Pelican Press

Tom Lee is a buyer of stocks and says a lot of bad news is priced in Tom Lee is a buyer of stocks and says a lot of bad news is priced in Tom Lee said the stock market is a buy now that it’s priced in much of the bad news, and is poised for a huge rally in the coming months. “I am optimistic. I mean, I can understand why investors are sitting on their hands … they don’t really know how severe these tariffs are gonna be, how long they are,” the head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors told CNBC’s “Closing Bell” on Wednesday. “But, now we’re seeing a big price correction. A decline in sentiment. And then, something like today, we got a bad ADP jobs report, and the market is actually up,” Lee continued. That means stocks are “rising on bad news, which is a good sign that a lot of bad news is priced in.” In fact, Lee said it’s “very possible” that March, April and May could prove “huge rally months,” with stocks rallying 10% to 15%, now that the market has gone through what he considers essentially a bear market in terms of sentiment and an unwinding of the momentum trade. .SPX 1D mountain S & P 500 Wednesday This week, all three major averages slid more than 1% each to start the month, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, weighed on investor sentiment and future profits. The S & P 500 is now down 1.5% in 2025 and the Nasdaq Composite briefly fell into a 10% correction from its recent high. Regardless, Lee said he’s a buyer. On Wednesday, all three indexes rallied, rebounding from their two-day slid, as White House concessions toward automakers soothed investor spirits. “We already know stocks will bottom before bad news peaks,” Lee said. “And so, if we’re seeing the market not fade on bad news, that means we’ve already priced in a lot of things that would scare us.” Source link #Tom #Lee #buyer #stocks #lot #bad #news #priced Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Republicans tell Musk to send his cuts to Congress Senate Republicans tell Musk to send his cuts to Congress Senate Republicans urged Elon Musk on Wednesday to better coordinate with them, with many suggesting the tech billionaire send Congress a package of proposed spending cuts to enshrine the work of his Department of Government Efficiency initiative. The message was delivered during a closed-door lunch organized by Florida Sen. Rick Scott in the latest instance of congressional Republicans, who have generally praised his efforts, counseling Musk to more closely loop in lawmakers. The meeting came just hours after the Supreme Court rebuffed the Trump administration in one of several outstanding legal fights over spending cuts. Republicans warned that the flurry of court challenges, as well as a constant drip of stories about DOGE slashing key jobs, is muddying their political message. “We need to capture this in the legislative process to make it real,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “It’s time for the White House now to go on offense. We’re losing altitude here. We started off good. We’re losing altitude. We need to get back on the game, on offense.” The way to do that, Graham added, is to “take the work product and vote on it.” Inside the room, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he urged Musk to have the White House send Congress a package of proposed spending clawbacks, known as rescissions. Other GOP senators described Musk as “elated” by the idea once he realized it could get through the Senate with a simple majority. “I love what Elon is doing … but to make it real, to make it go beyond the moment of the day, it needs to come back in the form of a rescission package,” Paul told reporters after the meeting. According to two GOP senators, Musk acknowledged that DOGE’s spending cuts would only be temporary unless they were backed up by action in Congress. “He said, ‘Yeah, you know, unless Congress takes action on this, none of it is permanent.’ So that is the point of rescissions,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). “He said he urges Congress to take action particularly after the court [ruling] today.” Musk also told senators how to contact him with questions about DOGE’s work or concerns about his proposed job cuts, sharing his cell phone number at one point, attendees said. He also heard in the room that DOGE needs to better coordinate with Congress, an increasingly frequent refrain that has come even from Trump’s congressional allies. Some GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Thune, have publicly indicated they want a more balanced relationship between DOGE and Trump’s Senate-confirmed Cabinet picks. According to three GOP senators present, Musk suggested that he’s working more closely with agencies to make decisions about cuts. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said Musk acknowledged that “of course they’re going to make mistakes.” “Of course they are going to have to make adjustments,” Hoeven said. “This is a process.” Graham added that the “the system needs to be fine-tuned to coordinate between DOGE and Congress and the administration.” And that senators urged Musk to be better about knocking down “what’s true and what’s not true” and otherwise address their concerns. “They’re going to try to create a system where members of Congress can call some central group and get that fixed quickly,” Graham said. Source link #Senate #Republicans #Musk #send #cuts #Congress Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US authorities begin releasing some seized cryptocurrency miners, industry executives say US authorities begin releasing some seized cryptocurrency miners, industry executives say By AJ Vicens and Raphael Satter DETROIT (Reuters) – U.S. authorities have in recent weeks begun releasing seized ********-made equipment used for cryptocurrency mining, two industry executives told Reuters. Cryptocurrency miners – basically souped-up computers with advanced chips – compete with one another to solve mathematical puzzles, a process which helps build the blockchains underpinning the cryptocurrency world and earn rewards in the form of new digital currency. “Thousands of units have been released,” said Taras Kulyk, CEO and co-founder of Synteq Digital, a cryptocurrency mining equipment broker. At one point as many as 10,000 units had been stuck at various ports of entry, Kulyk told Reuters. “Apparently there were some folks in the CBP that really didn’t like bitcoin mining so they wanted to give the entire sector a headache, which they did quite well,” he said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Federal Communications Commission began seizing certain bitcoin mining equipment late last year, industry publication Blockspace reported in November. The publication said at least some of the machines may have been detained because they carried chips from the trade-restricted ******** chip company Sophgo. The release of an undetermined amount of equipment comes amid the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China as well as security concerns raised by U.S. authorities dating to the waning months of the Biden administration. Ethan Vera, chief operating officer of Luxor Technology, told Reuters that “some held shipments are being released, but right now that is still a ********* of them.” Both Vera and Kulyk said authorities raised concerns around radio frequency emissions from the machines, which they said were groundless. A spokesperson for the CBP acknowledged Reuters’ request for comment Wednesday but did not provide an immediate response. The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sophgo was punished in the waning days of the Biden administration for allegedly serving as a middleman between high-end Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC and blacklisted ******** telecom company Huawei, Reuters reported in October. (Editing by Leslie Adler) Source link #authorities #releasing #seized #cryptocurrency #miners #industry #executives Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Darkest Files to be Unsealed March 25 The Darkest Files to be Unsealed March 25 Paintbucket Games’ World War II cold case and mystery investigation experience has finally gotten a proper release PC release date. Source link #Darkest #Files #Unsealed #March Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avalanche buries at least 3 skiers near Anchorage, Alaska officials say – The Associated Press Avalanche buries at least 3 skiers near Anchorage, Alaska officials say – The Associated Press Avalanche buries at least 3 skiers near Anchorage, Alaska officials say The Associated Press3 skiers buried in at least 40 feet of snow after massive Alaska avalanche CBS News3 heli-skiers presumed dead in avalanche near Girdwood, troopers say Alaska Public Media News3 Helicopter Skiers Feared Dead in Alaska Avalanche, Officials Say The New York Times Source link #Avalanche #buries #skiers #Anchorage #Alaska #officials #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shabana Mahmood rejects sentencing changes after ‘two-tier’ claims Shabana Mahmood rejects sentencing changes after ‘two-tier’ claims The justice secretary has called for the scrapping of planned changes which would make the background of offenders from ********* groups a ******* factor when deciding whether to jail them. Shabana Mahmood called for the Sentencing Council to reverse course, after the Conservatives accused Labour of overseeing “two-tier justice”, in which prison sentences are less likely for ethnic or faith minorities. On Wednesday, the council – which is independent but sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – published new guidelines for judges aimed at avoiding bias and cutting reoffending. But Mahmood said she would write to its leaders to “register my displeasure and to recommend reversing” the change. “As someone who is from an ethnic ********* background myself, I do not stand for any differential treatment before the law, for anyone of any kind,” Mahmood said. “There will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch.” The updated sentencing guidance, which is due to come into force from April, places a greater emphasis on the need for pre-sentence reports for judges. Pre-sentence reports give judges details on the offender’s background, motives and personal life before sentencing – then recommend a punishment and what would work best for rehabilitation. But over recent years their use has decreased. Magistrates and judges will be advised to get a pre-sentence report before handing out punishment for someone of an ethnic or faith ********* – alongside other groups such as young adults, abuse survivors and pregnant women. These factors are not an exhaustive list, the council said. A pre-sentence report can still be necessary if an individual does not fall into one of these cohorts. In a social media post, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the new guidelines were biased “against straight white men”. “Under Two-Tier Keir [Starmer] our justice system is set to have an anti-white and anti-Christian bias,” he said. Pre-sentence reports were “the first step to avoiding a prison sentence,” he argued. Earlier on Tuesday, Jenrick told the House of Commons the changes were “an inversion of the rule of law” and would make “custodial sentence less likely for those ‘from an ethnic *********, cultural *********, or faith ********* community'”. The previous government was also consulted on the change when the the council was considering reforms between November 2023 and February 2024. In the Commons, Mahmood dismissed Jenrick’s claims – telling MPs “there will never be a two-tier sentencing approach under my watch or under this Labour government”. She waited several hours before announcing on social media that she had asked the Sentencing Council to undo the change. Prior to Mahmood’s call for the changes to be scrapped, the Sentencing Council said the changes were aimed at ensuring courts get full details on the offender and ensure consistency in sentencing. Analysis by the council has found offenders from some ethnic ********* backgrounds are more likely to receive harsher sentences for drug offences. Prison sentences have grown longer for ethnic ********* offenders, driven in part by fewer pleading guilty, the council found. Sentencing Council Chairman Lord Justice William Davis said the updated guidelines ensure sentences are “consistently and transparently applied by the courts and that such sentences are the most suitable and appropriate for the offender and offence before them”. The proposed changes were welcomed by some campaigners. Reacting to Sentencing Council’s announcement, Janey Starling, co-director of feminist campaign group Level Up, said the changes are a “huge milestone” in the campaign to end imprisoning pregnant women and mothers. Liz Forrester, from the group No Births Behind Bars, said it finally recognises the “deadly impact” of prison on babies and pregnant women. Source link #Shabana #Mahmood #rejects #sentencing #twotier #claims Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PGA Tour deal with Saudis not close, necessary: McIlroy PGA Tour deal with Saudis not close, necessary: McIlroy World No.2 Rory McIlroy can’t see a PGA Tour deal with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf happening in the near future, adding it would be ideal but not imperative. Source link #PGA #Tour #deal #Saudis #close #McIlroy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

US Army approves production of vehicle-mounted GPS alternative US Army approves production of vehicle-mounted GPS alternative The U.S. Army approved the full-rate production of a Collins Aerospace-developed vehicle-mounted positioning, navigation and timing, or PNT, system vital to operating in GPS-denied environments, the service announced Tuesday. The Mounted Assured, Positioning, Navigation and Timing System, or MAPS, is a key element of the service’s modernization push. The Army established a cross-functional team through Army Futures Command in 2017 to advance capabilities, both mounted and dismounted, that would help the Army operate in environments where the enemy might jam its space-based GPS systems used for navigation. As those efforts progressed in development, they were transferred to the Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors to be managed as programs of record. “This monumental achievement is the culmination of over six years of hard work and dedication by [Program Manager] PNT and Mounted PNT,” Lt. Col. Damian Dixon, the Army’s Mounted PNT product manager, said in the statement. The MAPS Generation II capability “provides GPS anti-spoofing and anti-jamming capability through sensor fusion algorithms and non-radio frequency sensors to distribute positioning, navigation, and timing data so mounted soldiers can operate in environments where military GPS is denied or degraded,” the statement notes. In addition to enabling forces to communicate, move and shoot, the system distributes PNT data “to multiple clients on a single platform, eliminating redundant GPS receivers and antennas,” according to the statement. The MAPS GEN II system consists of an internally mounted navigation hub where data coming from sensors and receivers are fused together and an anti-jam antenna system mounted to the outside of the vehicle. To date, the Army has spent roughly $500 million in procurement funding for the mounted PNT program as it previously fielded a first-generation capability to rapidly deliver an initial capability to the battlefield, according to fiscal 2025 service budget documents. The Army plans to procure 619 MAPS GEN II systems for a total of $130 million in fiscal 2025, according to budget documents. This includes spares, follow-on test and evaluation, logistics support and engineering changes for Armored, Stryker and Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, the documents show. Source link #Army #approves #production #vehiclemounted #GPS #alternative Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Health scares for a new generation must be tackled with solid science Health scares for a new generation must be tackled with solid science Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library “Careless pork costs lives”, wrote The Sun newspaper, a British tabloid, in a headline about the bowel ******* risks associated with eating bacon sandwiches. That scaremongering story was published almost a decade ago, but spurious claims about lifestyle choices and ******* – especially bowel *******, also known as colorectal ******* – are still rife. The big difference? The alarmist claims are largely playing out on social media and are increasingly targeted at the young. Why is this? In recent years it has become clear that rates of various cancers are rising in younger people. This is raising questions – and speculation… Source link #Health #scares #generation #tackled #solid #science Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Micro Computer Stays Green in a Falling Market – Here’s Why Super Micro Computer Stays Green in a Falling Market – Here’s Why In the face of widespread market unease and most major indices trading lower on March 4, 2025, Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ:) defied the trend with a solid 9% intraday gain. This counter-trend performance raises questions about the unique factors driving Super Micro Computer’s resilience even as geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties impact the broader market. A closer look at the company’s dynamics reveals a story of company-specific strengths overriding prevailing market anxieties. Catalysts Igniting Super Micro Computer’s Upward Movement Super Micro Computer’s stock may have been oversold after a significant correction of 20% to 40% from its February peaks, creating a buying opportunity for investors. This “buy the dip” reaction from value-seeking traders, combined with a technical rebound, is likely driving the company’s positive momentum. Super Micro Computer’s recently announced expansion plans are likely a more fundamental catalyst behind the stock’s intraday gains. On February 28, 2025, the company revealed that it will build a third campus in Silicon Valley, which will span almost 3 million square feet upon completion. This expansion is specifically aimed at increasing the production of advanced liquid-cooled solutions. CEO Charles Liang predicts that up to 30% of new data centers will use liquid cooling technology, so this move is strategically significant. The expansion is a strong signal to investors, highlighting Super Micro Computer’s dedication to meeting the growing demands of the AI data center market and solidifying its position as a leader in liquid cooling innovation. The combination of a technical rebound and this clear demonstration of future-oriented expansion is likely driving the current investor enthusiasm and pushing the stock’s intraday gains against the broader market current. AI Infrastructure Leadership and the Liquid Cooling Edge Beyond immediate market reactions, Super Micro Computer’s ability to outperform during a market downturn is rooted in its fundamental strengths and strategic positioning within the high-growth artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure sector. A cornerstone of Super Micro Computer’s competitive advantage lies in its technological prowess, particularly in direct-liquid cooling (DLC) technology. Direct-liquid cooling is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler for next-generation artificial intelligence data centers. As processing power demands escalate, traditional air-cooling methods become less efficient and more costly. Direct-liquid cooling offers a superior alternative, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing operational expenses, and enabling optimal performance for high-density computing environments essential for artificial intelligence workloads. Super Micro Computer’s leadership in DLC, coupled with its proactive manufacturing expansion in this area, signifies a strategic foresight that resonates strongly with investors focused on long-term growth and technological innovation. Furthermore, the width of Super Micro Computer’s product portfolio, encompassing advanced server systems, storage solutions, and proprietary software, provides a comprehensive ecosystem for customers in the artificial intelligence and high-performance computing spaces, further solidifying its market position and investor appeal. Valuation and Velocity Super Micro Computer’s current valuation metrics, including price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) (both trailing and forward-looking) and price-to-book ratio, suggest that the stock may be an attractive option for investors, even those who may be risk-averse. The company’s trailing P/E ratio is approximately 19.66, and its forward P/E ratio is 19.39. These figures, along with the company’s price-to-book ratio of 3.69, indicate that Super Micro Computer may not be overvalued, especially when considering its potential for growth and its position in the high-growth technology sector. Super Micro Computer’s appeal to investors is further strengthened by its significant upside potential, as indicated by analyst price targets. The average analyst price target of $61.87 suggests a substantial premium over the current trading price of around $40, pointing towards considerable room for stock appreciation. This potential upside is supported by the company’s strong revenue growth guidance for fiscal year 2025, which forecasts revenues between $23.5 billion and $25 billion, and its ambitious $40 billion revenue target for fiscal year 2026. Weathering the Storm: Strength in a Shifting Market Super Micro Computer, Inc. demonstrates the potential for growth but operates within a volatile market and faces multiple challenges. These challenges have led to an analyst consensus rating of Hold. Additionally, recent insider selling activity may raise concerns and contribute to investor unease. However, Super Micro Computer’s intraday performance on March 4, 2025, provides a compelling counter-narrative to these potential concerns. The stock’s ability to rally strongly even as broader markets decline suggests that investors are increasingly discerning and are prioritizing companies with growth stories and solid underlying fundamentals. Despite market uncertainties and mixed analyst opinions, Super Micro Computer’s demonstrated resilience indicates that investors are choosing to focus on the company’s long-term trajectory within the expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure market. This selective confidence, evidenced by today’s stock performance, underscores Super Micro Computer’s capacity to not only weather market storms but also to emerge as a compelling investment opportunity during broader economic and geopolitical turbulence. Illuminating the Red Sea: SMCI Is Positive in a Volatile Market Super Micro Computer presents a compelling investment opportunity due to its resilience and growth potential within a volatile market. The company’s strategic emphasis on new technologies, particularly its strong performance in the expanding AI infrastructure market, positions it for continued success. Super Micro Computer is poised to capitalize on the long-term growth of AI, which is expected to drive sustained growth in its stock price. This makes it an attractive option for investors seeking stable and profitable opportunities in the technology sector. Original Post Source link #Super #Micro #Computer #Stays #Green #Falling #Market #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month – CNN Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month – CNN Tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada delayed by one month CNNTrump Live Updates: Supreme Court Rejects Foreign Aid Freeze and Latest Tariff News The New York TimesTrump agrees to one-month tariff reprieve aimed at helping U.S. automakers The Washington Post Source link #Tariffs #cars #Mexico #Canada #delayed #month #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asus ROG Ally Extreme Bundle Is Back On ***** For Only $450 Asus ROG Ally Extreme Bundle Is Back On ***** For Only $450 The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is discounted to $450 at Best Buy. Normally $650, the deal slashes $200 from the price of the popular Windows gaming handheld. You’ll also get the official Travel Case ($40 value) with your purchase. The ROG Ally has been the most popular Steam Deck alternative since its debut in June 2023, and while Asus has released more powerful models over the past year, the Z1 Extreme offers the best performance for the price in the Windows handheld space–especially when it’s available for only $450. $450 (was $650) The ROG Ally Z1 Extreme comes with a sharp 1080p screen, AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 16GB LPDDR5 6400 RAM, and an internal 512GB NVMe SSD. Compared to the $500 base model ROG Ally, the Z1 Extreme has two additional CPU cores and a better GPU, which can make a meaningful difference with newer, more graphically demanding games. The ROG Ally offers impressive performance for the price. It’s not going to play graphically demanding games at the highest settings, but you still can play many AAA titles in 1080p resolution with at least 30fps. Even at its full $650 price, the ROG Ally’s performance is admirable; at $450, the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme offers incredible value. Admittedly, you can fill a 512GB SSD fairly quickly these days, but the ROG Ally has a microSD card slot that allows you to expand your storage for cheap. For instance, you can grab a SanDisk Ultra 1TB microSD card for $79 at Amazon. Alternatively, you can upgrade the internal SSD with an M.2 2230 NVMe SSD. One option here is Corsair’s 1TB MP600 Mini SSD for $75 (was $110). It’s worth noting that Windows can be cumbersome on gaming handhelds, unless you pair it with a traditional mouse and keyboard setup. Asus does have a proprietary app called Armoury Crate that gives you a more traditional console-like interface for gaming, but you’ll still need to spend some time navigating Windows 11. For a smoother overall experience and to turn your handheld into a hybrid desktop PC, we’d recommend pairing your ROG Ally with a docking station. There are plenty of budget-friendly docks, including this popular JSAUX dock for $30 (was $40). It’s on the pricier side, but Razer recently released a Chroma RGB-enabled docking station. You can order the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma for $80 at Amazon. Asus also makes a 65W Charger Dock, which has ports for USB-C, USB 2.0, and HDMI 2.0. Asus ROG Ally Official Travel Case The Steam Deck remains the most popular handheld gaming PC by a wide margin, but the Asus ROG Ally is a great alternative for those who want a Windows machine. Following the success of the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme and Z1 models, Asus released the ROG Ally X last year. While it retained the Z1 Extreme chip, the ROG Ally X is fitted with 24GB RAM and other welcome improvements such as better battery life, upgraded analog sticks, and increased storage capacity. The ROG Ally X is substantially more expensive, especially right now, at $800 for a 1TB model and $900 for a 2TB model. Here’s the full ROG Ally lineup, but the Z1 Extreme is the only model that’s on *****. 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting year for handheld PCs. On February 14, Lenovo released the Legion Go S. The Windows model of Lenovo’s upgraded handheld features a new Ryzen Z2 Go Chip, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. In May, Lenovo will release a $500 model of the Legion Go S with SteamOS, the same operating system used by Valve’s Steam Deck. This model features the Z2 Go Chip, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It will be the first third-party handheld to run on SteamOS. Source link #Asus #ROG #Ally #Extreme #Bundle #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

These funds offer investors solid income – but come with a few tradeoffs These funds offer investors solid income – but come with a few tradeoffs A high-yielding play is getting its moment in the sun as investors look to beef up their ability to generate income and aim to minimize volatility. Enter the interval fund , a structure that holds private credit and other income-generating assets that are less liquid than what’s found in an exchange-traded fund. Because of the nature of their holdings, these funds can’t be sold at will — instead, they have windows of liquidity through share repurchases typically offered once a quarter. The funds can also use leverage to help boost their income, resulting in yields that are in the 9% to 11% range, according to Brian Moriarty, associate director, fixed income manager research at Morningstar. “More recently, people realized these are potentially a perfect vehicle to offer private credit and other private assets to retail investors – regular investors who otherwise don’t get access because if you want to buy into a private credit fund, you have to be an accredited investor,” he said. Accredited investors need to have a net worth over $1 million, excluding their private residence, and income over $200,000 (individually) or $300,000 (with a spouse or partner) in each of the past two years. Asset managers have been taking steps to democratize investing in private credit lately, with State Street and Apollo Global Management recently launching the SPDR SSGA Apollo IG Public & Private Credit ETF (PRIV) . On the interval fund front, Capital Group and KKR have teamed up on two prospective interval funds , having recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to offer them. An illiquidity premium The difference between offering regular liquidity via an ETF versus quarterly liquidity in an interval fund can result in a premium for investors who are willing to stay put. “We think about private credit and private markets as a way to generate additional income, a premium to what you can get in the public market,” said Matthew Bass, head of private alternatives at AllianceBernstein. The firm offers the AB CarVal Credit Opportunities Fund (ABAYX) , an interval fund that invests in different private credit opportunities, ranging from specialty finance to aviation leasing. ABAYX is a new offering, launched in February 2024 and paying a distribution yield of 7.29%, but it also has an adjusted net expense ratio of 1.98%. “It’s designed to generate returns in terms of what you can get in the high-yield market with less volatility and less correlation,” Bass said. Financial advisors have also been interested in private credit exposure, according to Peter Blue, head of alternative solutions with Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. “Advisors are seeking interval funds as an operationally easier way to access less-liquid markets,” he said. The firm offers the Franklin BSP Private Credit Fund (FBPAX) , which debuted in 2022. The fund has a distribution rate of 7.89% and a net expense ratio of 4.78%. Financial advisors who have dipped a toe into the space said that interval funds can be an effective tool for income-focused clients who bring a long-term mindset to their portfolio and have ample assets elsewhere for liquidity needs. “I think of it as a couple years’ commitment to the fund,” said Thomas Balcom, certified financial planner and founder of 1650 Wealth Management in Lighthouse Point, Florida. “Most people say they’re long-term investors and that’s fine, but there is always a case where the client might need money: death, divorce, the loss of a job,” he said. “You want to make sure they’re aware of the lock up.” Be sure to kick the tires As more interval funds hit the scene, investors will need to perform some due diligence before they hop in. “If you have, for example, a 1% to 5% allocation to an interval fund, are you going to need that in the next three months?” said Ben Loughery, CFP at Lock Wealth Management in Atlanta. “I would imagine your financial advisor has the other 95% of your portfolio or other parts of your portfolio earmarked for immediate cash needs.” The fees can also be on the hefty side versus mutual funds and ETFs. A 2024 study co-authored by Morningstar’s Moriarty found that the average prospectus adjusted expense ratio across all interval fund share classes is 2.49%. That compares to 0.58% for ETFs and 0.99% for mutual funds. “The math works the same there as it does elsewhere: If there are higher fees, it’s more likely … the total return will be lower,” Moriarty said. He also recommended investors dig through the marketing materials and understand what they’re buying into – and know why they’re buying it. “You can’t make that investment on a whim; you’re stuck with it for at least a quarter,” Moriarty added. Source link #funds #offer #investors #solid #income #tradeoffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Administration Plans to Eliminate More Than 80,000 Veterans Affairs Employees Trump Administration Plans to Eliminate More Than 80,000 Veterans Affairs Employees The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to reduce its work force by more than 80,000 people, according to a memo seen by The New York Times outlining part of President Trump’s escalating efforts to slash the federal bureaucracy. The memo, which was first reported by the trade publication Government Executive, calls for the department’s work force to go from more than 482,000 workers to 399,957. Some of those cuts could be made by offering early retirement or severance payments, but earlier efforts to entice employees to quit their jobs voluntarily fell short of the stated goal of the Trump administration to drastically reduce the size of the federal work force. The Department of Veterans Affairs did not respond to requests for comment. Doug Collins, who leads the department, previously denied that services or benefits would be cut under the Trump administration. The work force reductions would be a major escalation of the downsizing that has already occurred at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides health care for military veterans. The Trump administration had already fired more than 2,400 employees at the department — cuts that have led to political pushback from Democrats and even some Republicans. Democrats denounced the move, noting that aggressive cuts at the department had already impacted some services for veterans and that a law signed by President Biden had significantly expanded the veterans benefits system, requiring more staff. Senator Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, described the plan as a “shameful betrayal,” accusing the Trump administration of “starving” the V.A.’s ability to meet demand to justify privatizing the department. In addition to its primary mission of providing veterans care and serving as the nation’s backup health care system, the department also oversees some medical research and manages veterans benefits programs — like pensions, banking, home loans, insurance, job training and funding for college degrees. The department also manages the nation’s hallowed military cemeteries and investigates fraud in the veterans benefits system. Each of those programs and the department’s sprawling health care system employs administrators as well as physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, technicians, clerks, accountants, cemetery groundskeepers and case workers. It is unclear where the cuts will come from and which programs would be most impacted by the Trump administration order. The department has not yet started an agencywide analysis of the work force to determine whose job should be eliminated, according to the memo, and will have to submit a plan detailing when and where cuts should occur. Mr. Collins, the secretary of veterans affairs, said last month that 300,000 employees — including operators of the Veteran Crisis Line — had been labeled “mission critical” to “ensure uninterrupted services.” If that designation remains, the 80,000 cuts would have to come from a pool of about 182,000 workers — eliminating about 45 percent of the noncritical work force at the department. Source link #Trump #Administration #Plans #Eliminate #Veterans #Affairs #Employees Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nicaragua Withdraws from Human Rights Council Months After Imprisoning Nicaragua Pastors Nicaragua Withdraws from Human Rights Council Months After Imprisoning Nicaragua Pastors Nicaragua has withdrawn itself from the U.N. Human Rights Council after being criticized for “its systematic crackdown on human rights, democratic norms, and religious groups,” a persecution watchdog group reports. President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President and First Lady, Rosario Murillo, called their decision to leave the Human Rights Council last week a “sovereign and irrevocable” move. Their announcement comes days after the U.N. Human Rights Council rebuked leaders for cracking down on religious groups. “We are seeing the methodical repression of anyone who dares to challenge Ortega and Murillo’s grip on power,” said Ariela Peralta, an expert who contributed to the report. “This is a government at war with its own people.” According to persecution watchdog group, International Christian Concern, the leaders have reshaped the democratic nation into a pseudo-dictatorial regime. “As part of the recent consolidation of power, Ortega announced his wife, Rosario Murillo, as co-president. He has since brought the legislative and judicial branches under his authority,” the group reported. The U.N. report backs those claims citing that Ortega and Murillo “transformed the country into an authoritarian state where no independent institutions remain.” Experts with the U.N. urged legal action against Nicaragua, pointing to human rights abuses in the country. The non-profit law firm, Alliance Defending Freedom International, has already taken this step against the country because of its mistreatment of 11 pastors who were held in prison for months and face $80 million in fines. As CBN News reported, pastors and ministry leaders affiliated with the Nicaraguan branch of a U.S.-based Christian ministry known as the Puerta de la Montaña were arrested in November 2023 after holding mass evangelism campaigns spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in the country. According to a Nicaraguan Police press release, the pastors were accused of money laundering and organized crime. The Christian ministry publicly denied the allegations and argued the charges were fabricated because the authoritarian regime of Nicaragua felt threatened by the success of the outreaches. Although the government was unable to produce any evidence of the alleged illicit activity or alleged unlawful funds in court, the pastors were imprisoned for over eight months. They could not contact their families or their own legal counsel but were rather set up with government-appointed lawyers who failed to provide them with any charging documents or files to prepare a defense adequately.      Last March, the 11 individuals were formally sentenced to between 12 and 15 years in prison and ordered to pay over $80 million in fines per person.       A month later, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International filed a precautionary measures request with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights saying the pastors were “fraudulently convicted.” Shortly afterward, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on Nicaragua to address the imprisonment of the Puerta de la Montaña leaders and ensure their human rights protections. And although those 11 pastors have since been released, Nicaragua has done nothing to further protect or exonerate them. Now, the ADF is asking the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to condemn Nicaragua for human rights violations and hold the government accountable for its failure to comply with the Court’s previous orders to protect the rights of the religious leaders. “These Christian leaders should never have been unjustly imprisoned in the first place, nor expelled from Nicaragua,” said ADF International legal counsel Kristina Hjelkrem. “The government must be held accountable for the persecution it inflicted on them. The situation in the country remains dire, and we will continue to seek justice for those suffering under the Nicaraguan regime.” But Nicaragua appears to not want to be held accountable. According to Reuters, Ortega has previously ignored the UN and the Organization of American States, saying their reports are all a part of an international smear campaign against the country. Murillo dismissed the U.N.’s most recent report as “falsehoods” and “slander.” Nicaragua was placed on the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list in 2022, which is defined as a country “engaged in” or tolerating “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” “Catholic clergy and laity continued to experience government harassment,” said a U.S. State Department publication, citing media reports, “including slander, arbitrary investigations by government agencies based on charges that clergy and laity said were unfounded, withholding of tax exemptions, and denial of religious services for political prisoners.” The country was placed back on the list in 2023 at the request of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In its most recent annual report, USCIRF noted that “religious freedom conditions in Nicaragua worsened significantly” over the previous reporting *******. “The government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo intensified its efforts to arbitrarily arrest, imprison, and expel Catholic clergymen and laypeople. The government also canceled the legal status of Catholic organizations, confiscated their property, and harassed and intimidated worshipers,” it reads. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***   Source link #Nicaragua #Withdraws #Human #Rights #Council #Months #Imprisoning #Nicaragua #Pastors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Make Monster Hunter Wilds Combat Easier With This Focus Mode Change Make Monster Hunter Wilds Combat Easier With This Focus Mode Change You’re probably wondering why Focus Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds is a bit finicky. As you take on numerous gargantuan beasts, this mechanic is one that enables you to track targets and land devastating blows. However, making use of it is a bit cumbersome… at least until you make a small tweak to the controls. Our guide tells you just what you need to do to alleviate combat-induced migraines in your playthrough. How to make combat easier with the Focus Mode toggle in Monster Hunter Wilds Focus Mode is a game mechanic that’s supposed to make combat easier. First, it requires you to hold the button prompt–i.e. L2/LT on a gamepad, Left Alt on a keyboard, or the Mouse 4 button on a mouse. This lets you aim and track a target as it moves around the area. More importantly, it makes wounds easier to discern. When you repeatedly hit a monster’s body parts, these wounds appear as bright red gashes while Focus Mode is active. Then, when you press the button prompt for a Focus Strike, your character will perform a devastating blow. Unfortunately, the system itself is quite cumbersome to use. Imagine having to hold down a button most of the time throughout a fight, all while switching between items and dodging blows, and the whole thing turns into quite a hassle. Worse, certain armaments, such as the bow–which we consider one of the best weapons in the game–become unwieldy since you have to alternate between two ability sets/firing modes. Focus Mode needs to be active if you want to spot a creature’s wounds. Fortunately, there’s a quick fix for Monster Hunter Wilds’ Focus Mode. All you need to do is open the menu and go to the Options screen. Take a look at the Controls tab and go to page 2. You should see the following: Aim/Focus Mode Controls Melee Weapons Ranged Weapons The default setting is “Activate Mode,” but you should change it to “Toggle Mode.” You can switch to Toggle Mode for either melee or ranged weapons, or both, depending on your control preference. Switching Focus Mode to activate when toggled makes controls less cumbersome. With this tweak, you simply need to press the Focus Mode button/keybind. As long as your weapon is drawn, Focus Mode will remain active and you won’t have to hold the button down anymore. If you want to deactivate it, just press the same button or sheathe your weapon to disengage swiftly. That does it for our guide on how to use the toggle for Focus Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds. If you’re keen on learning about other quick fixes, you can take a look at our Seikret mount controls guide. Need more tips as you continue fighting deadly creatures and venture into lands unknown? We’ve got you covered in our Monster Hunter Wilds guides hub. Source link #Monster #Hunter #Wilds #Combat #Easier #Focus #Mode #Change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rory McIlroy: World number two says deal between PGA Tour and LIV Golf not ‘any closer’ Rory McIlroy: World number two says deal between PGA Tour and LIV Golf not ‘any closer’ Rory McIlroy says he does not think a deal to unite golf is “any closer” despite talks between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and United States president Donald Trump. The sport has been fractured since Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf launched in 2022 and recruited some of the sport’s leading players from the PGA Tour, including Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. Discussions over a possible merger started in June 2023 and, in February, the PGA Tour held “constructive” talks with LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and president Trump at the White House. At the Genesis Open, 15-time major winner Tiger Woods said he thought the divide would “heal quickly” following the talks. However, McIlroy doesn’t believe the PGA Tour “needs” a deal to be struck, and said any plans to unify the sport are still far away from coming to fruition. “I don’t think it’s ever felt that close but it doesn’t feel like it’s any closer,” said Northern Ireland’s McIlroy. “I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of having the best players together again. “But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal.” Source link #Rory #McIlroy #World #number #deal #PGA #Tour #LIV #Golf #closer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pokémon-shaped chilli Cheeto fetches eye-watering price Pokémon-shaped chilli Cheeto fetches eye-watering price A Cheeto shaped like the beloved Pokémon Charizard has sold at auction for a total cost of $US87,840 ($A139,900). The Goldin auction house in the US listed the snack as sold on Sunday. “Presented is a 3-inch long (7.6cm) Flamin’ Hot Cheeto in the shape of the Pokémon Charizard, affixed to a customized Pokémon card and encapsulated in a clear card storage box,” the auction’s description states. “It was initially discovered and preserved sometime between 2018-2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles. The Cheeto surged in popularity on social media platforms in late 2024.” There were 60 bids on the uniquely shaped snack, according to the listing. The winning bid was $US72,000 ($A114,660) plus a buyer’s premium. Source link #Pokémonshaped #chilli #Cheeto #fetches #eyewatering #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Aerospace company Firefly released fantastic POV footage of Blue Ghost landing on the Moon Aerospace company Firefly released fantastic POV footage of Blue Ghost landing on the Moon We already knew that the aerospace company Firefly successfully maneuvered its Blue Ghost lander onto the surface of the Moon, but now we have some gorgeous video proof. The lander captured footage throughout the touchdown, complete with a cinematic finale. Check it out below. The POV footage shows the lander descending toward the Moon and the subsequent landing. It ends with a striking view of Blue Ghost emerging from a cloud of dust as its shadow stretches across the lunar surface. It’s pretty darn cool, with surprisingly-crisp HD visuals. The touchdown happened Sunday at 3:30 AM ET and Blue Ghost made its home in a region known as Mare Crisium. This isn’t the first commercial lander to make its way to the Moon, but was the first one to land properly. The mission was a joint effort between Firefly and NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, an organization that hopes to pave the way for an increased commercial presence on good ‘ole Luna. Since landing, Blue Ghost has begun its surface operations. These include deploying payloads, sampling local regolith and capturing a bevy of images. The stationary lander will spend around two weeks on the lunar surface as it conducts various tests. It’s packed with ten NASA instruments designed to probe the ground and to test subsurface drilling methods. Source link #Aerospace #company #Firefly #released #fantastic #POV #footage #Blue #Ghost #landing #Moon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal board orders USDA to temporarily reinstate dismissed probationary workers – The Hill Federal board orders USDA to temporarily reinstate dismissed probationary workers – The Hill Federal board orders USDA to temporarily reinstate dismissed probationary workers The HillUSDA employees fired en masse by Trump administration reinstated, workers’ board says CNNAt least one Pentagon agency has begun firing probationary workers Defense One Source link #Federal #board #orders #USDA #temporarily #reinstate #dismissed #probationary #workers #Hill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to Destroy Illuminate Warp Ships in Helldivers 2 How to Destroy Illuminate Warp Ships in Helldivers 2 The Illuminate enemy faction from the first Helldivers game was added to Helldivers 2 as a part of the Omens of Tyranny update in December. The update significantly boosted the game’s popularity, but it seems like many players are still struggling to understand what weapons or Stratagems work best against these new enemies. The Illuminate faction was added to Helldivers 2 in December (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) When fighting against the Illuminate, players must focus on taking out all the Illuminate Encampments, which are places where multiple Warp Ships have landed. The main task of the Warp Ship is to deploy more Illuminate units, so taking out the Warp Ships should be the priority. This is a short guide that will explain the best ways to destroy warp ships: How to destroy Illuminate Ships in Helldivers 2 The Illuminate faction is confirmed to expand in the coming weeks, so its important to understand the weakness of Illuminate’s strongest structures. The Illuminate Warp Ships appear on the battlefield as a structure as well as a transport ship, and both serve the same purpose: spawn more Illuminate enemies. 1) Parked Illuminate Ships The parked Illuminate Warp Ships are protected by a regenerative shield (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) All the Warp Ships that are parked on the ground are like Automaton Fabricators and Terminid Bug Holes, however, there is one difference. These parked Warp Ships are protected by a shield, which takes around 10 seconds to regenerate. First, players can use any Assault Rifle or even Stratagems like LAS-16 Sickle, MG-43 Machine Gun, or M-105 Stalwart to destroy the Warp Ship’s shield. Make sure you use a weapon with a high fire rate because the shield can regenerate quickly. Once the shield is broken, all players have to do is to toss a grenade into the open bay doors. The best grenade for this task is G-16 Impact Grenades, but players can also use Stratagems like CB-9 Exploding Crossbow or GP-31 Ultimatum. This is the most feasible approach, but if you are in a hurry, there are certain Stratagems that are capable of taking out a Warp Ship in a single hit, even with a shield. These Stratagems are: Eagle 500kg Bomb Orbital Precision Strike Orbital Gas Strike Orbital Laser Orbital Railcannon Strike Many players don’t use these Red Stratagems for just a single Warp Ship because of their high cooldown time. So, taking out the shield first and then destroying the ship is the easiest and most sensible way. 2) Flying Illuminate Ships Some Stratagems can take out flying Warp Ships in a single shot (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) The flying Illuminate Warp Ships are like Automaton Dropships as they also deploy enemies in the middle of the battlefield. Unlike landed ships, these flying ships don’t have a regenerative shield, however, they are heavily armored. The first way to completely prevent flying ships from ruining the game is to activate the SEAF SAM Sites, as it will easily shoot down any flying units in its range. In case the SEAF SAM site doesn’t spawn on your mission, try out this method to take down the flying Warp Ship: Since the Warp Ship is constantly moving, avoid throwing Red Stratagems as the ship might leave even before your Stratagem hits it. Instead, when the Warp Ship is deploying enemies, aim at the bottom port or the area from where it is emitting the white light and deploying enemies. Here are the best Stratagems for this task: LAS-99 Quasar Cannon is probably the best Stratagem to take out the flying ship because players can shoot it down even before the bottom doors open. A single GR-8 Recoilless Rifle shot to the bottom, or a single FAF-14 Spear anywhere on the ship will also destroy it. ML5-4X Commando is also capable of destroying the ship, but it takes around three to four rockets. Source link #Destroy #Illuminate #Warp #Ships #Helldivers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Outlast Trials Dev Hints That PvP Features May Be On The Way The Outlast Trials Dev Hints That PvP Features May Be On The Way For a team like Red Barrels, finding success in making just one series for over a decade isn’t easy. It seems especially difficult when you consider the series the team makes; Outlast is a gruesome, unflinching, taboo-shattering horror series, with gore, violence, and even nudity so beyond most other games that I’m sometimes amazed games in the series don’t get Adult ratings. I’ll also add it’s among my favorite horror series, though I didn’t anticipate that would remain the case when The Outlast Trial was revealed years ago. As a four-player co-op take on the series’ typical single-player horror stories, I felt like Outlast might lose some of its best features–the lonesome helplessness and intense situations where no one can save you. Last year, I wrote my Outlast Trials review, which helped me come to find I had misjudged the game previously. Today, it’s become a regular in my rotation, and it’s especially interesting to me, given it’s essentially a live-service game from a studio new to that highly competitive scene. With all of this context in mind, I was eager to speak to Red Barrels game director, Alex Charbonneau, so I could ask him his thoughts on these and other aspects of the game in advance of today’s first anniversary since the game launched into its 1.0 state. Charbonneau spoke to the game’s jaw-dropping depictions of violence and the problems that can sometimes present for its community. He also touched on how the community has helped shape the game, which originally had far less planned than what we’ve already seen come to the game just in its first year. Perhaps most intriguing is what he said about PvP coming to the game, which is currently PvE co-op only. Find all these details and more in GameSpot’s interview below. The Outlast Trials turns a year old today. They grow up so fast. GameSpot: The Outlast Trials has now been out a year since the 1.0 launch. What is the team’s biggest takeaway from that first year, and how has it felt different from the time spent in early access? The launch of version 1.0 marks the true beginning of our adventure! Throughout Early Access, we learned a lot and saw the game evolve into something dynamic and ever-changing. We had to adapt–because that’s what players wanted. More therapies, more gadgets, more enemies–more of everything. While we never initially planned for the game to function as a live service, we embraced the shift. After all, players love being test subjects! We feel we’ve reached a great point now. Reagents are Murkoff’s test subjects, and our players are ours. And trust us–there are plenty of surprises incoming! One thing I’m fascinated by is the world of live-service games and how it can feel like there’s a volatile, if not vanishing, middle ground. The Outlast Trials seems to be one of a few games that is succeeding in this space without being the biggest game in the world. How does the team view this success, and how does it view this challenge of staying relevant in such a competitive space? We’ve noticed that The Outlast Trials is a game players keep coming back to–sometimes even daily, which took us by surprise! To support this, we created a system where the game evolves regularly: Weekly Programs bring fresh challenges, time-limited events occur every few weeks, and major seasonal updates introduce significant changes. We also believe the game has a unique appeal–new players are constantly discovering its rich content, while seasoned players return to continue their therapy. It’s impressed me how The Outlast Trials’ live-service elements have worked well even though the team hasn’t done something like this before. How did the team approach things like designing daily and weekly tasks, cosmetic rewards, and limited-time events? Did existing Red Barrels team members learn how to implement these things, or did the team bring in industry veterans who built these things in previous games? We have an incredibly talented team. Some players assume we’re a massive 300+ person studio, but in reality, we’re a tight-knit group of around 60. Everyone is deeply involved, passionate, and committed to making the game the best it can be. While some of our developers have experience with live service games–shaping certain aspects of our approach–we don’t strictly follow all the usual rules. Instead, we focus on what’s best for our players and scale accordingly. Being a smaller team also gives us a key advantage: the ability to adapt and move fast, which is one of our greatest strengths. The Outlast Trials has expanded considerably beyond its original vision already, said Red Barrels. What are the biggest ways in which the community has helped shape the game over the last year (or even since early access)? Are there major elements you can point to and say they were going to be very different until the community’s feedback showed you a new path? Originally, the game was planned to have just five big Trials–that was it. But after a single weekend in Closed Beta, it became clear that players wanted much more. So, we pivoted, focusing on mechanics that could deliver fresh content without relying on full procedural generation (which we experimented with but found lacking at the time). The result? A massive ecosystem featuring Trials, MK-Challenges, Variators, Escalation Therapy, Daily and Weekly Tasks, Catalogs, and more–all designed to keep players engaged. And when players share their feedback, we listen and act as quickly as possible. How has the community surprised you so far? We’re constantly impressed by the quality of feedback we receive. Our players are deeply invested, and we make sure to read, listen, and watch everything they do. It’s not uncommon for a few insightful comments to send me straight into our editor to tweak something–because what they say just makes perfect sense. Shortly after, the change is live, and players see their impact on the game firsthand. And the truth is–they absolutely do shape the experience. A lot of games now do crossovers with things like movies, TV series, and other pop culture. Is there room in The Outlast Trials to do this? Do you plan to do such things? This is something we constantly discuss, but for us, maintaining the credibility and authenticity of the world we’re building is the top priority. If we ever do collaborations, they would need to fit seamlessly into our universe. Right now, we’re already working with incredibly talented artists for voiceovers, and we’re exploring ways to expand these collaborations in the future. I’ve enjoyed Outlast games since they first debuted–I even bought a PS4 so I could play the original–but I wasn’t sure I wanted a multiplayer game when it was announced years ago. I’ve learned I was wrong. Has there been a noticeable shift in sentiment toward the game? Absolutely. We’ve come to understand that horror is something people love to experience together. At first, this was a huge risk for us. It took countless iterations to get where we are today–because while it may seem simple, it was anything but. Balancing tension and terror in a complex, multiplayer environment was no easy feat. But now, we couldn’t be prouder. The Outlast Trials is an absolute thrill to play with friends, and watching streamers and YouTubers dive into it is just as incredible. New abilities have introduced additional character builds into the game, creating a symbiotic relationship between the game’s horror moments and its replayable multiplayer aspirations. Outlast games are incredibly gory and taboo-defying. This is a feature for many players, but likely a detractor to others as it can be so wildly gruesome. Do you ever have talks about where to draw the line in terms of the game’s mature content? Have you had to pull back to avoid an Adult rating? This is a topic we discuss from time to time, but ultimately, we believe the game’s uniqueness is what draws players in. Changing that would be a risk, as it could disappoint our fanbase–so for now, it’s not something we plan to do. However, we are exploring ways to help streamers and YouTubers capture content more easily without running into issues. Do you (or did you previously) have any plans to introduce a PvP mode to the game or will it always be PvE co-op? All I’ll say is that Reagents are test subjects–and Murkoff may have some experiments planned for them in the near future. We do enjoy the competitive aspect of The Outlast Trials in one way or another. So, let’s wait and see what Murkoff is cooking, shall we? It’s been shared that the game has sold 3.3M copies so far, making it the biggest Outlast game to date if I’m not mistaken. How does this compare to the team’s initial expectations, and what does this figure mean you may do differently in the future? Achieving commercial and critical success is always incredibly rewarding. Our most valuable critics are the players, and we are thrilled and proud that they love the game. We see this game lasting for many years. We are brimming with ideas for new and exciting content, and the success of the game means we can continue to bring these ideas to life for as long as players join us on this adventure. Live events have pushed strategies to regularly shift in pursuit of The Outlast Trials’ inspired cosmetic skins. The team previously announced Outlast 3. Does the success of The Outlast Trials make that game easier to make, perhaps by funding it and making the IP more popular? Or does it make it harder, perhaps by demanding more resources itself? Red Barrels is inherently a small company, and we aim to maintain this size as much as possible. When we embark on another project, it will not come at the expense of reducing resources for The Outlast Trials. This is an ongoing discussion within our team to ensure we balance both our existing commitments and new endeavors. Can you give any examples of how the game may continue to change shape over Year 2? Maybe there are things you’ve wanted to do but couldn’t until now, or recent changes in philosophy have you trying new things soon. We’ve finally reached a point where our pipeline enables us to deliver more of what the players crave. Expect more Trials, more enemies, more prime assets, more gadgets, more cosmetics, more variators, more events–simply, more of everything. For Year 2, players can anticipate a deluge of new content. On the flip side, we also love to keep our players on their toes with surprises. New lore, new twists, new gameplay elements, new modes – Year 2 will, in many ways, be the year of surprises. The Outlast Trials is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. You can catch today’s anniversary stream on the studio’s YouTube or Twitch channels. Source link #Outlast #Trials #Dev #Hints #PvP #Features Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The critical computer systems still relying on decades-old code The critical computer systems still relying on decades-old code Earlier this year, the technology world welcomed back a long-lost friend. ELIZA, the world’s first artificial intelligence chatbot, had wowed the computer scientists of the mid-1960s with its ability to engage in seemingly meaningful conversation. But, for decades, ELIZA was considered lost because its creator – Joseph Weizenbaum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – never published the 420 lines of code he used to create it. “At that time, it was actually kind of not normal to publish code,” says Jeffrey Shrager at Stanford University in California. Weizenbaum might even have thought that nobody would find it particularly interesting. How times have changed: Shrager and his colleagues are so fascinated by Weizenbaum’s achievement that they founded the ELIZA Archaeology Project and began digging into the history of the ancient chatbot. A few years ago, their efforts were rewarded when they discovered the missing code in a box of Weizenbaum’s old documents at MIT, paving the way for ELIZA’s recent resurrection. It is astonishing that we can once again talk to a chatbot that occupies such an important place in the history of AI. It got me wondering: is the ELIZA code the oldest out there, or are there even older snippets of computer code still performing impressive or important tasks? My journey in search of the oldest code took me into the heart of modern operating systems and, figuratively at least, beyond the outer reaches of the solar system. And it revealed something unexpected: this old code, far from being revered like ELIZA’s, evokes strangely contradictory attitudes among… Source link #critical #computer #systems #relying #decadesold #code Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Past-due student loan borrowers may see credit scores tank: VantageScore Past-due student loan borrowers may see credit scores tank: VantageScore Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on February 22, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images For the first time since the pandemic, becoming past-due on your student loan payments will hurt your credit again. The more than 9 million borrowers who are late on their payments may see their credit scores tank by as much as 129 points as the U.S. Department of Education ramps up collection activity again, a new report by VantageScore finds. The credit score company analyzed U.S. Department of Education data. Meanwhile, those who are paying their student loan bills on time will likely benefit from a rise in their credit scores by much as eight points, according to VantageScore. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850, with around 670 and higher considered good. More from Personal Finance: Social Security plans to cut 7,000 workers Trump, DOGE job cuts may be biggest in history Funding freeze stymies Biden-era consumer energy rebates It’s been a long time since federal student loan borrowers have needed to worry about the downsides of missed payments, which can also include the garnishment of wages and retirement benefits. That’s because collection activity was suspended during the the pandemic and for a while after. The relief ******* officially expired on Sept. 30, 2024. “For the first time in five years, federal student loan delinquencies will start to reappear on credit files,” said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore, in a statement. Here’s what student loan borrowers should know about their credit scores. 43% of borrowers with bills due were behind Around 9.2 million people — 43% of the roughly 22 million borrowers with payments due — are behind on their payments, according to the VantageScore report. The delinquencies will pop up on credit reports between now and May. Those borrowers’ credit scores will likely take a hit, triggering a cascade of other financial consequences, said Cathy Curtis, a certified financial planner and the founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning in Oakland, California. “Borrowers with past-due student loans and lower credit scores face higher borrowing costs across the board — from mortgages, car loans and credit cards,” said Curtis, a member of CNBC’s Advisor Council. Federal student loan borrowers who’ve defaulted on their loans may also see their wages garnished starting in October of this year, according to a January memo from the U.S. Department of Education. How to stay current on your student loans Student loan borrowers struggling to make their payments have options, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. The borrowers can apply for an income-driven repayment plan, which will cap their monthly bill at a share of their discretionary income. Many borrowers end up with a zero monthly payment. As of now, the applications for IDR plans are unavailable while the Education Department makes sure its plans comply with a new court order. But you should be able to access one in the coming months. Borrowers can also apply for a number of deferments or forbearances, which can pause your payments for a year or more. Additionally if you’re already in default on your loans, you should consider rehabilitating or consolidating your debt, experts said. Rehabilitating involves making “nine voluntary, reasonable and affordable monthly payments,” according to the Education Department. Those nine payments can be made over “a ******* of 10 consecutive months,” its web site notes. Consolidation, meanwhile, may be available to those who “make three consecutive, voluntary, on-time, full monthly payments.” At that point, they can essentially repackage their debt into a new loan. (The online loan consolidation application is also temporary unavailable.) If you don’t know who your loan servicer is, you can find out at Studentaid.gov. Experts also recommend that you check your credit reports regularly for free at AnnualCreditReport.com to make sure all three credit rating companies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — are showing your correct student loan balance and payment status. Source link #Pastdue #student #loan #borrowers #credit #scores #tank #VantageScore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump to Pause Auto Tariffs for One Month as Other Levies Continue – The New York Times Trump to Pause Auto Tariffs for One Month as Other Levies Continue – The New York Times Trump to Pause Auto Tariffs for One Month as Other Levies Continue The New York TimesTrump moves to exclude carmakers from tariff pain Sky NewsTrump’s Latest Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China Could Be His Biggest Gamble The New York TimesTrump could scale back Canada, Mexico tariffs Wednesday, Lutnick says CNBC Source link #Trump #Pause #Auto #Tariffs #Month #Levies #Continue #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]