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Apple’s M3 MacBook Air is up to $300 off right now Apple’s M3 MacBook Air is up to $300 off right now We love a good deal on a great laptop around these parts and that’s exactly the case with Apple’s M3-powered MacBook Air. The 2024 machine is on ***** at Amazon with discounts of up to $300. The base model can be yours for $899, which is $200 off and close to a record-low price. This 13-inch variant has 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. You’ll find the steepest discount on an M3 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM and double the SSD storage at 512GB. That’s $300 off at $1,199. Apple The M3 MacBook Air from Apple is our current pick for the best overall laptop on the market. The system is currently on ***** for up to $300 off, which is a solid deal. $899 at Amazon The M3 MacBook Air is our pick for the best MacBook and our top recommendation for the best laptop overall. (I own one personally and am very happy with it.) We gave the system a score of 90 in our review, lauding it for fast performance, as well as the sleek and study design (including a great trackpad and keyboard). It looks and sounds great too thanks to the Liquid Retina display and quad-speaker array. What’s more, the M3 MacBook Air supports Apple Intelligence features. Ultimately, the blend of performance and portability is hard to beat. While this is an attractive deal, there’s one important factor to bear in mind. Apple just this week announced the M4 MacBook Air. We’ve yet to review the latest system, so we can’t say for sure how it stacks up against last year’s model. But it’s worth considering that an upgraded model is right around the corner before you take the plunge on this deal — especially given that Apple has dropped the starting price of the base M4 Air to $999. That’s $100 less than the current regular price of the M3 and $100 more than you can get the laptop for through this deal. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Source link #Apples #MacBook #Air Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Birds’ nests in Amsterdam are made up of plastic from 30 years ago Birds’ nests in Amsterdam are made up of plastic from 30 years ago A coot’s nest filled with plastic rubbish in Amsterdam AUKE-FLORIAN HIEMSTRA Covid-19 face masks, a chocolate wrapper from 1994 and a 30-year-old polystyrene burger box – the nests of Amsterdam’s Eurasian coots chart changes to consumer society through plastic waste. Usually, Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) build their waterside nests from scratch each year using natural, biodegradable materials like rushes, reeds and leaves. But in Amsterdam’s busy city centre, such materials are in short supply along the riverbanks. Instead, these coots rely on plastic litter to build their nests, says Auke-Florian Hiemstra at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden,… Source link #Birds #nests #Amsterdam #plastic #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin to stay under pressure in the near term, JPMorgan warns Bitcoin to stay under pressure in the near term, JPMorgan warns JPMorgan doesn’t expect a big move higher in crypto in the near future. Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin rallied to start the week following a social media update by President Donald Trump on the widely expected bitcoin stockpile, which has become a “strategic crypto reserve.” Those gains quickly reversed as part of a broader sell-off on tariff concerns, but there’s also lingering skepticism about the crypto reserve now that the market has had some time to digest it, JPMorgan’s Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou said in a note Wednesday. “Overall we believe that crypto markets are likely to remain under pressure over the near term,” he said. “Not only is there skepticism about congressional approval for such a strategic crypto reserve, but also the feasibility of including smaller tokens outside bitcoin and [ether] given their higher risk and volatility.” Panigirtzoglou went on to highlight that bitcoin reserves have failed to gain traction at the state level, with Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming rejecting proposals due to concerns about risk and volatility. The central banks of Switzerland and Poland have also rejected the idea, he noted. With the market still absent a crypto specific catalyst, demand for bitcoin has weakened, he also pointed out. “Institutional investors appeared to have also reduced their positions due to lack of positive catalysts and due to momentum decay,” he said. “Our futures position proxies for bitcoin and [ether] based on open interest changes in CME futures contracts, have subsided but rather modestly … suggesting there is room for further position unwinding, especially now that momentum traders have started building up short positions.” Another sign of weaker demand is the recent $2 billion convertible debt issued by Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, Panigirtzoglou said. Since the election, Strategy and bitcoin miners such as Mara Holdings have raised large amounts of capital by issuing equity and debt, which has contributed to bitcoin’s price appreciation. But now the terms of these deals are “increasingly more investor-friendly over the past month or so,” he explained, “indicating that investors are becoming more cautious and more selective.” Source link #Bitcoin #stay #pressure #term #JPMorgan #warns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

About 20 countries could join Ukraine coalition, *** says About 20 countries could join Ukraine coalition, *** says About 20 countries are interested in joining a “coalition of the willing” to help Ukraine, according to *** officials. It is not thought every one of the countries, which are largely from Europe and the Commonwealth, would necessarily send troops but some could provide other support. The plan, spearheaded by the *** and France, was set out by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at this weekend’s summit of 18 European and ********* leaders, and would work to uphold any ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said such a move “can’t be allowed” because it would amount to the “direct, official and unveiled involvement of Nato members in the war against Russia”. It comes as Kyiv attempts to mend relations with Washington after the US paused its military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing in a bid to bring President Zelensky to the negotiating table. Speaking on a visit to a defence firm in Merseyside, Sir Keir said it would be a “big mistake” to think that “all we’ve got to do is wait for a deal now” between Ukraine and Russia, which US President Donald Trump claims to be attempting to broker. The PM said it would be crucial that “if there is a deal – and we don’t know there will be – that we defend the deal”, which meant ensuring Ukraine was “in the strongest position”. But the PM stressed that defence plan should be made “in conjunction with the United States… it’s that ability to work with the United States and our European partners that has kept the peace for 80 years now”. It is understood a meeting of officials was held on Tuesday to discuss providing security guarantees following any peace deal. British officials said it was “early days” but welcomed what they described the expressions of interest in joining a “coalition of the willing” as a “highly positive step”. The Prime Minister’s Deputy Official Spokesman said the government had been “very clear that it is for Europe and for the *** to step up and I think you are seeing evidence of that consistently.” The *** and France have proposed a one-month truce “in the air, at sea and on energy infrastructure”, backed up by a coalition of supportive western countries, but this has been rejected by Russia. The *** announced a £1.6bn missile deal for Ukraine on Sunday and has now signed another deal with an Anglo-American security firm Anduril, to provide Ukraine with more advanced attack drones. Defence Secretary John Healey is preparing for talks with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth in Washington DC as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the latest deal, worth nearly £30m and backed by the International Fund for Ukraine. Healey said: “The *** has already provided more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine’s armed forces, which have proved vital in disrupting Russian troop advances and targeting positions behind the front line. “With a £2.26bn loan from seized Russian assets, plus £1.6 billion worth of air defence missiles announced for Ukraine in the last week, the *** is continuing to show leadership in securing a lasting peace for Ukraine.” The deal will see Kyiv supplied with cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m systems – designed to monitor an area before striking targets that enter it – to help tackle Russian aggression in the ****** Sea. The announcement comes amid concerns that the US move to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine will affect the country’s ability to use western weaponry and deprive it of advanced information about incoming threats. In Brussels, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, held an emergency defence summit as the EU grapples with the prospect of Trump reducing security assistance for Europe. Proposing an 800 billion euro (£670 billion) defence package, von der Leyen said this was a “watershed moment”, adding: “Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself, as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace.” European Union leaders met Zelensky, who thanked them for their support, and said: “We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words, we feel it.” Turkey indicated Thursday it could play a part in peacekeeping efforts, while Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Irish troops could be involved in peacekeeping but would not be deployed in any “deterrent force”. *********** Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also said he is “open” to sending troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers. On Thursday Russia rejected calls for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova telling reporters: “Firm agreements on a final settlement are needed. Without all that, some kind of respite is absolutely unacceptable.” Source link #countries #join #Ukraine #coalition Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Inside the community creating the golf courses of their dreams — for a video game Inside the community creating the golf courses of their dreams — for a video game They didn’t have much, but they could create. Money was tight for the family, so they built their own board games growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada. One year, Matthew Fehr’s father created his own little golf board game out of huge bristle boards with holes drawn in and different clubs tapered off. They rolled dice to see where the ball went, with sand traps and water hazards and trees along the way. It lit a spark in Matthew. Sure, he liked golf as a game, but there was more pulling him in — he could create new worlds this way. Soon he was 7 years old drawing up golf courses on sheets of paper. In high school he discovered the website Golf Club Atlas and practically lived on what he called the “greatest resource ever.” He scoured through photo profiles of courses around the world, places he couldn’t go, and read through discussion boards on the best golf architects. The world of golf architecture is exclusive. And expensive. One does not simply just jump into designing golf courses. So that was a dream Fehr had to put aside, settling for old-school computer games like Sid Meier’s SimGolf as he pursued a career as a chef. “There has to be something out there that will allow me to build golf courses,” he thought. Then, seven or so years ago, Fehr found an independent game called “The Golf Club.” It wasn’t very popular outside of the niche gaming world. It didn’t have licensing deals at the time like EA Sports did. But it did have a remarkably in-depth course designer tool. He wasn’t a gamer nor was he particularly tech savvy, but this was his calling. He taught himself how to do the one thing he always wanted to do. The kid playing bristle board dice golf was designing golf courses. “It just blew my mind,” he said. The game grew in popularity and was bought by gaming goliath 2K, which just released a new version — “PGA Tour 2K25”. Fehr — he’s better known by his tag, MattyfromCanada — is one of the most respected designers in an international community, so much so he’s been contracted by 2K to design official courses for each new version of the game. He is, no matter how you want to define it, a professional golf course architect, his courses put alongside Pebble Beach, Royal Portrush and Oakmont in the game. “I’ve told my boss at work,” Fehr said, “my dream, if there’s ever even a chance I could ever design a golf course for real life, I will run out of the building and you will never see me again.” He’s just one member of a fascinating world of obsession, a group of creatives that range from 15-year-old high schoolers to 70-year-old retirees spending their lives on message boards, Discord chats and YouTube streams to interact, create and discover the best courses in the game. Some can build a course in 10-20 hours. Others will sweat it out for more than 200 hours to create their masterpiece. Some courses are hyper realistic, forming homages to their favorite golden age architects. Others are fantastical, only possible in a video game world. But over the last decade, these people have created a community. This summer, Fehr and a few others will fly to Scotland for a golf trip to play St. Andrews and North Berwick. Others meet up each year, taking turns hosting the others. Some were die-hard gamers. Some don’t touch a single other video game. Some turned this passion into jobs at golf architecture firms. Others got hired by gaming studios. But the story of this design world isn’t about any of that. It’s about getting to be who they always thought they were. The montage launches with five minutes of clips of every course you wish you could play. There are heathland style tracks, and some sandbelt beauties. There are absurdist gems in the mountains with rocky creeks and tee shots into cliffs. There are stadium courses that look like TPC Sawgrass on steroids and parkland courses inspired by Augusta National. Then the Twitch stream begins, and a soft-spoken Englishman in his 30s begins to speak. His name is Ben Page. Others know him as b101. Either way, “everybody wants to be like Ben,” one fellow designer said. Today is the group stage draw for the World Cup of Design 2025. The average person will have no clue this ever happened. But for the 300 people who did watch, this is their Super Bowl. Forty of the best designers in the PGA 2K world will be drawn into eight groups to compete through a knockout style format to crown the best course of the year. That opening montage? Those were the previous six winners. Page then welcomes his co-host for the draw. “If you don’t recognize Andre, he once designed golf courses,” Page says in a dry tone. “Once,” quips Andre Quenneville, another 30-something man with glasses and a light beard. Quenneville, or CrazyCanuck, is something of the godfather of this community. He’s the Velvet Underground of 2K course design. Maybe not that many people actually watched his videos, but everyone who did started felt compelled to become a designer. But he’s more of a background figure now. Part of that is having children and a family. Much of it is becoming disillusioned or disappointed with recent editions of the game and its design tool. But the executives at HB Studios, the creators of “The Golf Club” that 2K Sports acquired in 2021, were smart enough to know that to get people back on board and excited with this newest game, they needed CrazyCanuck on board. They looped him in early to preview the new design tool, and suddenly he’s back. His excitement has others excited too. Quenneville was far from the first to launch this community, but he ended up being the whole who brought in new audiences. He’s a teacher by trade, teaching high school math and science. Yeah, he golfed, but not too intensely. He didn’t know the design world. He’s not a huge gamer, either. But like Fehr and so many others, he had a fascination with courses and drew them out as a kid. Then, in 2014, the first edition of “The Golf Club” came out. That game is a story of its own for another day. It was cool and new and anti-establishment, with gameplay that felt like golf — as frustrating as it was rewarding. But the big sell was the “Greg Norman Golf Course Designer,” a partnership with Norman’s design company that allowed the firm to render course proposals for potential clients. The tech initially was not very good, but improved quickly. Quenneville’s first courses were “absolute garbage,” and there was nobody making videos explaining how to use it. They were all on their own. But he had an idea. He went into forums and said, “Hey, if you post your courses here I’ll review them on YouTube.” Quenneville was far worse than the guys he was critiquing, but by reviewing these courses he could hone in and figure out how these people were making them. How’d they do that bunker lip? How’d they plant it that way? This was a decade ago, so the tools were far behind. “It was like the dark ages,” he joked, so the best designers were the ones discovering tricks to create visuals. Quenneville becoming the primary “reviewer” coincided with the creation of a niche website called TGC Tours. See, the original games didn’t have any career mode or tour system, so a group of buddies created their own online league where people played the same courses and submitted their scores to the website. It grew and grew to where there are now thousands of members, with dozens of different tiers and tours and competitions. TGC Tours became as important as “The Golf Club” itself, enough so that later versions of the game have added an “online societies” mode where these created online tours were actually inside the game. But possibly the most lasting element of TGC Tours is that it became the primary hub for designers to meet in the forums and talk. That’s where they shared courses, gave notes and tried to create ones good enough to be picked for the next TGC Tour season. It created community. Quenneville got better at making his own courses. Much better. “Then I went on my teaching knowledge and said, ‘There’s an opportunity here for me to make some really simplistic, easy-to-start tutorials because there’s a massive hole in that.’” Those videos gained popularity around 2019 as “The Golf Club” was on its third edition, but the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a new wave. Suddenly everyone in the world was stuck at home, and wanted a hobby. Some of them found this game, and then they found Quenneville’s videos. One of the people constantly commenting in those early streams was Page. He didn’t even have the game yet. A CrazyCanuck video popped into his feed and he was hooked, because unlike Quenneville, Page is a true golf architecture nerd through and through. In the description of his newest club, Ferncliff, he cites Myopia, Sleepy Hollow, Boston GC, Essex, Beau Desert and Ohoopee as inspirations. But like Quenneville, Page is also an educator, teaching high school French and ******* in England’s midlands. He thinks that’s why he was able to pick it up so quickly. Within weeks, he was one of the better designers. The natural, if you will. By the time 2K Sports bought HB Studios and created “PGA Tour 2K21”, they were hiring Page as a designer. “You’ll see a lot of people where they have command of the tools and can make everything look very pretty, but the golf is not very interesting, one dimensional,” Page said. “Or there’s the reverse where the golf is great but the visuals aren’t. Or, because it’s a video game, you have people almost trying to do too much and throw everything at one course because you can. It’s all about finding a balance.” But the beauty of the community is the variance inside it, though it remains mostly male. What was once 10 top designers has become closer to 70. There’s Page (@b101tgc), perhaps the top dog nowadays. He has a combination of visuals and architecture know-how many are trying to catch up to. And the teacher found his own niche creating tutorials that focus on taking designers from good to great. There’s Adam Benjamin (@articfury1). He’s the elusive artist, hardly ever talking in the community but popping in out of nowhere to release a new course with spectacular, jaw-dropping visuals. There’s Tanner Bronson (@DTannerBronson), a younger designer who turned his hobby into a job working at a golf architecture firm. There’s Christian Andrade (@SleepyPanda_7), a former golf pro who found Quenneville’s videos, got really good at design and got hired by HB Studios as a senior level editor. He gets a lot of credit for taking the criticism of 2K23, looping in the design community and creating a design tool for 2K25 that has them all giddy. But the cool part is the ways the designers have created their own world inside a world. They’ll have contests where you have to make a course as a specific designer. Or a certain era or region. Many have gotten in the habit of sending each other plots of land to adapt to and create inspiration. Quenneville was on the first trip to Myrtle Beach organized by the TGC Tours founder. Now most of them go on a different trip each year. Quenneville has become so close with one designer that their wives hang out. Some people don’t even design courses anymore but still go on the trips as friends. “Every time you’re just like, oh my god, is there any axe ********* in here? Who are these random guys?” Quenneville said. “But you’re so comfortable with them.” “They are genuine friends,” Fehr said. “You’re all golf geeks that have an extremely niche interest inside of an extremely niche interest,” Page said. “So people tend to want to chat about the same things.” Yes, there is sometimes tension in the forums. Sometimes the fantastical designers and the realists disagree on judging results. Sometimes players don’t take criticism well, because it’s not exactly fun being told something you just spent 100 hours on isn’t very good. Sometimes the elite players and the elite designers go at it. But overall, it’s a group of people who just want to create. “Not too many people in the community are into it for how many plays you got,” Quenneville said. “It’s just the process, or being picked to host a tournament on TGC Tours is a cool experience, but for the most part people like sharing it with people in their community.” There’s a question they all get asked most often, though. One this reporter of course asked as well. How long does it take to design a course? None of them quite have their answer down, because it depends. Quenneville is the first to say he’s not the most detail obsessed, so in his prime he could make a pretty good course in 20 to 40 hours. Page’s simplest courses take that long, or he could take 200 hours. Fehr, yeah he’s going to be around 100 to 200 hours without a doubt. He’****** 300 hours before over several months. He might spend a whole night mastering one bunker. And all these guys have day jobs. At the peak of his obsession, Quenneville would be at the dinner table thinking about what hole he was going to work on, or wonder if he could take off work to finish a course. Now, he’s much more likely to put his kids to bed and spend an hour or two planing grass while listening to a podcast. But Fehr took exception when asked about how much time he takes living in this community. Sure, he makes time to see his family. And yes, he does go see his friends in Saskatoon when he can. But there was something about the suggestion that his design world was him running away from the real world that didn’t sit right with him. Was his design life not as valid? Was living out some version of his dream not as substantial? He wasn’t avoiding his friends. “These are my friends.” (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Courtesy 2K) Source link #community #creating #golf #courses #dreams #video #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Marvel 1943 Voice Actor Hints At Possible Release Date Marvel 1943 Voice Actor Hints At Possible Release Date Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra doesn’t have an official release date or even window yet beyond “2025,” but according to one of the game’s voice actors, we could be playing it by the end of the year. The game’s ****** Panther voice actor, Khary Payton, told The Direct, “We’re still working. We’re planning on 2025. We’re thinking like a Christmas situation. But I’m so excited.” While the game seemingly already had a 2025 release window, Payton’s comment at least narrows down a potential launch month. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | Official Cinematic Story Trailer While December might be an odd time to release a game, some big ones have released during that month. These include games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, The Callisto Protocol, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra follows Captain America and ****** Panther has them take on the Axis powers of Nazi Germany. It’ll feature an original World War II story set in Paris, France, as players control four heroes, the other two of whom are Howling Commandos member Gabriel Jones and Nanali, the leader of the Wakandan spy network. There will also be other supporting characters, such as Howard Stark as well as a new original character named Julie, who is an ally to the French Resistance against Hydra and Nazis. Marvel 1943 is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 over at developer Skydance New Media, with producers Amy Hennig and Julian Beak at the helm. Source link #Marvel #Voice #Actor #Hints #Release #Date Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research Private Venus Mission Plans to Retrieve Cloud Samples for Life Research A private space mission is being developed to collect atmospheric samples from Venus and transport them to Earth for analysis. The initiative, led by planetary scientists and supported by commercial spaceflight companies, is focused on determining whether Venus’ clouds could support life. The planet’s atmosphere, composed largely of sulfuric acid, has long been thought to be inhospitable. However, new findings suggest that these extreme conditions may not entirely rule out the presence of organic chemistry essential for life. The planned mission would involve a probe designed to capture mist from Venus’ cloud layers, potentially offering the first direct evidence of whether complex molecules can exist in such an environment. Studies Suggest Sulfuric Acid May Support Organic Chemistry According to findings presented by Massachusetts Institute of Technology planetary scientist Iaroslav Iakubivskyi at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, laboratory research indicates that sulfuric acid can facilitate the stability of nucleic and amino acids, which are fundamental to biological systems. It was stated that instead of being a hostile element, sulfuric acid might act as a solvent capable of sustaining essential molecular processes. To validate these hypotheses, physical samples from Venus would be required. Mission Plans and Technology Development As per reports, the mission, named Morning Star, is being developed in collaboration with private spaceflight company Rocket Lab. The first phase, set for launch in 2026, will involve a probe descending through Venus’ atmosphere to study the size and distribution of its sulfuric acid droplets. A subsequent mission would utilise a specialised two-ton rocket to retrieve cloud samples, which would then be sent into Venusian orbit for collection by a returning spacecraft. If successful, it would mark the first privately-led interplanetary mission. Prototype Testing and Future Exploration The cloud-capturing technology has been modelled after desert plants capable of extracting moisture from the air. A prototype, constructed with a mesh system designed to attract ionised atmospheric particles, has undergone testing in controlled laboratory settings. Additional trials have been conducted in high-altitude environments, such as Mount Washington in New Hampshire, as well as volcanic regions like Kilauea in Hawaii, where atmospheric conditions partially resemble those found on Venus. The last direct measurements of Venus’ clouds were taken in 1985 by the Soviet VEGA mission, which deployed atmospheric balloons. Interest in Venus exploration has resurged, with both NASA and the European Space Agency planning missions to study the planet within the next decade. For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub. Source link #Private #Venus #Mission #Plans #Retrieve #Cloud #Samples #Life #Research Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Judge extends block on Trump’s federal assistance freeze indefinitely Judge extends block on Trump’s federal assistance freeze indefinitely Washington — A federal judge in Rhode Island barred the Trump administration from freezing federal assistance, extending the block he put in place weeks ago in a case brought by a group of 23 states and the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge John McConnell issued a preliminary injunction Thursday that prohibits agencies from halting the flow of federal funds awarded to the states through grants, contracts or other financial assistance based on a memo from the Office of Management and Budget issued during President Trump’s first days in office. “The executive’s categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government,” McConnell, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, wrote. “The interaction of the three co-equal branches of government is an intricate, delicate, and sophisticated balance — but it is crucial to our form of constitutional governance. Here, the executive put itself above Congress.” The judge said that the OMB order freezing federal funds across the government was “without regard to Congress’s authority to control spending,” and found that the Trump administration failed to point to any statutory or constitutional authority to impose the government-wide pause. “The court is not limiting the executive’s discretion or micromanaging the administration of federal funds,” McConnell wrote. “Rather, consistent with the Constitution, statutes, and caselaw, the court is simply holding that the executive’s discretion to impose its own policy preferences on appropriated funds can be exercised only if it is authorized by the congressionally approved appropriations statutes.” He said that the freeze has impacted an array of programs, including Head Start and other childcare initiatives, as well as law enforcement and public safety agencies that rely on the federal dollars. McConnell had issued a temporary order at the end of January that ordered OMB to keep federal assistance flowing. His decision, as well as a February order finding that the Trump administration failed to comply with that directive, has made him a target of Mr. Trump’s supporters. He is one of several federal judges who have ruled against the Trump administration at the early stages of cases and faced threats of impeachment by congressional Republicans. The case before McConnell was brought by the group of states and the District of Columbia in response to the OMB memo issued in late January that called for federal agencies to temporarily pause grants, loans and other federal assistance programs that were implicated by Mr. Trump’s executive orders. The memo targeted roughly $3 trillion in federal assistance programs. Shortly after it was issued, OMB walked back the memo amid widespread chaos and confusion over what funds were at risk, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said only the memo was rescinded, and the freeze itself would remain in force. The states brought their challenge to the OMB funding freeze in late January and argued that the directive violated federal law and the separation of powers. In his decision, McConnell called OMB’s pause on federal assistance “indiscriminate and unpredictable,” and he said it is “disingenuous” to suggest that the challenged pauses stem from independent agency decisions, instead of the OMB directive. “Overall, the OMB directive amounted to a command, not a suggestion, that agency defendants shall execute a categorical, indefinite funding freeze to align funding decisions with the president’s priorities,” the judge wrote. He also noted that there is no evidence Mr. Trump followed the federal law that lays out the procedures for withholding or cutting money appropriated by Congress, the Impoundment Control Act. The law requires the president to send a special message to Congress detailing the request to rescind or withhold funds, which McConnell said Mr. Trump did not do. McConnell wrote that the Trump administration “abruptly froze” billions of dollars in federal funding for an indefinite ******* of time. “It is difficult to perceive any rationality in this decision — let alone thoughtful consideration of practical consequences — when these funding pauses endanger the states’ ability to provide vital services, including but not limited to public safety, health care, education, childcare, and transportation infrastructure,” he said. Similar challenges are underway in federal district courts across the East Coast. A judge in Washington, D.C., has also barred the Trump administration from pausing the federal aid. The OMB funding freeze is among an array of actions taken since Mr. Trump returned to office that is part of his plan to shrink the size of the federal government and spending. He created the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to spearhead the effort. Mr. Trump has said DOGE is led by Elon Musk, though the White House has claimed its acting administrator is Amy Gleason, who has worked for DOGE’s precursor entity. More from CBS News Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #Judge #extends #block #Trumps #federal #assistance #freeze #indefinitely Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Albania bans TikTok amid concerns over child violence Albania bans TikTok amid concerns over child violence Albania’s government has decided to shut down TikTok for 12 months, blaming the video-sharing platform for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Education Minister Ogerta Manastirliu said they are in contact with TikTok on installing filters like parental control and the inclusion of the Albanian language in the application. Authorities had conducted 1300 meetings with some 65,000 parents who “recommended and were in favour of the shut down or limiting the TikTok platform,” the minister said. The Cabinet initiated the move last year after a teen stabbed another teenager to death in November after a quarrel that started on TikTok. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the government’s decision. When Prime Minister Edi Rama said in December they were aiming at closing the social media platform, TikTok asked for “urgent clarity from the Albanian government” on the case of the stabbed teenager. On Thursday, Rama said they were in a “positive dialogue with the company” which soon would go to the country to offer “a series of measures on increasing the security for children.” The company said it had “found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok.” Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to researchers. There has been increasing concern from Albanian parents after reports of children being inspired by content on social media to take knives to school, or cases of bullying promoted by stories they see on TikTok. Authorities have increased police presence at some schools and set up other measures including training programs for teachers, students and their parents. The opposition has not agreed with TikTok’s closure and has set March 15 for a protest against the move. It said the ban was “an act of intolerance, fear and terror from free thinking and expression.” Source link #Albania #bans #TikTok #concerns #child #violence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dominique Pelicot’s daughter presses charges of ***** against him Dominique Pelicot’s daughter presses charges of ***** against him Caroline Darian, the daughter of Dominique and Gisèle Pelicot, is pressing charges against her father, accusing him of drugging and raping her – something he has always denied. Last December, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in jail for drugging his ex-wife, Gisèle, raping her and inviting dozens of men to also abuse her over nearly a decade. Pelicot filmed the rapes of his wife, collecting hundreds of videos he neatly catalogued on a hard disk. Among them were also two photos of his daughter, in which Ms Darian, 46, says she is clearly unconscious, sleeping in an unfamiliar position and wearing underwear she doesn’t recognise. Dominique Pelicot has offered conflicting explanations for the photos, but has always denied ********* assaulting his daughter. Ms Darian has long said the photos are proof her father also drugged and ****** her. “I know that he drugged me, probably for ******* abuse. But I don’t have any evidence,” she told the BBC in January, when she also talked about the shock of being shown those pictures by police for the first time. The heated courtroom exchanges between Ms Darian and her father were some of the most dramatic in the 16-week trial that shocked France and the world. “I never touched you, never,” Pelicot pleaded to his daughter during one session. “You are lying!” Ms Darian shouted back. Ms Darian has previously said she felt she was the trial’s “forgotten victim” as, unlike in her mother’s case, there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted upon her. She told Elle France earlier this week that the charges she is pressing against her father were “symbolic” but “in line with what I have said since the start: that I am a victim of chemical submission [drug-facilitated assault] but was never recognised as such”. She has hired lawyer Florence Rault to represent her. For many years, Ms Rault has been fighting for justice for two women who were the victims of violent ordeals in the 1990s. One, a young property agent known by the pseudonym Marion, was the victim of an attempted ***** in 1999, which Pelicot has admitted to. The other – also an estate agent in her 20s – was ****** and murdered in 1991. Pelicot is currently being investigated over that case, but has always denied any involvement. Ms Darian said she saw similarities between her and Marion. “We look strangely alike. She is blonde, her hair is bobbed, we were born the same year… I wanted to meet her lawyer and hear all the details,” she told Elle France. In her police complaint, which was quoted by French media, Ms Rault lamented that Ms Darian had never been offered gynecological examinations nor had she been tested for the drugs Pelicot used on his wife. Ms Rault said the investigation had only focused on Gisèle Pelicot and that her client had been treated as a “peripheral victim”. She asked the authorities to launch a fresh “serious and in-depth” inquiry. Béatrice Zavarro, Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer, told French media that Ms Darian’s decision to press charges was “unsurprising given her statements and beliefs during the Avignon trial”. She also said that the prosecutors in Avignon, in south-eastern France, said there were insufficient “objective elements” to accuse Pelicot of raping and using chemical submission on his daughter. Forty-nine men were sentenced in December alongside Dominque Pelicot. All were found guilty of at least one charge – ***** or ******* assault – against Gisèle Pelicot. Seventeen initially said they would appeal the charges against them, but seven of those have since changed their minds. Those who decide to press ahead with their appeals will go on trial at the end of the year in Nîmes, southern France. The first trial – which lasted from September to December 2024 – garnered worldwide attention thanks to Gisèle Pelicot’s decision to waive her anonymity and open the trial to the public and the media. Source link #Dominique #Pelicots #daughter #presses #charges #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

NASA is shutting down parts of Voyager 1 and 2 to extend their lifespan NASA is shutting down parts of Voyager 1 and 2 to extend their lifespan Nearly 50 years after they were first launched, Voyager 1 and 2 are still traveling around interstellar space — though they’ve faced some setbacks over the years. Now, NASA has announced that the twin Voyager spacecraft are losing some of their features in a bid to extend their lifespans in the face of a diminishing power supply. On February 25, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) turned off Voyager 1’s cosmic ray subsystem experiment and on March 25, it will shut down Voyager 2’s low-energy charged particle instrument. “The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible,” said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at the JPL. “But electrical power is running low. If we don’t turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission.” Each probe will continue to run three science instruments, but hold another seven instruments which have turned off over time. Just last October, NASA shut down Voyager 2’s plasma science instrument. However, both spacecraft have experienced recent issues. Last June, Voyager 1 finally starting running properly again, following seven months of technical issues, including unreadable data. It had a similar issue two years prior. In 2023, Voyager 2 went dark for two weeks after requiring technical assistance three years earlier. NASA still puts a lot of value in the Voyager probes. “Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before,” said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL. “That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we’re pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible.” Maybe at least until they hit 50 years in 2027? The slightly more cynical take on NASA “pulling out all the stops” to keep them going is that they’d certainly love for the probes to be functional for their 50th anniversary in 2027 — which feels like a tall order despite the agency’s best efforts. Source link #NASA #shutting #parts #Voyager #extend #lifespan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Google AI Mode will reinvent Search. I’m worried — and you should be, too Google AI Mode will reinvent Search. I’m worried — and you should be, too Table of Contents Table of Contents What is AI Mode for Google Search? A rich history of risks This is not the Search evolution I seek Google is pushing forward with more AI into how internet search works. Remember AI Overviews, which essentially summarizes the content pulled from websites, and presents it at the top of the Google Search page? That error-prone feature is now expanding to the US market, powered by the new Gemini 2.0 AI models. It no longer requires a Google account sign-in, and has opened to users across all age groups. While that is a risky move in itself, Google is giving a similar blanket treatment to the whole Search page with a new AI Mode. Currently available as a Lab experiment, AI Mode essentially turns the traditional Google Search experience with website links into a conversational dialogue, just the way AI chatbots give you answers. It’s a delicious convenience, but could prove to be dramatically erroneous, if history of AI Overviews is anything to go by. What is AI Mode for Google Search? Google The overarching idea is to give users all the information they need — pulled from indexed websites — and save the hassle of clicking on sources and reading through webpages to find the answers. You can ask follow-up queries in a natural language format, instead of a keyword-stuffed search, and even provide the details that would otherwise require a few more follow-up search requests. “It uses a “query fan-out” technique, issuing multiple related searches concurrently across subtopics and multiple data sources and then brings those results together to provide an easy-to-understand response,” explains the company. Google, however, warns that it may not always get it right with AI mode, even though its internal tests have delivered encouraging results. In scenarios where the AI Mode is not confident about the summarized response, it will simply show a list of web search results, like the traditional Google Search experience. Google In its current avatar, it can provide answers as a wall of text or neatly formatted tables, but down the road, images and videos will also be included. AI mode is currently available only for Google One AI Premium subscribers, and will roll out as an opt-in experience. It’s a bad omen for any person reliant on Google Search, especially if we are talking about accuracy. Here’s an example. I looked up whether we are living in the year 2025. Google’s AI Overview said it is the year 2024. The first source it cited for that information was Wikipedia, which explicitly says the current year is 2025. A rich history of risks The idea behind AI Mode for Google Search is theoretically rooted in user convenience. However, the fundamental tech stack behind it is still dealing with a few problems that the entire AI landscape is yet to fix. One of them is AI hallucinations, which is essentially an AI tool making up information and confidently presenting it as a fact. Google’s AI Overviews are the best example of those missteps, and the mistakes continue to pop up to this day. Take for example this evidence, which was shared merely a few hours ago on Reddit, in which the AI Overview confidently lied about a right-side driving rule in India. Reddit / Digital Trends That’s a false statement, and yet, at no point, the language of the AI Overview text suggests that the user should fact-check this information. “It’s so inaccurate and so buggy that I’m surprised it even exists,” says another report detailing its sheer inaccuracy. AI Overviews only appear as a condensed nugget of information, served at the top of the Google Search page. Now, imagine a whole page that is presented to users as a long presentation, with a few source links interspersed through the wall of text. Google says AI Overviews will excel at “coding, advanced math and multimodal queries.” Yet, not too long ago, it fumbled facts and turned history on its head, especially with the kind of natural language queries that are being hyped for AI mode. When asked whether astronauts met cats on the moon, it confidently agreed that it was true, adding that astronauts even took care of those lunar cats. Virginia Tech digital literacy expert, Julia Feerrar, remarked that AI doesn’t actually know the answers to our questions, citing an example where Google AI overview confidently mentioned Barack Obama as the first ******* President. pic.twitter.com/6ALCbz6EjK — SG-r01 (@heavenrend) May 22, 2024 The consequences of AI misinformation could be disastrous, especially when it comes to health and wellness-related queries. In an analysis of over 30 million Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), SerpStat found that health-related search is the most popular category where AI Overviews appear. This is the same tool that suggested a person should eat at least one rock per day, adding one-eighth cup of glue to pizza, drinking ****** to pass out kidney stones, and mentioned that a baby elephant can fit in a human palm as of 2025. This is not the Search evolution I seek Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends Despite Google’s assertions about how the AI models have evolved, the situation hasn’t improved dramatically. Less than a day ago, Futurism spotted AI Overviews confidently claiming that MJ Lenderman has won 14 Grammy awards. It even got the year wrong, when I asked something as simple as “is it 2025” in the Google Search box. ”No, it is not currently the year 2025. The current year is 2024,” said the AI Overview. Going a step further, it explained how 2025 is a common year that starts on a Wednesday, adding a bunch of non-related information discussing everything from national celebrations to UN declarations that have absolutely nothing to do with my query. Now, I am not entirely against AI. On the contrary, I extensively use tools like Gemini Deep Research, and often rely on the latest Gemini 2.0 Flash AI model for creative ideas when my brain cells are not firing off at peak capacity. However, pushing an error-prone AI overhaul to a source of information as indispensable as Google Search is a risky proposition. Digital Trends has reached out to Google and will update this story once we get a response. Source link #Google #Mode #reinvent #Search #worried Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Target Stock Is Bottoming – A Rare Buying Opportunity Near $100 Target Stock Is Bottoming – A Rare Buying Opportunity Near $100 Target (NYSE:) is not out of the weeds, but the signs are unmistakable. The market for its stock is bottoming. The caveat is that it may take time for the market and stock price to regain traction. Headwinds and clouds are on the horizon that will impact the price action in March, but even they have a silver lining. Target’s headwinds are not business-specific but shared by industry peers. They may send the stock prices of Walmart (NYSE:), Costco (NASDAQ:), TJX Companies (NYSE:) and even *****’s Sporting Goods (NYSE:) into a deep correction, while Target’s stock price, which has already suffered years of bearish activity, is unlikely to fall much further. Eventually, the headwinds will pass, and long-term-oriented investors with the foresight to buy in early 2025 will be positioned for leveraged gains aided by Target’s high-yielding dividend and share repurchases. Target Outperforms in Q4 and Issues Cautious Guidance Target’s Q4 and full-year 2024 results are not robust but indicate a bottom as organic growth begins to offset its business rationalization. The $30.92 billion is down more than 3.0 % compared to the prior year but outpaced the consensus by 30 basis points on strength in comp sales and digital channels. Comp sales grew by 1.5% on an 8.7% increase in digital, offsetting slight in-store weakness. Same-day delivery is the report’s star, rising by 25% compared to the prior year and expected to remain solid in 2025. Margin news is mixed but favorable to shareholders. The company experienced margin pressure at the year’s end and reported margin contraction but less than MarketBeat’s reported consensus forecast. The $2.41 in adjusted earnings is down almost 20% YOY but $0.16 better than expected by analysts, with earnings strength expected to improve in 2025. The guidance is why the stock price fell following the Q4 release. The company forecasts a solid 2024 with top-line growth near 1% and a wider margin but expects a weak Q1 due to softness in February numbers. The takeaway for investors is that soft Q1 figures are insufficient to upset the company’s financial strength and capital returns, which are critical to the stock price rebound. Target Improves Shareholder Value in 2024 Highlights from Target’s 2024 include improving balance sheet strength, a high-yielding dividend, and count-reducing share buybacks. Regarding the balance sheet, the company reports increased cash, inventory, current, and total assets with reduced long-term debt and relatively flat total liability. The net result is a 9.2% increase in equity despite the 1% quarterly reduction in share count and the dividend payment. The dividend is worth 3.75%, with the stock trading near long-term lows, and the distribution will likely increase in F2025. The payout ratio at the end of 2024 was less than 50%, a healthy level for a Dividend King after over 50 years of consecutive increases. Analyst and institutional trends align with a market bottom. The analysts’ trends include increased coverage relative to early 2024, a Hold rating with a bullish bias, and a steady consensus target forecasting a 50% upside from the critical support target. The institutional trends include buying on balance every quarter in 2024 and the buying activity ramping to a multi-year high in Q1 2025. Target Stock Moves to Multiyear Low: Enters Buy Zone Following the Q4 earnings release, Target stock fell and could move as deeply as the $100 level. The $100 level is likely the bottom for this market and an attractive entry point for investors. At that level, the stock will trade under 11x its 2025 earnings, rock bottom for a dividend-paying stock like this one. The question is how long the market will wallow at these levels and when the rebound will begin. The rebound could start as soon as Q2 2025 when the FQ1 earnings report and guidance update are released. Original Post Source link #Target #Stock #Bottoming #Rare #Buying #Opportunity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

********* senator suspended after accusing Godswill Akpabio of ******* abuse ********* senator suspended after accusing Godswill Akpabio of ******* abuse ********* lawmakers have suspended a senator for six months, a day after she submitted a petition alleging she had been ********* harassed by the senate president. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan last Friday made the accusations against one of the country’s top politicians, Godswill Akpabio. After dismissing her petition on procedural grounds, the ethics committee recommended Uduaghan’s suspension, saying she had brought ridicule to the chamber. Some senators argued that her suspension be cut to three months but a majority voted to stick with the six months suspension recommended by the ethics committee. Nearly a week since Uduaghan’s interview with Arise TV where she first made the accusations, the issue has dominated discussions across Nigeria. Many highly placed people and groups have called for a transparent investigation. On Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered at the assembly ground in the capital, Abuja – one backing Akpabio and the other in support of his colleague, chanting ”Akpabio must go.” Source link #********* #senator #suspended #accusing #Godswill #Akpabio #******* #abuse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Xbox Update Is Resetting Consoles To Factory Default Settings Xbox Update Is Resetting Consoles To Factory Default Settings · · March 6, 2025 The latest Xbox update for members of the Xbox Insider program is resetting consoles to their factory default settings. This, according to many who’ve gone through with the update. The problem arises for those who have installed the Alpha or Alpha Skip-Ahead updates. When installed, Xbox profiles, Quick Resume information, and console settings are wiped. To make matters worse, the update is mandatory for insiders. A quick visit to the Xbox Insider subreddit sees a number of posts complaining about the issue. Many are requesting the update be pulled offline, but it doesn’t appear anyone has heard from the company. One thing the update doesn’t appear to do, at least, is deleted any local game save data on the Xbox consoles. As of publishing, Microsoft has yet to comment on the issues. Insider Gaming has reached out for an official response. Are you a member of the Xbox Insider program? Let us know in the comments below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, read our exclusive on Until Dawn remake developer Ballistic Moon being “effectively closed”. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Xbox #Update #Resetting #Consoles #Factory #Default #Settings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 7 (game #369) NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, March 7 (game #369) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Wednesday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, March 5 (game #367). Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #369) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… All decked out NYT Strands today (game #369) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. STRAY CATS BRIBE MICE LINER SPAM NYT Strands today (game #369) – hint #3 – spangram What is a hint for today’s spangram? • Hearts, Diamonds, Spades and Clubs NYT Strands today (game #369) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: bottom, 4th column Last side: top, 4th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #369) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #369, are… CRIBBAGE POKER CANASTA RUMMY EUCHRE PINOCHLE SPANGRAM: CARD GAMES My rating: Moderate My score: 2 hints After a very brief thought that we could be looking for something to do with ships today, I immediately spotted POKER before struggling to get anything else. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. I love CARD GAMES, but it’s funny how you get stuck playing Big Two or ****** Jack or, erm Snap depending on your family and friends, so several of today’s answers were new to me. I’ll be looking to learn EUCHRE, which sounds like excellent fun. Our most recent family obsession is Mind, which is sort of a card game but not really. The idea is to put cards that are marked 1 to 100 down in order without seeing or knowing what anyone else has. It’s non-competitive but oddly compelling and you get to kid yourself that you can read minds. Not that anyone would want to read mine, unless you’re interested in doughnuts floating in space. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Thursday, 6 March, game #368) MATCH LIKE CHAT GHOST PROFILE SWIPE MEETUP SPANGRAM: ONLINE DATING What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #hints #answers #Friday #March #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Low-beta growth stocks to survive Trump turmoil, according to Trivariate Low-beta growth stocks to survive Trump turmoil, according to Trivariate Investors who buy low-beta growth stocks such as Boston Scientific and Mastercard right now could see better performance as a result, according to Trivariate Research. Softening economic data and concerns around the Trump Administration’s new tariff policies have given the stock market whiplash. Stocks rallied on the last day of February, started off March in a selloff, and bounced back on Wednesday as the White House offered a month-long exemption on automobile tariffs, raising optimism of more concessions in the future. Still, investors are divided on whether near term market volatility can ease, given the number of unknowns regarding the duration and economic consequences of the tariffs. But against this backdrop of heightened caution, investors may be able to carve out gains by holding low beta growth stocks, according to Trivariate Research, headed by Adam Parker, former chief U.S. equity strategist at Morgan Stanley. A low beta stock simply flags companies that are less volatile than the broad market, whose beta is 1.0. Stocks with beta below 1.0 are usually less risky, while stocks with a beta over 1.0 may pose more risk with potentially higher returns. “Because our work convincingly showed that a combination of low- and high-beta growth stocks results in better performance than all average beta growth stocks, investors this week asked us for some specific low beta growth stock ideas,” the macroeconomic research firm wrote in a recent note. “These could be good candidates to balance high-beta stocks in a growth portfolio.” In the same report, Parker, Trivariate’s founder, shared a basket of high-quality, low-beta growth stocks that are higher year-to-date. Some of those companies are shown below: One stock Trivariate highlighted was Check Point Software Technologies . The IT security company has surged 40% in the past 12 months through Wednesday, and has risen 19% this year alone. The stock currently has a beta of 0.60. Earlier this week, Piper Sandler upgraded shares to an overweight rating from neutral. Analyst Rob Owens cited improving underlying momentum as a catalyst. “New management (specifically CEO Nadav Zafrir) has served to galvanize the CHKP story, better positioning it to capitalize on the security opportunity,” he wrote. “While this is likely to manifest in incremental improvements to results, we believe the narrative will get better, especially if the company can flirt with double-digit growth in the future — which will drive increased multiple, in our view.” Owens’ price target of $260 implies potential upside of 17% from Check Point’s Wednesday close. Medical equipment maker Boston Scientific has risen 56% in the last 12 months and 17% since the year began. Shares are currently trading with a beta of 0.58. In January, Deutsche Bank upgraded shares to a buy rating from hold. Analyst Pito Chickering’s price target of $108 is about 3% above where the stock is currently trading. “So the BSX story has become simpler, and as one of the best-in-class medtech names, we believe BSX is poised again to outperform in 2025, and we are upgrading the shares to Buy with a $108 price target which is 34x our 2026E EPS,” Chickering wrote. With respective betas of 0.55 and 0.50, Mastercard and Visa were two other stocks that Trivariate highlighted as a low-beta growth ideas. Shares of Mastercard have risen 19% over the last 12 months, while Visa has climbed 26%. Earlier this week, Mizuho highlighted Mastercard as a potential beneficiary of Trump administration tariffs. “Our bottom-up analysis of consumer spend categories that are directly impacted by potential tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China shows that V and MA could be modest beneficiaries of the pass-through of higher prices to consumers, even after taking into account a potential slowdown in demand,” wrote analyst Dan Dolev. Dolev currently has an outperform rating on shares of Mastercard and a neutral rating for Visa. Source link #Lowbeta #growth #stocks #survive #Trump #turmoil #Trivariate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Greek Shelf: A Small Corner of Greece in Your Home The Greek Shelf: A Small Corner of Greece in Your Home Imagine stepping into a cozy Greek home, where the smell of fresh coffee fills the air, olive oil adds flavor to every meal, and a jar of sweet spoon sweets is always ready. This is the heart of a Greek pantry—warm, welcoming, and full of flavors that tell stories of tradition. Now, you can bring that feeling into your own kitchen with The Greek Shelf, our new category at Santorini.net Eshop. What is The Greek Shelf? The Greek Shelf is more than just a collection of products—it’s a carefully curated selection of authentic Greek pantry staples designed to bring the taste of Greece straight to your home. From aromatic coffee and premium olive oil to delicious marmalades and traditional pasta like orzo, The Greek Shelf offers a rotating selection of handpicked essentials that reflect the heart of Greek cuisine. Just like the shelves in a real Greek kitchen, our selection will evolve with the seasons, ensuring there’s always something new to discover. Why The Greek Shelf? At Santorini.net, we believe that food is a journey—one that connects us to culture, history, and cherished traditions. The Greek Shelf was born out of this passion, offering you: Authenticity: Every item is selected with care to ensure it represents the true flavors of Greece. Variety: Just like a bustling Greek market, our selection changes regularly, introducing you to seasonal favorites and hidden gems. Connection: Every week, we’ll share a traditional Greek recipe featuring ingredients from The Greek Shelf, inviting you to cook, taste, and experience Greece from your own kitchen. What’s on The Greek Shelf? Our selection includes a mix of timeless essentials and delightful surprises. To start, you’ll find Greek coffee and Nescafé for the perfect Greek-style coffee break, along with refreshing Loux soft drinks. Extra Virgin Olive oil and tomato paste form the heart of Mediterranean cooking, while orzo and giant elephant beans provide the base for comforting traditional dishes. For an authentic meze experience, we offer dolmadakia—stuffed vine leaves—alongside olive oil rusks, perfect for pairing with cheese and dips. Satisfy your sweet tooth with ION almond chocolate, sour cherry spoon sweet, and Violanta biscuits. For a crunchy snack with a Greek twist, try our oregano chips. And there’s always more to discover! Every month, we’ll introduce new products, so there’s always something exciting to explore. To make your experience even more authentic, each week we’ll feature a traditional Greek recipe that highlights ingredients from The Greek Shelf. Whether it’s a simple yet delicious dakos salad with rusk, tomatoes, and feta or a comforting bowl of youvetsi, a slow-cooked orzo and meat dish, you’ll find inspiration to bring a taste of Greece into your home. Help Us Shape The Greek Shelf! We’d love to hear from you! What Greek products do you love, and what would you like to see on The Greek Shelf? Share your thoughts and let’s build this flavorful journey together, one delicious find at a time. Feel free to email us at e*****@*****.tld! The Greek Shelf – Your Passport to Greek Flavors at Santorini.net, alongside our wide range of Santorini products, wines, food, books, souvenirs, and more. Source link #Greek #Shelf #Small #Corner #Greece #Home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Private mission carrying hopping robot to attempt Moon landing Private mission carrying hopping robot to attempt Moon landing Georgina Rannard Climate and science reporter Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines’s Athena spacecraft blasted off from Earth on 26 February A private US company will attempt to land a spacecraft close to the Moon’s South Pole on Thursday, carrying scientific instruments including a hopping robot and the first lunar mobile communications antenna. Intuitive Machines is working with US space agency Nasa to look for evidence of water and ice on the lunar surface. Lunar landings are very difficult, and the company will be hoping for a smooth touchdown after its first craft landed on its side last year. The spacecraft Athena is currently orbiting the Moon and will attempt to land at 1730GMT (1230EST). Athena is aiming to land 100 miles (160km) from the South Pole in an area of the lunar highlands called Mons Mouton. If all goes well, the craft will have 10 days to complete scientific observations and measurements. The instruments on board include a jumping robot called Micro Nova Hopper or Grace, which will leap and fly across the Moon’s surface to reach a large crater that is in permanent shade. The hopper should be released from the main spacecraft in coming days and fly up to 100m in altitude. It will travel up to 1.2 miles (2km) and after five leaps, it should land inside the crater with a camera to take the first images of the interior. The crater is in permanent shadow from the Sun’s rays, so it has very low temperatures and is considered an ideal place to look for ice. Intuitive Machines, who made the hopper, say it can travel to places that other machines, like robots with wheels, can’t reach or would take a very long time to get to. “These hoppers are really suited to the lunar environment because there’s no atmosphere there, practically speaking, so doing a series of controlled leaps is a great way to move around,” says Prof Simeon Barber, a lunar scientist with the Open University. The IM-2 mission is also carrying three scientific instruments made by Nasa. A drill called Trident will churn up rocks to reach the surface under the Moon to see if there is evidence of ice. Then an instrument called a mass spectrometer will analyse any gases that are released. Intuitive Machines The lander Athena is about the size of a telephone box And a type of antenna mast developed with Nokia should also be planted on the Moon that uses the same 4G cellular technology as on Earth. The mission is part of Nasa’s long-term goal to take humans back to the lunar surface, as the agency hopes to send astronauts in 2027 with the Artemis programme. “This is another step towards assessing the viability of the lunar South Pole as a place to go and set up future bases for humans,” says Prof Barber. Experts want to explore options for building settlements and find out if there are reserves of water that could provide drinking water and potentially be turned into oxygen. “A lot of planning of future exploration is being predicated on the presence of water ice, but if you want to use it, you need to know where it is and how much there is,” says Prof Barber. Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines flew a craft last year called Odysseus that captured pictures of the Moon’s Schomberger crater Nasa is partnering with a range of private companies that transport spacecraft and instruments to the Moon. It says this is cheaper than developing and blasting off their own missions. Intuitive Machines successfully landed a craft called Odysseus on the Moon in February last year, but it tipped over during the descent, meaning not all the scientific work could be carried out. Space agencies globally are competing to build human settlements on the Moon in a race to exploit resources and advance scientific understanding of other worlds. In the US, the Moon mission is seen as a stepping stone for the longer-term and much more ambitious goal of human settlement on Mars. The IM-2 mission could also help to answer broader questions about why there is ice in the inner solar system, closer to the Sun’s warming rays. “The permanently shadowed regions on the Moon are kind of a store and archive of ancient water that might have been delivered to the Earth-Moon system after their formation,” explains Prof Mark Fox-Powell at the Open University. Source link #Private #mission #carrying #hopping #robot #attempt #Moon #landing Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How every AFL club is shaping up in last-minute off-season recap ahead of season opener How every AFL club is shaping up in last-minute off-season recap ahead of season opener Ahead of the first games of the fresh AFL season, The West *********** looks at all the changes for each club and how their lists look on the eve of a new campaign in a last-minute off-season recap. Source link #AFL #club #shaping #lastminute #offseason #recap #ahead #season #opener Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker 2 Passes Huge New Player Milestone, Dev Says It’s “Hard To Comprehend” Stalker 2 Passes Huge New Player Milestone, Dev Says It’s “Hard To Comprehend” GSC Game World has announced that Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has surpassed a new player milestone. The Game Pass game has now eclipsed 6 million players since it launched in November 2024. The studio said reaching this many players is “hard to comprehend.” After all, Stalker 2 has had a tumultuous development, having been canceled in 2012, then revived, then delayed as the studio made the game as Russian invaded Ukraine. “We are incredibly grateful and proud that each of you has left a unique mark in the Zone,” the studio said. The Zone has never been so loud before! At the rest stops, stalkers are singing songs and playing the guitar. Laughter is heard everywhere: from Zalissya to Wild Island and beyond! At some point even the Quiet’s Camp turned into a traffic jam. Today we are celebrating the 6… pic.twitter.com/cM2SmZzAvR — S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) March 4, 2025 Stalker 2 sold more than 1 million copies across PC and Xbox after just 24 hours back in November 2024. That doesn’t tell the entire story of how many people have played it, though, as GSC has said many more people have played the game via Game Pass. Stalker 2 was a day-one launch on Game Pass. While some Xbox games eventually come to PS5, GSC has not said if Stalker 2 will head to Sony’s console as of yet. For more, check out GameSpot’s Stalker 2 review and our Stalker 2 guides hub. Source link #Stalker #Passes #Huge #Player #Milestone #Dev #Hard #Comprehend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Moore’s law led us to a flawed vision of the future How Moore’s law led us to a flawed vision of the future “If the 20th century was the age of atomics, then the 21st is the age of the internet” DKosig/Getty Images If you cast your mind back over the past two and a half decades, a bizarre fact emerges: everyone from business investors to teachers has been planning for a future ruled by communications technology. If the 20th century was the age of atomics, then the 21st is the age of the internet. Combining the power of radio, video and telephones, the internet is like a super-communication machine that completely upended our notion of what tomorrow would bring. Now, it seems… Source link #Moores #law #led #flawed #vision #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

This 32-inch gaming monitor is on ***** for under $200 This 32-inch gaming monitor is on ***** for under $200 Don’t forget to upgrade your rig with monitor deals too after taking advantage of gaming PC deals! However, if you’ve already used up most of your budget on your new gaming desktop, don’t sweat it because you can still get a decent display on a tight budget. The 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor is a great example — it’s already pretty affordable at its original price of $349, but you can currently buy it from Walmart for just $188 following a $161 discount. You’re going to have to hurry though, as tomorrow may already be too late to shop this offer. Why you should buy the 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor The LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor isn’t going to match up to the features and specifications of the top-of-the-line models of the best gaming monitors, but for its price, it’s a very solid screen that will be enough for most gamers to appreciate the graphics of the best PC games. It all starts with the Quad HD resolution on its 32-inch screen, which will show your games with sharp details, and it’s also got HDR10 support for rich colors and contrast to enable an immersive experience. Our computer monitor buying guide explains refresh rate as how often the images on the display are updated, and response time as how quick it shows image transitions. The 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor comes with a 165Hz refresh rate, which exceeds our recommendation of 120Hz to 144Hz, and a 1ms response time that will give you the opportunity to react quickly to anything that’s happening onscreen. For your comfort, you can adjust the tilt of the monitor’s base to the perfect angle for you. An outdated screen won’t give justice to your new gaming PC, so you should consider buying the 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor, especially now that it’s available with huge savings from Walmart. From its sticker price of $349, it’s all the way down to only $188. We’re not sure how much time you’ve got left to get the 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor for less than $200 as it’s not going to stay at $161 off for long, so we highly recommend completing your transaction for it as soon as possible. Source link #32inch #gaming #monitor #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

CrowdStrike’s Growth Remains Strong—Buy While It’s Down CrowdStrike’s Growth Remains Strong—Buy While It’s Down CrowdStrike’s (NASDAQ:) uptrend will continue because the cybersecurity company has traction, momentum in its deal cycle, and a forecast for another record-setting year in 2025. The Q1 2025 stock price decline is an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up. It was caused by unexpectedly weak earnings guidance, but there is a silver lining. The expectation of higher tax rates impacts the guidance, resulting from its growing business and improving profitability. While a headwind, it is offset by robust cash flow and rapidly improving shareholder value, trends expected to continue this year. The analysts’ response to the 2024 earnings news says it all. MarketBeat tracks a relatively high number of analysts covering this stock, 44, and despite mixed activity following the release, the trends are only bullish. Analysts’ trends include increasing coverage, firming sentiment, a high conviction in the Moderate Buy rating, a bullish bias with 72% of the ratings pegged at Buy or higher, and a rising price target. The consensus price target reported by MarketBeat implies a 12% upside from critical support levels, rising by 20% the day following the release. The revisions include some price target reductions, but all fresh targets are above the consensus, leading to the high-end range and another 15% upside when reached. Takeaways from the analyst chatter include concerns about slowing penetration growth and margin guidance, but positives overshadow them. Positives include improving deal momentum after last year’s outage, the 25% increase in ARR, and expected business acceleration. Dan Ives of Wedbush says the company is moving in the right direction and has reaffirmed the long-term outlook. The long-term outlook includes a low 20% revenue CAGR through 2035, with bottom-line results compounded by a widening margin. Earnings are expected to grow at a more robust 30% CAGR, which puts this stock at only 11x its 2035 EPS target. CrowdStrike Insiders Sell Stock in Q1: Institutions Are Buying The insider activity is a red flag for CrowdStrike investors but doesn’t negate the long-term outlook for share prices. Although they are selling in Q1 2025 and have sold on balance for numerous consecutive quarters, the sales are small, periodic, and from multiple insiders aligning with other companies that utilize share-based compensation. The more telling data is that insiders have considerable skin in the game, holding more than 4.25% of the stock, and the institutions are buying. Institutional activity is noteworthy because the group sold on balance in Q2 of 2024, reverted to buying in Q3 and ramped activity into Q1 of 2025. In only two months, the Q1 2025 activity set a two-year high and may surpass the prior peak before the quarter ends. They own more than 70% of the stock and strongly support this market. Analysts and institutions are on board because of CrowdStrike’s rapidly improving financial condition. At the end of 2024, the highlights included increased cash, current, and total assets, with total assets growing at nearly double the pace of liability. Total liability leverage fell to 1.6x equity from 1.85x, increasing equity by more than 40%. Similar gains are expected for F2025 because of the outlook for record earnings. The Technical Outlook: CrowdStrike Pulls Back to Test for Support CrowdStrike’s stock price action in early 2025 is ugly, with the stock pulling back by 25%. However, the pullback is expected due to the rapid rise in share price from summer 2024 until Q1 2025 and move to new highs. The pullback is testing for support and shows it at a critical level, aligning with the 150-day EMA and previous price action. Support is near the $355 level, coincident with a price gap that opened in June 2024 and a consolidation leading to new all-time highs at the year’s end. Assuming the market continues to support this stock at present levels, the rebound should begin soon and could take this market to a new high by the end of 2025. Original Post Source link #CrowdStrikes #Growth #Remains #StrongBuy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

I’m 50, making $60K with just $100K in retirement after paying for my kids’ college — can I still retire by 65? I’m 50, making $60K with just $100K in retirement after paying for my kids’ college — can I still retire by 65? I’m 50, divorced, making $60K/year with just $100K in retirement after paying $180K for my kids’ college tuition — can I still retire comfortably by 65 without sacrificing my lifestyle? By the time you turn 50, ideally, you’d have around six times your household income saved. But, let’s say you hit that milestone birthday with significantly less in your retirement account. While you had a solid financial plan at the start of your career, things came up. An expensive divorce set you back, and then both your kids needed help paying for college — to the tune of $180,000. Now, with a salary of $60,000, you should have $360,000 invested. Instead, you have just $100,000. You’re a little bit behind where you need to be. So, the big question is, can you still retire comfortably at age 65 while maintaining your current lifestyle — despite the fact that you may not have quite as much invested as you should at this phase of life? Here’s how you can find out. If you’re hoping to retire at 65 and you’re only 50 right now, the good news is that you have some time to catch up. To do that, you’ll want to start by seeing how much you must invest so you’ll have enough money to stop working at your target retirement age. Ideally, you’ll end up with a nest egg worth 10 times your final salary. If you’re making $60,000 now and assume around a 2% average annual salary increase until retirement age, your final salary would be around $80,752.10. So, you’d want to shoot for a nest egg of $807,521. If you’re starting with $100,000 and you earn an 8% average annual return, you’d need to invest $1,504.81 per month to hit your goal. Investing $18,057.72 per year would mean you’re contributing nearly 30% of your income. That’s a lot. Even with tax breaks and employer matching contributions (if available) it might be hard to pull off. In other words, you might be able to set yourself up for a comfortable retirement, but you’re looking at a pretty austere 15 years. Unless you’re willing to make some very major sacrifices, putting off retirement for a few years could be very helpful. That’s especially true since retiring at 65 would mean retiring before your full retirement age for Social Security, which will be 67 based on your birth year. Retiring early results in a reduced benefit. Story Continues Read more: Jamie Dimon issues a warning about the US stock market — says prices are ‘kind of inflated.’ Crashproof your portfolio with these 3 rock-solid strategies If you waited until age 70 to retire instead of leaving work at 65, you’d have an extra five years to invest. Plus, not only could you avoid shrinking your Social Security check, but you could actually increase it instead by earning delayed retirement credits. Waiting to claim benefits at 70 with an FRA of 67 results in a 24% increase to your standard benefit. That extra five years could make all the difference. While your savings goal would increase to $891,568 to account for five more years of salary growth, you’d be able to hit that target with an investment of just $774.79 per month, or $9,297 per year — a much more reasonable 15% of your income. The extra time allows compound growth to work for you, putting retirement within reach. With the higher Social Security benefit and the fact your savings won’t have to support you for as long, your financial life gets a whole lot easier. Putting off retirement for an extra five years may be a disappointment, but the reality is that preparing to leave the workforce in your mid-60s often means making other sacrifices. Specifically, you would likely have been able to hit your target if you hadn’t paid for your children’s college. Many parents want to pay for school for their kids to spare them the burden of student loans. That’s fine if you have saved throughout their lifetime while also investing for retirement. If that’s not the case, then prioritizing this financial goal over retirement savings can put you in a tough spot. While many parents report college savings as their top priority, the reality is that retirement should be the number one goal as kids can borrow for school and have their entire career to pay off the debt while there are no loans to fund a secure retirement. Parents who don’t invest enough could end up being a ******* burden on their kids later than student loans would have been. Of course, since you’ve already paid for college, the choice has been made — now the only decision left is whether to work longer, sacrifice a lot to invest and retire on time, or put off retirement for a few years until you can catch up on savings to have the security you deserve. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #making #60K #100K #retirement #paying #kids #college #retire Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]