maker 4 review: Setup and ease of use Setup requires a USB connection (cable included) Use requires Cricut Design Space app for desktop or mobile The blade engaged on Cricut Maker 4 (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Cricut Maker 4 is easy to set up with Cricut Design Space. It won’t work with any other software, but there is a Cricut app available for MacOS, Windows, Android and iOS, so whatever device you use, you’ll be covered, with the exception of Chromebooks. There is no web-based setup option. For basic projects, Cricut Maker 4 can be very easy to use, but not without frustration or effort. Once your project is cut, weeding the scraps takes precision and patience, and this is where most of my projects failed when I accidentally ripped out something I wanted to keep. Having a good, bright light helps, as well as sharp eyesight. Cricut crafting is how I realized I needed to start wearing reading glasses. The worst part of Cricut crafting by far is Cricut Design Space. The more I use the software, the more I hope that Cricut takes a sledgehammer to the current build and starts from scratch. It is simply a difficult, buggy, poorly designed piece of software, and unfortunately it’s the gatekeeper for all Cricut crafting. You must use Design Space to use Cricut Maker 4. Fear not, because help is available from the community. I have joined Cricut fans on Reddit and Facebook and found plenty of friendly help, and there are tons of YouTubers and bloggers who are crafting with Cricut and ready to offer instructions and advice. Still, this isn’t a do-it-all-for-you crafting machine. This is a precise tool that will elevate your crafts to a new level of precision and refinement. You’ll be able to create items that look as good as products you’d buy in a store, but you’ll need to spend more time than you expect getting it right. I failed many times on my complex crafting projects, and I’ve put some even more advanced projects aside while I practice my technique on easier crafts. Cricut Maker 4 review: Should I buy Cricut Maker 4? If you are patient, craft-centric and interested in making incredible projects that will impress, go ahead and buy Cricut Maker 4. The results are stunning, and once you get the hang of your favorite type of projects, you’ll be able to crank out new items with ease. After a dozen t-shirts or so, I could easily whip up a fresh design and have it ready to wear in a couple of hours or less. If you’re a teacher, what are you waiting for?! Buy this now! or have your school buy one, or tell your friends on Facebook that they need to support their local teacher with a Cricut Maker 4. It’s an invaluable tool for educators – I was able to decorate every inch of my room, from the walls to the windows to the desks, at a tiny fraction of the normal cost. Actually, forget the normal cost because I never decorated as thoroughly before I had my own Cricut machine. I redecorated for every new lesson unit. Once you get the hang of basic decorations, you’ll start using Cricut to create useful class materials, and then it will really prove its worth. Do you need Cricut Maker 4 over Cricut Explore 4? Most people will probably be able to create everything they want with an Explore 4, though the flexibility and precision of Maker 4 is nice if you may someday want to incorporate felt or leather into your crafts. Cricut’s faux leather is an awesome material and it cuts beautifully into complex shapes. On the other hand, if wood is your thing, I’d look elsewhere. Cricut hasn’t fixed the firmware issue that caused my basswood projects to fail, and besides, it takes hours and hours to cut a wood project. Woodcrafters might want to consider a laser cutter, even though they are twice as expensive as Cricut Maker 4 for even a basic machine. I’d strongly recommend getting a Cricut bundle as well. The larger weeding tools and scraping tools are essential, and it’s nice to have a selection of materials on hand when you first get the new machine to try some projects before you settle into your creative groove. Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… [First reviewed March 2025] Source link #Cricut #Maker #review #elevating #crafting #height #leap Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter on the Eagles’ best side, western derbies, Harley Reid and Campbell Chesser West Coast coach Andrew McQualter on the Eagles’ best side, western derbies, Harley Reid and Campbell Chesser West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has made the frank admission he’s yet to determine the Eagles’ best side and he’s not going to be afraid to throw the magnets around to get the answer. Source link #West #Coast #coach #Andrew #McQualter #Eagles #side #western #derbies #Harley #Reid #Campbell #Chesser Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tamagotchi among finalists nominated for World Video Game Hall of Fame Tamagotchi among finalists nominated for World Video Game Hall of Fame ApocalypseShadow9h ago The obvious take is that Microsoft got their **** whooped again and again. It wasn’t for the lack of being feisty. Microsoft tried every tactic from buying exclusives, launching first, attacking Sony for not doing cross play, launching with a low priced system that couldn’t handle current Gen games, buying up publishers, etc. But the thing was, as Microsoft out it themselves, Sony has PSN that locked in customers to their platform. They weren’t stealing ***** if Sony had them with a catalog of games, more and better offerings of games to play, and a constant stream of exclusive games. Microsoft took many away. But Sony through China Hero, Korean game development, indie development, India Hero, etc, just added more games that Microsoft couldn’t take away. The only game that was worth Sony’s time was COD. And Microsoft couldn’t take that away. Microsoft’s big gamble to strip Sony of games backfired and Sony won by now having their competitor making games for them. Including first party games. The greatest embarrassment beyond RROD and trying to implement always online. Microsoft has been almost utterly destroyed. Because Sony continued to adapt. Microsoft tried upping their game with Forza. Sony went online with GT. Microsoft would try and counter with photogrammetry, Sony took it to VR for actual realism. Microsoft tried to copy their controller, Sony upped the ante by making Dual Sense. “The controller” for current Gen. Nintendo survived by going portable and getting out of the high end graphics race. But Microsoft, with all their money, all their rabid fans, were left to get their **** kicked. And I’m very happy about it. You can’t have trillions but not put in the effort and think you’re going to win. They never deserved to win. Source link #Tamagotchi #among #finalists #nominated #World #Video #Game #Hall #Fame Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

When to ‘spring forward’ for time change and why we do it When to ‘spring forward’ for time change and why we do it Most Americans should consider going to bed early Saturday night, because they are about to lose an hour of sleep. Daylight saving time is imminent, meaning that on Sunday, 2 a.m. will become 3 a.m. in the matter of a seconds. On the bright side, the “spring forward” will delay when day becomes night leading to sunnier drives home from work for many. The new time schedule will go until November, when standard time returns ahead of the holiday season. Here’s what to know about “spring forward” this weekend, including when the process began, which two states are exempt from it and efforts to end time changes permanently. Cancel daylight saving time? Elon Musk stirs debate. When does daylight saving time start? Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m. local time. What is daylight saving time? Daylight saving time is the time between March and November when most Americans adjust their clocks ahead by one hour. We lose an hour in March (as opposed to gaining an hour in the fall) to make for more daylight in the summer evenings. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal, or spring equinox, is on March 20, marking the start of the spring season. Hand holding smartphone and open the alarm clock setting. When does daylight saving time end? Daylight saving time ends for the year on Sunday, Nov. 2. Which states don’t observe daylight saving time? Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Because of its desert climate, Arizona doesn’t follow daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation). After most of the U.S. adopted the Uniform Time Act, the state figured that there wasn’t a good reason to adjust clocks to make sunset occur an hour later during the hottest months of the year. When did federal time changes start? The Standard Time Act of 1918 was the first law to implement standard and daylight saving times at the federal level. “Federal oversight of time zones began in 1918 with the enactment of the Standard Time Act, which vested the Interstate Commerce Commission with the responsibility for establishing boundaries between the standard time zones in the U.S.,” according to The U.S. Department of Transportation. “This responsibility was transferred from the Interstate Commerce Commission to DOT when Congress created DOT in 1966.” Who is in charge of daylight saving time? The DOT oversees the observance of daylight saving time, as well as U.S. time zones, according to the federal agency. The DOT cited energy reduction and reduced crime as reasons for having both standard and daylight saving time. Is daylight saving time ending? Recent bills that would make daylight saving time the national year-round standard have languished in committee after being introduced in January. Officials have vowed to put an end to the procedure, including President Donald Trump, who said in a Truth Social post in December that “the Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate daylight saving time.” However, since resuming office for his second term in January, the president has not issued any executive orders on the issue. Congress, which has a narrow GOP majority, has also not shown a major push on the issue. Contributing: Alexis Simmerman, Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman, James Powel, Emily DeLetter, Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY Network. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daylight saving time 2025: When we ‘spring forward’ for time change Source link #spring #time #change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

When does Grand Theft Auto VI come out? Release date info – NorthJersey.com When does Grand Theft Auto VI come out? Release date info – NorthJersey.com When does Grand Theft Auto VI come out? Release date info NorthJersey.comWould You Pay $100 for Grand Theft Auto VI? GizmodoGTA 6 release confirmed for fall 2025: What to expect from gameplay, price, and more MoneycontrolAnalyst thinks Take-Two will sell Grand Theft Auto 6 at an unprecedented $100 price point Video Games ChronicleGTA 6 trailer 2 has fans hyped again following new announcement GAMINGbible Source link #Grand #Theft #Auto #Release #date #info #NorthJersey.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Veterans say they feel betrayed after firing from federal jobs, including some who voted for Trump – PBS NewsHour Veterans say they feel betrayed after firing from federal jobs, including some who voted for Trump – PBS NewsHour Veterans say they feel betrayed after firing from federal jobs, including some who voted for Trump PBS NewsHourLawmakers push back on VA’s ‘reckless’ plan to cut about 80,000 positions Federal News NetworkVA plans to lay off as many as 83,000 employees this year Government Executive Source link #Veterans #feel #betrayed #firing #federal #jobs #including #voted #Trump #PBS #NewsHour Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gamble pays off as Waratahs women deny Force in classic Gamble pays off as Waratahs women deny Force in classic The NSW Waratahs have revived their Super Rugby Women’s title defence with a dramatic last-gasp 26-21 victory over the Western Force in Sydney. Replacement hooker Adiana Talakai touched down from a rolling maul with 38 seconds on the clock to give Waratahs the lead for the first time on Saturday. In an all-or-nothing play, the Waratahs had turned down the chance for Wallaroos goalkicker Arabella McKenzie to boot the team home with a penalty goal attempt from close range and just 10 metres to the left of the posts. The gamble paid off when the driving maul delivered to earn the Tahs their first win of the year after losing last week’s season-opening grand final rematch to the Fijian Drua. The Force looked to have banked the four competition points after centre Cecilia Smith crossed in the 64th minute to stretch her side’s lead to nine points. But flanker Leilani Nathan kick-started the comeback with a try 10 minutes from fulltime. The two sides had traded two first-half tries each, with Desiree Miller bagging a double for the Waratahs and flanker Anneka Stephens and No.8 Ashley Marsters scoring for the Force. Earlier on Saturday, the Queensland Reds opened their 2025 campaign in style with a 22-19 upset win over the Drua in Lautoka, Fiji. After leading 22-0, the Reds withstood a rousing comeback from the home side in steamy conditions to record their first triumph over the 2022 and 2023 champions in two years. The win was a worthy reward after the Reds could have withdrawn from the match, stayed at home and shared the points because of Cyclone Alfred disrupting flights out of Brisbane. Instead, the Reds elected to fly out early last Wednesday, rather than on Friday. Players left family and jobs early to make sure they were there for the kick-off. “I’m really proud of the girls,” co-captain Ivania Wong told Stan Sport. “Coming out today we wanted to represent and make everyone back at home proud so we hope we did that, especially with what our state is going through right now. “This is for everyone back home.” The Reds built their 22-point lead after 67 minutes through tries to co-captain Jemma Bemrose, fellow flanker Carola Kreis and winger Caitlin Urwin to silence the Churchill Park crowd. But three late strikes from Drua forwards Loraini Senivutu and Karalaini Naisewa plus a penalty try set up a grandstand finish with Queensland down to 14 players for the dying minutes. The victory sets up a Ballymore Stadium blockbuster derby on Sunday week against the Waratahs. Source link #Gamble #pays #Waratahs #women #deny #Force #classic Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis rests as Holy Year goes on without him Pope Francis rests as Holy Year goes on without him A Holy Year mass for volunteers will go ahead without Pope Francis as he continues to recover in hospital from double pneumonia. Source link #Pope #Francis #rests #Holy #Year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Byford man caught drink-driving in Port Hedland, more than five times the legal limit Byford man caught drink-driving in Port Hedland, more than five times the legal limit A 25-year-old Byford man has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Port Hedland after allegedly blowing a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit. Source link #Byford #man #caught #drinkdriving #Port #Hedland #times #legal #limit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vietnam tackles human trafficking with learning Vietnam tackles human trafficking with learning When Vi Do was just 15, he left his rice farm in a remote rural area of Vietnam and arrived in the capital Hanoi to find work as a shoe shine boy, living on the streets. It’s the path thousands of children take every year to try to make money for their families back home – but it often leaves them vulnerable to human trafficking. An *********** teacher found Vi and helped him get back into school — and later formed Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Twenty years later, Vi is now co-CEO of the foundation, where he tries to help other street kids get back into education and find a better future. Source link #Vietnam #tackles #human #trafficking #learning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak says Tesla ‘is the worst in the world’ at improving its technology for drivers Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak says Tesla ‘is the worst in the world’ at improving its technology for drivers Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak says a software’s user interface is “the most important thing”—and on that metric, Tesla fails miserably. An early Tesla adopter, Wozniak has since soured on the carmaker and CEO Elon Musk after a number of software changes he says destroyed the driving experience. Wozniak detailed his complaints in a recent interview. Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak was once bullish on Tesla—a decade ago, the early adopter waxed rhapsodic about loving his Model S “the most of all our cars—ever.” But Wozniak has soured on Tesla and CEO Elon Musk after a series of changes to Tesla’s interiors he said degraded the driving experience. “Coming from Apple, the user interface, the way you deal with technology, is the most important thing in the world to me,” Wozniak said in an interview with CNBC Wednesday. “And Tesla is the worst in the world at that.” “Every step up, where they changed a thing in the car, it got worse and worse and worse. And now it is just ********** for user interface,” he continued. What makes it **********, according to Wozniak, is the system’s constant changes. “Where to find the time of day changes depending on what [driving] mode you’re in,” he said. “The buttons that go through your six favorite channels don’t work if it’s satellite radio channels. It takes so many tries to hit one button in your jiggly car, and it just doesn’t work.” Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. The carmaker was an early pioneer of now-ubiquitous touchscreens in cars. Where drivers once had an array of knobs and switches in their vehicles’ dashboards, Tesla offered a single sleek screen, with options that could change based on a driver’s earlier selections. “Why have buttons when you have a screen?” one driver asked, praising Tesla’s approach not just for its futuristic look but for the way it allows the carmaker to update its controls seamlessly. (With no physical buttons, Tesla could rearrange the entire dashboard with a single software update.) But this futuristic look comes at a price, and for Wozniak, it’s the inability to ever truly know where a screen option is or what it does. “The modes hide things that aren’t there, and your finger knows how to get them,” he told CNBC. “Nothing makes sense in that car, intuitively.” Wozniak shared the story of his wife, who was once pulled over after failing to signal a turn while driving a Tesla. The policeman had “never seen this yoke steering wheel,” Wozniak said. “When you’re already turning you can’t find the buttons for the turn signal.” But the kicker was when the cop asked for the driver’s insurance information, which most drivers typically keep in the glove compartment. “It’s kind of a new Tesla, with new software—[and] there’s no button for the glove box,” Wozniak said. “You have to go and search in menus until you stumble into finding it—it’s horrible.” This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #Apple #cofounder #Steve #Wozniak #Tesla #worst #world #improving #technology #drivers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Atomfall Hands-On Impressions – Sparking the Wicker | TNS Atomfall Hands-On Impressions – Sparking the Wicker | TNS TNS: Mixing brutal combat and survival elements with the English countryside and some Doctor Who flavor? Welcome to Atomfall. Source link #Atomfall #HandsOn #Impressions #Sparking #Wicker #TNS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA Election 2025: Roe electorate candidates cast votes and talk to voters on big issues WA Election 2025: Roe electorate candidates cast votes and talk to voters on big issues Candidates for the Roe electorate made a last pitch to voters in Katanning on Saturday. Nationals candidate and Roe incumbent Peter Rundle thanked his family, friends and volunteers who had rallied around him in the final weeks of the campaign, spreading themselves across 36 polling booths. He also said he had dedicated himself to standing up for regional values and concerns, including the Federal ban on live sheep exports and the reform of the Firearms Act, in his role to “pass on the feelings of my constituents to the wider State Parliament”. His wife Andrea, who joined him at Katanning Town Hall, said there had been “comradery”, “positivity” and “support” among the candidates throughout the election. Camera IconNationals incumbent Peter Rundle with wife Andrea Rundle. Credit: Hannah Whitehead/Narrogin Observer/Narrogin Observer Labor candidate Brad Willis was also at the town hall and confident he could steal the “very difficult” seat from the Roe incumbent with his party improving every year. “I can’t hope for any more than that,” he said. Speaking from the Williams polling station after an earlier visit to Wagin, Liberal Party candidate Marie O’Dea said she had noticed a lack of Labor presence in the region. Ms O’Dea said she is confident Roger Cook will get “a strong message” this election with regional voters experiencing “buyers’ regret” since Labor’s win four years ago. “Nobody wants to buy what Labor is selling,” she said. Ms O’Dea said the main issues in the electorate were housing, cost of living, and gun laws. She called the failed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act “devious”. Camera IconLiberals volunteer Gerard Paganoni, Andrea Rundle, Nationals supporter Norman Flugge, Labor candidate Brad Willis, and Liam Hutton. Credit: Hannah Whitehead/Narrogin Observer/Narrogin Observer All three candidates had plans to visit polling booths around the Great Southern and Southern Wheatbelt area. Voters were mixed in their support with Katanning local Tuhiwai McRoberts voting for the Nationals WA because he did not believe Labor had “done their job” for regional communities and country people. Mr McRoberts said he was thinking of his future and voting for the party he believes will do “what’s best for country people as well at the city”. Katanning local Tracey Palmer was also passionate about regional issues, but said she was giving her vote to the Liberals in solidarity with the Keep The Sheep movement. “The farmers need every bit of help they can get,” Ms Palmer said. Camera IconKatanning woman Tracey Palmer is voting Liberal after federal Labor banned live sheep export. Credit: Hannah Whitehead/Narrogin Observer/Narrogin Observer Greens supporter and Katanning resident Liam Hutton said decided to hand out flyers for candidate David Worth after chatting to him in Woolworths. Mr Hutton said he felt despair about the “inaction towards climate change” and the conversation with Mr Worth “pricked his conscience” as they discussed the role climate change plays in natural disasters such as the LA fires and the current Queensland cyclone. Despite feeling like he’s “whistling in the breeze” against popular Nationals candidate Mr Rundle, Mr Hutton said he had pledged his allegiance to ensuring a healthier environment for his grandchildren to grow up in. Camera IconGreens supporter and Katanning local Liam Hutton decided to hand out flyers for candidate David Worth after meeting him at Woolworths. Credit: Hannah Whitehead/Narrogin Observer/Narrogin Observer Source link #Election #Roe #electorate #candidates #cast #votes #talk #voters #big #issues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall – IGN I Went Mad and Killed Everyone in Atomfall – IGN IGN : Atomfall gave me a cricket bat, so I decided to hit every head in Britain with it. Source link #Mad #Killed #Atomfall #IGN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump signs executive order on student loan forgiveness program Trump signs executive order on student loan forgiveness program Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that it was a White House aide who talked about the order. (NewsNation) — President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order directing the Education and Treasury Departments to make sure those who are in organizations supporting what the administration says are “********” activities can’t benefit from the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program. “It refocuses PSLF on its original intent of encouraging Americans to enter essential public services roles such as nursing rather than activist groups,” a fact sheet put out by the White House said. As part of the loan forgiveness program, those working for the government or a non-profit organization have their loans forgiven after making the “equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments.” List of Social Security Administration offices DOGE is closing Trump on jobs report Also on Friday, Trump spoke about the economy in the Oval Office following the release of the February jobs report. U.S. employers added a solid 151,000 jobs last month, up from 125,000 in January. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1%. Trump attributed this to auto companies thinking “things are happening.” “They’re already geared up,” Trump said. Trump’s remarks come a day after he postponed 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada. Linda McMahon: Federal student aid could shift to another department Trump told reporters “there hasn’t been very much” disturbance in the economy because of the tariffs, as numbers have just come out, although the stock markets has experienced downturns. “There could be some disturbance, a little bit of disturbance,” Trump said. “I solved a little bit of that because I have respect for our auto companies, and I gave them a little bit of a month reprieve because it was was unfair, although I’m sure they’ll take advantage of it.” When asked whether recent federal government layoffs will weaken the labor market, the president said he doesn’t think so. “I think the labor market is going to be fantastic, but it’s going to have high-paying manufacturing jobs as opposed to government jobs,” Trump said. “We had too many people in government. You can’t just do that.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Refresh for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Source link #Trump #signs #executive #order #student #loan #forgiveness #program Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Split Fiction Best Settings Guide For PC & Steam Deck Split Fiction Best Settings Guide For PC & Steam Deck We’re here to break it down, from story to gameplay and whether or not it’s worth your money…Split Fiction is the latest game from hazelight studios – a team that has put a unique focus on story-drive & co-op experiences over chasing the live service unicorn. Source link #Split #Fiction #Settings #Guide #Steam #Deck Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

At least 11 killed in Russian missile strike on Ukraine At least 11 killed in Russian missile strike on Ukraine A Russian missile and drone attack in eastern Ukraine has killed at least 11 people and wounded 30 others. Source link #killed #Russian #missile #strike #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Worst Mortal Kombat Fatality Moves In History Worst Mortal Kombat Fatality Moves In History Here’s a list of 10 worst Fatality moves in Mortal Kombat games in the past 3 decades. Source link #Worst #Mortal #Kombat #Fatality #Moves #History Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Says Shroud on Why He Doesn’t Watch Anime, While Proudly Flaunting His 3 Star Wars Lightsabers Says Shroud on Why He Doesn’t Watch Anime, While Proudly Flaunting His 3 Star Wars Lightsabers One of the more popular video game streamers, Shroud aka mEclipse is a professional video gamer with a background in Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant. The streamer has amassed a massive number of followers online, with his YouTube channel crossing over 6.7 million subs. He’s not without fair share of controversies though, and a recent remark by Shroud regarding anime as being ‘not real’ has drawn in the ire of fans worldwide, with many pointing toward his hypocrisy. Shroud avoids watching anime since it’s ‘not real’ Shroud is not exactly fond of anime | Image Credit: YouTube/Shroud Speaking out on a recent stream, Shroud explained why he does not watch anime. According to the streamer, he refuses to watch anime since it does not seem realistic. This is quite the controversial take, especially if one takes into consideration that the main draw of anime is in its exaggerated, ‘unrealistic’ nature. After all, fictional media draws in on its unique charms by not conforming to realistic norms. I can’t watch stuff that’s not real. He went on to further say that anime ‘lacks emotion’, emphasizing that the content portrayed most certainly does not resonate with him. Again, this is yet another controversial take, and while a matter of personal opinion, still objectively wrong – after all, anime does feature a vibrant selection of stories and plotlines, once we look past the usual shonen and/or harem recycled series that keep popping up every season. To make matters worse however, Shroud has explicitly mentioned this while owning 3 whole real-life replicas of Lightsabers. None of these media are known to be grounded in reality | Image Credit: YouTube/Shroud For the uninitiated, Lightsabers are the main tool of battle for both the Jedi and Sith within the Star Wars franchise, which remains immensely popular to this day. I have, like, three lightsabers. Star Wars is, after all, a fictional franchise at the end of the day, with a heavy focus on themes that make it a far cry from anything grounded or realistic. As such, comparing Star Wars to anime and saying it is on a higher ground is objectively wrong, and Shroud’s take cannot be justified here. One could also argue that Shroud has not been exposed to cult classic anime, such as the Dragon Ball Z series or Naruto, and as such is basing his opinions on the uglier section of the media. The whole statement stands as hypocritical, and in general is a really weird thing to say instead of admitting that the content is not to your liking – there was no need to further justify the matter, at least in this manner. Fictional media does not border on realism, and that’s perfectly fine Realism is not always desirable | Image Credit: YouTube/Shroud Some of the best fictional works heavily detract from realism in favor of fantasy and unique storytelling. Lord of the Rings, for example, derives itself upon epic high fantasy, in a world filled with magic and elves. It still remains as one of the most beloved works of fiction to this day, and the same can be said for most anime. Shonen entries such as Dragon Ball Z for example, which while nearly not as nuanced, were a big part of many childhoods, and has evolved and grown over time. Power fantasy – while sometimes comical and downright silly, is still enjoyable, regardless of the part of the continent it arose from. Source link #Shroud #Doesnt #Watch #Anime #Proudly #Flaunting #Star #Wars #Lightsabers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]