Pelican Press

Olivia Wilde Goes Nearly Naked (but Avoids Baring Her Nipples) in Sheer Dress at 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party – PEOPLE Olivia Wilde Goes Nearly Naked (but Avoids Baring Her Nipples) in Sheer Dress at 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party – PEOPLE Olivia Wilde Goes Nearly Naked (but Avoids Baring Her Nipples) in Sheer Dress at 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party PEOPLEInside the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2025 After Anora’s Cinderella Ending Vanity Fair’Anora’ filmmakers highlight independent filmmaking during best picture Oscar speech ABC7 Los AngelesOscars 2025: See Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and More Kardashians’ Jaw-Dropping After-Party Looks E! NEWS Source link #Olivia #Wilde #Naked #Avoids #Baring #Nipples #Sheer #Dress #Vanity #Fair #Oscar #Party #PEOPLE Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sean Smith: Why reporting season proved all ordinary Sean Smith: Why reporting season proved all ordinary A wild ride in corporate fortunes reminds us yet again that sentiment, not figures, moves the market. Source link #Sean #Smith #reporting #season #proved #ordinary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Record Number of Homes Pile Up in Florida—Making 2 Major Cities Hot Markets for Buyers Record Number of Homes Pile Up in Florida—Making 2 Major Cities Hot Markets for Buyers The number of homes piling up on the market in Florida has hit record highs for two months in a row—and two cities in particular are becoming hot markets for buyers as prices fall dramatically. In February, 168,717 homes hit the market in the Sunshine State, the highest number in the history of Realtor.com® data going back to July 2016—and nearly 40% higher than a year ago. Orlando topped the list of Florida metros that saw the biggest gains in inventory, with a 43.8% surge year over year, followed by Cape Coral with 42.7% and Miami with 39.2%. “For-***** home supply has climbed annually in the state since May 2022, but have only exceeded pre-pandemic levels since mid-2024,” says Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones. “High home prices and mortgage rates have stifled demand in the state, leading to a buildup in home inventory.” The February upswing followed January’s historic boost in inventory, which saw 157,221 homes on the market across the state, a 33.1% year-over-year increase. That was the highest number ever recorded by Realtor.com to date, before it was surpassed by more than 100,000 listings a month later. 2 Gulf Coast cities emerge as hot markets for buyers As inventory surges and prices plummet, two Gulf Coast cities—Sarasota and Bradenton—are becoming decidedly more buyer-friendly. “Home shoppers in Bradenton and Sarasota are in for a treat with climbing inventory, falling prices, and longer time on market,” says Jones. “Buyers are likely to find more seller flexibility as homeowners aim to attract buyer attention.” The January report from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) closely mirrors the latest data from Realtor.com, highlighting a drop in median ***** prices and an uptick in finalized, or “closed,” sales, suggesting that the market is softening. Bradenton, FL In Bradenton, a city of 57,000 residents located south of Tampa, median list prices have been in a steady decline since March 2023, after peaking at $549,000 in June 2022, according to data analyzed by Jones. Bradenton, FL (Getty Images) As of January of this year, a typical home in Bradenton cost $432,000, more than $100,000 less than a year and a half ago. At the same time, residential properties in Bradenton lingered on the market for 67 days in January, three days more than a year ago—and more than 40 days longer compared with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This three-bedroom, two-bath home at 6929 Arbor Oaks Cir. in Bradenton, FL, has a list price of $425,000. (Realtor.com) As of January, the number of for-***** listings in Bradenton was 1,900, up from around 1,600 during the pre-pandemic January. In the surrounding Manatee County, there was a total of 498 single-family home sales, marking an increase of just over 22% compared with a year ago, according to the RASM report. The median ***** price dropped 8.6%, to $480,000. Manatee County ended January with 2,907 active listings, with the median time to ***** jumping 14%, to a whopping 98 days. “While closed sales have increased, inventory growth continues to outpace demand, leading to anextended months’ supply,” says Debi Reynolds, 2025 RASM president and managing broker of SaraBay Real Estate. “This shift presents opportunities for buyers while emphasizing the importance of strategic pricing for sellers.” Sarasota, FL In the city of Sarasota, which sits on the Gulf Coast south of Tampa, median list prices fell almost every month from November 2023 to January 2025, according to the latest available figures from Realtor.com. The median list price reached a high point of $725,000 in July 2023, but by January of this year, it shed $150,000, settling at $575,000. Homes in Sarasota typically stayed on the market for 67 days in January, two more days compared with the same time last year—and close to 40 days longer than during the peak of the pandemic. This three-bedroom, tjree-bath house at 6955 Stetson Street Cir. in Sarasota, FL, is listed for $575,000. (Realtor.com) According to the January report from RASM, in the surrounding Sarasota County, single-family home sales grew by 6.8% in January year over year, with 520 homes sold. But at the same time, the local home stock surged by more than 30% from January 2024, offering would-be buyers more options to choose from and making the market less competitive in the process. The county saw the median time to ***** increase to 85 days, with more than 2,900 active listings remaining by the end of January. Townhome and condo sector cooling off Townhomes and condominiums in both Sarasota and Manatee counties lingered on the market for longer than before and were more affordable than a year ago. In Sarasota, the number of townhomes and condos shot up to 2,463 last month, while the median ***** price plummeted 17.4%, to $347,000. Similarly, in Manatee County, which is home to Bradenton, the roster of active listings reached 1,714, as the median ***** price dropped by more than 6%, to $335,990. In both counties, townhomes and condos stood unsold more than 85 days, bolstering buyers’ negotiating power. “Median home prices have adjusted in response to increasing inventory, particularly in Sarasota’s condo market,” says Reynolds. “With townhomes and condos in both counties exceeding eight months of supply, market conditions now favor buyers.” Related Articles Source link #Record #Number #Homes #Pile #FloridaMaking #Major #Cities #Hot #Markets #Buyers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eterspire introduces Mounts to the MMORPG so you can explore Aetera like a boss Eterspire introduces Mounts to the MMORPG so you can explore Aetera like a boss The Umber and Ashen Steeds have been added as Mounts Two new side-quests to take on QoL improvements available Who wouldn’t want to ride off into the sunset atop loyal mounts to explore a vast fantasy world? I mean, I certainly would, and Eterspire seems to have that same thought too – particularly, the MMORPG has introduced its first two mounts into the multiplayer experience, debuting a brand-new way for you to discover the world around you. With the introduction of mounts in Eterspire, the Umber and Ashen Steeds will be joining the fray, and they not only make you look cool, but they also offer a movement speed bonus as all mounts should. Along with this update comes two new side quests to take on as well: the Egg Collector and Ancient Research. The former will open up the Spider Caves for you, while the latter will reveal more of the Eterspire lore with an abandoned temple thrown into the mix. Now, I don’t know about you, but I think an abandoned temple almost always means some kind of secret treasure or valuable ancient relic, which means it must definitely be worth a peek. Additionally, new quality-of-life updates include multi-withdraw and multi-deposit features when crafting, as well as a cosmetics preview so you can deck your character to the nines more easily. On the hunt for something similar? Why not take a look at our list of the best MMOs on Android? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out Eterspire on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Eterspire #introduces #Mounts #MMORPG #explore #Aetera #boss Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Value Takes Lead, Bonds Regain Favor – Is 2025 the Year of the Great Rotation? Value Takes Lead, Bonds Regain Favor – Is 2025 the Year of the Great Rotation? With 2 full months of the year completed, the () is up +1.38% while the Barclay’s Aggregate is +2.76% YTD, leaving a 60% / 40% balanced portfolio up +1.93% YTD as of February 28, 2025. In the bond market, “duration over credit” has been the theme, since – despite stagflation fears – the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:) is up +6.21% YTD, while the iShares High-Yield Credit ETF is +2.34%. High-yield credit spreads, as well as high-grade credit spreads widened a little bit last week, but the spread-widening is not yet worrisome. The important thing for readers and investors is that investment-grade bond funds, which are more duration-sensitive than credit-sensitive at this point in the cycle, as well as Treasuries, are outperforming high-yield and lower-rated credit funds and asset classes. The Treasury yield curve is now slightly inverted, with fed funds at 4.375%, while the closed Friday, February 28th at 4.23%. Given how longer-dated Treasury yields have avoided moving higher with higher inflation fears, that tells me (or rather us) that significant yield curve steepening will likely have to occur by fed funds being lowered rather than longer-maturity yields moving higher. The Fed Governors have been adamant that the current fed funds rate remains “well above neutral”. The 2nd surprise this year is that watching the various equity asset class returns, value is now handily outperforming growth. Through February ’25, here’s some YTD returns of Mag 7: Nvidia (NASDAQ:): -6.98% Apple (NASDAQ:): -3.33% Microsoft (NASDAQ:): -5.62% Amazon (NASDAQ:): -3.24% META (NASDAQ:): +14.12% Google (NASDAQ:): -10.05% Tesla (NASDAQ:): -27.45% Personally, I track two mutual funds to gauge the “value vs growth” trade, i.e. American Capital’s Growth fund vs Oakmark’s Value Fund managed by Bill Nygren and team. American Capital’s Growth (GFAFX) was up 1.21% YTD, while the Oakmark Fund had risen +4.61% YTD. The Oakmark Fund now has an ETF and it has risen +7.49% YTD. As the Mag 7 and notable growth names falter, “value” is filling the breech. Two stylistic ETF’s that show the comparison are the S&P 500 SPDR Portfolio Growth (NYSE:), which had fallen -0.35% YTD, while the S&P 500 SPDR Portfolio Value (NYSE:) had risen +3.32% YTD as of month-end February ’25. Finally, China had a tough week last week, probably thanks to renewed tariff talk by the President. He’s not going to take his foot off the gas very much (or so it seems) on this issue. Europe continues to perform well: the (Vanguard Europe ETF) is up +10.46% YTD, this blog’s biggest international position, which is predominantly European-centric right now is the (JFEAX) has risen +10.03% YTD, even though “emerging markets” remain flat. The Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF is down -1.57% YTD. Conclusion The two consecutive 25% returns for the S&P 500 benchmark in 2023 and 2024 had many people still pretty bullish coming into the year, even though the only ******* where investors had seen 3 consecutive year of +20% returns, was the late 1990’s or the ******* from 1995 – 1999. So if the S&P 500 is only up 5% – 10% this year, that might present the opportunity for long-dormant asset classes like international, like value, etc. to generate benchmark-beating returns. There is so much uncertainty around tariffs, DOGE, Ukraine, the tension is almost palpable, but that also present opportunity. Friday, March 7th’s jobs report is still looking for 140,000 – 150,000 “net new jobs created” by the US economy, with Briefing.com expecting +150,000 overall, and the private sector expecting +140,000. The is telling us something, and while some say it’s a recession warning, high-yield credit spreads remain pretty well bid. For a client meeting last weekend, I wrote down the last 5 calendar year’s Barclay’s Aggregate (AGG) return: 2020: +5.18% 2021: -1.54% 2022: -14.35% 2023: -3.32% 2024: +2.92% The 5-year annualized total return for the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE:) as of 12/31/24 was -0.52%, while the 10-year annualized total return is just 1.45%. The AGG’s modified duration is 5.9 years so you get a little boost from the benchmark itself, while the duration for the TLT is 18 years. 2025 may be the year where duration becomes fashionable again. Disclaimer: None of this is advice or a recommendation, but only an opinion. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing can and does involve the loss of principal even for short periods of time. None of this information above may be updated, and if updated may not be done so in a timely fashion. All return data is sourced from Morningstar. Source link #Takes #Lead #Bonds #Regain #Favor #Year #Great #Rotation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Joe Highsmith goes from making the cut to a PGA Tour winner at the Cognizant Classic – The Associated Press Joe Highsmith goes from making the cut to a PGA Tour winner at the Cognizant Classic – The Associated Press Joe Highsmith goes from making the cut to a PGA Tour winner at the Cognizant Classic The Associated PressJoe Highsmith’s winning WITB: 2024 Cognizant Classic GolfWRXWhat clubs does Cognizant Classic winner Joe Highsmith play? Winner’s bag GOLF.comSon of Legendary Caddie Helps Longshot to First PGA Tour Win at Cognizant Classic Sports Illustrated Source link #Joe #Highsmith #making #cut #PGA #Tour #winner #Cognizant #Classic #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Saints forward Owens cleared of major shoulder injury Saints forward Owens cleared of major shoulder injury St Kilda’s Mitch Owens is a chance to play in round one after being cleared of major structural damage to an injured shoulder. Source link #Saints #Owens #cleared #major #shoulder #injury Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steam Hits 40 Million Peak Users and Effortlessly Outpaces Xbox in One Major Way Steam Hits 40 Million Peak Users and Effortlessly Outpaces Xbox in One Major Way Hours ago, Steam hit a new milestone – 40 million peak concurrent users online on the platform. This monumental figure was secured with 12 million players worldwide being in a game as the total number crept over the 40 million mark. To put that into perspective, the most recent estimates suggest that Microsoft has sold around 30 million Xbox Series consoles since they debuted in 2020. That means that even if every person who ever bought an Xbox Series X or Series S were to log on simultaneously, they’d still need 10 million people to hit Steam’s peak player count. Impressive Stuff Steam is a powerhouse of a platform, and PC gaming is exploding. Recently, it was revealed in a data-driven report that PC gaming has been outpacing ‘living room console’ revenue since 2011. Collectively, the PC gaming market has earned 225% more than ‘combined console’ spend in the last decade or so. If you think about it for a moment, it becomes pretty incredible. At one point in the last few hours, 40 million people were online on Steam all at the same time. That’s more than the population of Canada, and it almost beats the population of Greece, Portugal, Hungary, and Switzerland combined. It was recently estimated that Microsoft has managed to shift around 30 million Xbox Series consoles since 2020, pacing far behind Sony with more than 70 million PlayStation 5 sales. That means that more people are using Steam right now than have purchased Xbox consoles in a five-year window. It’s apples and oranges as Steam has built up that repository of users over a very long *******, but it’s certainly indicative of the wider power of PC gaming. It has even been estimated that Xbox Game Pass has around 34 million subscribers, so Steam trumps that as well. Are you one of the 40 million? Let us know what you use Steam for in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that John Cena has made a cryptic GTA 6 post on Instagram SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Steam #Hits #Million #Peak #Users #Effortlessly #Outpaces #Xbox #Major Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A ******* Scientist Got Fired and Replaced Their Research Data With Wildest Thing You Can Imagine A ******* Scientist Got Fired and Replaced Their Research Data With Wildest Thing You Can Imagine Anyone who’s ever left a bad job knows the temptation to pull off a petty stunt on your last day. It’s one thing if you work at Little Caesar’s. But as one ******* researcher found out, sometimes it’s best to leave your parting thoughts to an email. Last week, a federal jury found a former Stanford University researcher guilty of tampering with protected email servers. Which somehow sounds better than what actually happened: Naheed Mangi was convicted on several charges for deleting breast ******* research data and replacing it with insults directed at her former supervisor. It’s a trial over ten years in the making: back in 2013, Mangi was let go of her job as a research coordinator overseeing an experimental breast ******* treatment due to performance issues. Though no longer welcome to log into Stanford’s clinical database, Mangi’s account wasn’t revoked until the next day. So the former researcher indulged in a costly romp through the digital garden, falsifying patient records with nonsense information, insulting clinical doctors, and launching a diatribe at her boss. When Stanford launched an investigation into the breach of a protected database, Mangi’s former coworkers noted she was “very angry” about the firing. Now, after a lengthy investigation by the Secret Service, the researcher is facing a max of 21 years in prison after causing “thousands of dollars in financial loss” to the University. “Naheed Mangi intentionally tampered with a breast ******* research database by entering false information and personal insults,” said US attorney Patrick Robbins in a Justice Department statement about the conviction. “Her senseless actions undermined a study into the safety and efficacy of a new treatment for breast ******* patients.” It’s not known why this case took so long to prosecute, but it’s clear that Mangi’s antics went way over the line. They’re also unusual; academic fraud is alarmingly common, but usually it takes the form of researchers chasing clout by falsifying interesting results in a bid to get published in impressive journals. Still, she’s not the first spurned employee to give into the temptation to leave some vengeful pranks behind after a firing. Last month, a former Disney employee pled guilty to tampering with allergy information and adding swastikas to Disney restaurant menus, on top of changing wine regions to sites of mass shootings. He faces a minimum of two years in prison for tampering with “nearly every menu in the system” months after being let go for misconduct. Like Mangi, the former Disney employee was slammed with federal charges via the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a key piece of legislation used to prosecute breaches of access on the web. The incidents are cautious reminders: regardless of how much you detest your boss, stay away from mischief that could hurt innocent people, even if your password still works after getting sacked. Our advice? It’s probably best to stick to the stapler in Jell-O. More on cyber crime: One of Elon Musk’s DOGE Boys Reportedly Ran a Disgusting Image Hosting Site Linked to Domains About Child ******* Abuse Source link #******* #Scientist #Fired #Replaced #Research #Data #Wildest #Imagine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

RFK Jr, noted vaccine sceptic, backs measles jab amid deadly US outbreak – Al Jazeera English RFK Jr, noted vaccine sceptic, backs measles jab amid deadly US outbreak – Al Jazeera English RFK Jr, noted vaccine sceptic, backs measles jab amid deadly US outbreak Al Jazeera EnglishRFK Jr. urges people to get vaccinated amid deadly Texas outbreak AxiosROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.: Measles outbreak is call to action for all of us Fox NewsAmid West Texas measles outbreak, vaccine resistance hardens The Washington PostFirst case of measles confirmed in Austin KXAN.com Source link #RFK #noted #vaccine #sceptic #backs #measles #jab #deadly #outbreak #Jazeera #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ASX soars in March on strong Wall Street lead ASX soars in March on strong Wall Street lead The *********** share market has been boosted on Monday from strong figures out of China and a resilient Wall Street. Source link #ASX #soars #March #strong #Wall #Street #lead Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ben Horowitz donates Cybertruck fleet to the Las Vegas police Ben Horowitz donates Cybertruck fleet to the Las Vegas police Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Ben Horowitz has donated a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, the department has confirmed to TechCrunch. The Cybertruck fleet is the latest entry in a list of gifts Horowitz has given to the Las Vegas police — a relationship TechCrunch revealed in detail late last year. The venture capitalist has donated more than $7 million to the department over the last few years. Most of that money has been used to purchase technology from Andreessen Horowitz portfolio companies. At times, TechCrunch’s reporting showed, the police department offered Horowitz the chance to weigh in on how that technology was deployed. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill first announced the Cybertruck gift on February 25 at his annual “state of the department” address. He said during the speech that the trucks were provided by an anonymous donor and that they wouldn’t come out of the department’s budget. The Las Vegas Review-Journal was the first to report that Horowitz and his wife Felicia were behind the gift. “We want these things because the cops inside will be safe no matter what. These stop bullets. They are also a tremendous recruitment tool for us,” McMahill said in his speech. McMahill said on stage that the department would receive 10 Cybertrucks, although an unnamed department spokesperson told TechCrunch that Horowitz donated 11 of them. Horowitz did not respond to a request for comment. Horowitz’s previous gifts to the Las Vegas police were made by donating funds to the department’s nonprofit police foundation — a method of funding that police accountability advocates say hurts transparency and competition. In this case, though, the department told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the donation was not made to the police foundation. The department did not respond to TechCrunch’s question about how the donation was made. Source link #Ben #Horowitz #donates #Cybertruck #fleet #Las #Vegas #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 2025 Oscars worst dressed list: 7 looks that missed the mark — sorry – Business Insider The 2025 Oscars worst dressed list: 7 looks that missed the mark — sorry – Business Insider The 2025 Oscars worst dressed list: 7 looks that missed the mark — sorry Business InsiderOscars 2025 highlights: ‘Anora’ emerges triumphant in unpredictable awards season, Timothée Chalamet is Hollywood’s sweetheart and Conan O’Brien is the host with the most Yahoo EntertainmentMaking history at the Academy Awards: Five takeaways from the 2025 Oscars Al Jazeera EnglishOur Favorite Photos From the Oscars Red Carpet The New York Times Source link #Oscars #worst #dressed #list #missed #mark #Business #Insider Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff can’t wait for the pressure of deciding semifinal game against Melbourne Perth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff can’t wait for the pressure of deciding semifinal game against Melbourne Perth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff has declared his team is ready for the pressure of game three of a semifinal series, saying the chance to compete in Tuesday night’s clash against Melbourne United is why everyone plays. The Wildcats levelled the best-of-three series with a pulsating comeback at RAC Arena on Saturday night, fighting back from 20 points down to win 96-89. It was the first time Perth had beaten Melbourne this season and they must repeat that effort to advance to the grand final. Wagstaff, who has won six NBL championships, said the match would be won by the team that executes under extreme pressure and his team can’t wait for the high stakes game. “This is one game and everything is on the table for this one game. You win and you go on. You lose and you go home. It’s all or nothing on Tuesday,” Wagstaff said. Camera IconPerth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images “The fact of the matter is it is one game and 40 minutes separates us from a grand final series or going home and season over. That’s the same situation for them and same situation for us. “It’s exciting. This is why you play basketball. It is an exciting time of year when all the biccies are up for grabs. It’s the pointy end of the season. The game is a bit faster, the crowd is a bit louder and there’s more on the line. It is why you play.” The Wildcats are accustomed to five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton stepping up and winning games for them. But with United putting an extreme focus on him, Dylan Windler and Kristian Doolittle seized their moments on Saturday. Ben Henshall also did a brilliant job of stopping Chris Goulding and **** Webster’s energy was crucial. Camera IconDylan Windler dominated game two. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images Wagstaff said the Wildcats’ depth meant they don’t have to rely on Cotton to be their only match winner. He said if United put all of their attention on stopping Cotton again, his squad had plenty of talent waiting for the chance to shine. “We’ve certainly got some phenomenal players around him,” Wagstaff said. “Just like Melbourne, they’ve got Chris Goulding who went for 40-something in the first game but they’ve also got a very, very, very good cast around him as well. With BC getting so much attention, it may provide opportunity like it did on Saturday night for a guy like Dylan or KP or Kristian. We’ve certainly got some very good players around BC as well.” Source link #Perth #Wildcats #captain #Jesse #Wagstaff #wait #pressure #deciding #semifinal #game #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Things You Should Know 3 Things You Should Know President Donald Trump was sworn into office on Jan. 20, and he has already embarked on an ambitious agenda. With the Trump administration attempting to make significant spending cuts, many retirees might be wondering what the 47th president’s plans are for Social Security, which distributes benefits to tens of millions of Americans each month. Social Security has long been in a fraught position. The program will need to reduce benefits in 10 years if Congress doesn’t make changes to shore up its finances. Although it’s still early, let’s take a look three things President Trump has discussed that would affect Social Security. As recently as Feb. 18, Trump promised not to cut benefits. On Fox News, Trump told Sean Hannity that “Social Security won’t be touched, other than if there’s fraud or something. It’s going to be strengthened. But it won’t be touched.” Trump also said that his administration will not be making cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. However, Trump could find himself in a difficult position on Medicaid. Earlier this month, the House Budget Committee voted for a minimum of $880 billion in cuts to mandatory spending programs monitored by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. One of these programs is Medicaid. This is all part of a House budget resolution that Trump has supported. Trump’s reluctance to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid comes back to comments he made in 2013 when he said making cuts to these programs and winning elections “really is not going to happen.” Obviously, that was a long time ago, and Trump can be unpredictable, so while he says benefit cuts are not on the table, people should closely monitor what’s actually happening in Congress. Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. Not everyone is subject to income taxes on Social Security. The rule is based on combined income, which the Internal Revenue Service defines as half of a retiree’s Social Security benefits plus other income from sources such as pensions, wages, dividends, and capital gains. Single filers can see as much as half of their Social Security benefits taxed if they make between $25,000 and $34,000, and as much as 85% of benefits taxed if they make more than $34,000. For married couples filing jointly, the thresholds are $32,000 to $44,000 for half of their benefits taxed, and more than $44,000 for 85% of benefits taxed. Remember, these are not the actual tax rates, just the share of a retiree’s benefits that could be taxed. Story Continues Trump said throughout the campaign trail that he wants to eliminate these taxes. Officials from the President’s administration recently told CNBC that Trump plans to “double down” on this proposal. However, this promise could also prove tricky. Trump has promised to slash spending to try to rein in the growing fiscal deficit, which exceeded $1.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024. The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School’s budget model estimates that eliminating income taxes on Social Security could cut U.S. revenue by $1.5 trillion over a decade while raising the country’s debt burden 7% by 2054. That’s going to leave a difficult decision for Trump, given his hopes of significantly lowering the deficit. High inflation is not a President’s friend, as many voters focus on the economy when they head to the polls. High inflation significantly hurt former President Joe Biden’s approval ratings and likely had an impact on the outcome of the election. Now, inflation has slowed dramatically after rising as high as 9% in 2022. Recent data from January shows the year-over-year inflation rate was at 3%. That is better but still above the Federal Reserve’s preferred 2% target, and it’s been sticky in recent months. Consumer prices remain high due to the elevated inflation in recent years, and even when inflation slows, prices are still going up. President Trump has made it clear he would like to lower prices, but the task is easier said than done, and in many cases, outside of a President’s control. Either way, if inflation drops as Trump desires, that could lead to a lower cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefits. The Social Security Administration distributes a COLA each year to help the purchasing power of benefits keep pace with inflation. The annual COLA is based on inflation data from the third quarter of each year, so if prices rise at a slower pace year over year, then the next COLA will shrink too. The 2025 COLA came in at 2.5%, but it remains to be seen how inflation will look in the remainder of this year (and the third quarter specifically). To complicate matters further, many beneficiaries and groups also believe COLAs have not kept pace with inflation long term, so even rising COLAs may not be the win some think they are. If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the “Social Security secrets” » The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. President Trump’s Potential Changes for Social Security So Far: 3 Things You Should Know was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s factory activity growth hits 3-month high in February, as millions return to work after holidays – CNBC China’s factory activity growth hits 3-month high in February, as millions return to work after holidays – CNBC China’s factory activity growth hits 3-month high in February, as millions return to work after holidays CNBCChina Factory Activity Picks Up, Showing Economy’s Resilience BloombergChinese manufacturing returns to growth despite threat of higher Trump tariffs The GuardianChinese factories see improved orders as importers rush to beat tariffs The Hill Source link #Chinas #factory #activity #growth #hits #3month #high #February #millions #return #work #holidays #CNBC Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

John Cena’s GTA 6 Post Has Fans Speculating Like Crazy John Cena’s GTA 6 Post Has Fans Speculating Like Crazy Recently, John Cena blew minds across the WWE universe after turning against Cody Rhodes at the Elimination Chamber PPV. This major heel turn comes as his retirement tour unfolds, and while many predicted it, it’s still surprising. Following the win at Elimination Chamber, the 47-year-old superstar took to social media to post a promotional image of Grand Theft Auto 6 with no caption or context. This has fuelled speculation online, with fans of both the franchise and the iconic athlete believing that John Cena could be in GTA 6. Highly Unlikely Nobody understands why John Cena would post a promotional image for GTA 6 on his Instagram page, but he did it, and that’s all we know. To be fair, his bio suggests we should anticipate posts like this: These images will be posted without explanation, for your interpretation. Enjoy. It’s up to us to decide what the post means, then. Many have surmised that it’s Cena’s take on the ‘before GTA 6’ meme that has run rampant on social media in the past few months. ‘We got a John Cena heel turn before GTA 6’, kind of thing. It’s not unheard of for celebrities to appear in a Grand Theft Auto game, but it is unlikely that Rockstar Games or Take-Two would have ‘allowed’ Cena to make the post if he were involved with the game. That’s just too much of a spoiler. Cena has more time on his hands now, so perhaps he has lent his voice and acting talents to the next iteration of the Grand Theft Auto series. Who knows? He appeared in PGA Tour 2K23, and Take-Two was the publisher for WWE games for many years, so he has a connection to Take-Two in some way. What role could you see John Cena taking up in GTA 6? Let us know in the comments. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that We The People will be playable again soon SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #John #Cenas #GTA #Post #Fans #Speculating #Crazy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Business outlook brighter but red tape chafes operators Business outlook brighter but red tape chafes operators Optimism has risen among small business owners, buoyed by the prospect of lower interest rates and holding out for tax and regulatory reform at the election. Source link #Business #outlook #brighter #red #tape #chafes #operators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trumpism Isn’t Working Trumpism Isn’t Working Last November, voters elected a president who’d largely campaigned on an unrelenting hostility to trans people and a plan to let Silicon Valley oligarchs gut the civil service and turn government into a machine for the president’s self-enrichment and political revenge. Much of the political press either ignored this stuff or didn’t care enough to inform their readers—some were too busy trying to polish a mass deportation scheme into a sensible response to the housing crisis—but some of us, here at The New Republic and elsewhere, went hoarse trying to warn about the consequences. And now here we are. While it’s early days, Trump’s second term has been going about the way you’d expect the presidency of an anti-trans, pro-oligarch, corrupt mass deporter to go: not well! Migrants are effectively being thrown into internment camps, a gang of child cybercriminals are heisting our personal data, and what’s left of the civil service is bogged down wondering whether or not they have to send busy-work emails to gang leader Elon Musk. Meanwhile, Trump has largely checked out, prompting Musk, on multiple occasions, to step in as the president’s emotional-support fascist during public appearances. If you’re fond of certain social media memes—sowing/reaping, how it started/how it’s going, ***** around/find out—this is a real ***** time. But here’s the bottom line: Trumpism isn’t working. This mostly portends pain for the country and the planet, but there’s a silver lining to be found in a president who has screwed up so royally this soon into his post-inauguration honeymoon *******: His opponents have an unexpected advantage. Right now, Trump’s biggest weakness is the very thing he believed was going to confer unprecedented strength on his return to power: his attempts to purge the federal government of its loyal workforce and replace it with subservient confederates. What Trump and his cronies misunderstand is that the civil service is essentially an extension of the people’s will. While this institution is too often castigated as a faceless bureaucracy, there’s an important material connection between those who serve the public and the public that’s being served. And when you rattle the cages in Washington, those vibrations spread outward. It’s no wonder that a recent Morning Consult poll found majorities of respondents rejecting the idea that the civil service was “too liberal,” as the Trump administration has tried to get people to believe. Nor is it surprising to find that the same set of respondents are not exactly “clamoring for DOGE cuts.” At the same time, public approval is trending against Trump’s Silicon Valley *****-ups, not to mention Trump himself, of whom half the country now disapproves. People should be worried about the destruction that Trump is wreaking. The civil service is a collection of people doing the mostly invisible work of keeping daily life thrumming along and keeping us safe from a multitude of harms. Now, everywhere you look, Americans are getting anxious. People are suddenly less convinced that they can travel by air safely. Consumer confidence is nose-diving. The percentage of Americans who feel the economy is on the wrong track has risen 10 points in less than a month. Reading the tea leaves, the administration is now desperately trying to finger Biden as the culprit for what could be an apocalyptic jobs report, which is pretty rich coming from the administration that’s cutting programs and putting people on the unemployment rolls. “It seems unavoidable that we are headed for a deep, deep recession,” former U.S. Labor Department economist Jesse Rothstein told The Telegraph this week. Apollo Global economist Torsten Slok said that “layoffs could approach 1 million after factoring in the likely chain reaction” that Trump’s cuts to the civil service will have; Slok went on to observe that “the US Economic Policy Uncertainty Index was now higher than at any time during the great recession.” So it’s hardly shocking that people are already starting to react as if something has gone very wrong. Republicans are facing torrents of angry voters at their own town halls, where representatives from deep-red districts are getting earfuls of anti-Musk invective and chants of “Tax the billionaires!” Some Republicans even seem chastened enough to offer the first stirrings of anti-Trump defiance that we’ve heard from members of his own party in a while. (Naturally, it’s now being suggested that Republican members cancel their town halls entirely—a curious move for a party that claims to have a mandate to govern.) I may not be as confident as The American Prospect’s David Dayen, who says “Trump’s cooked,” but the environment is certainly more favorable to such optimism than I imagined it would be a month ago—which makes this an apt time for Democrats to up the ante. As Senator Elizabeth Warren said during an interview on CNN this week, “Our best strategy is to make sure everybody knows exactly what the Republicans are trying to do.” That’s a plan that doesn’t require a congressional majority, just a commitment. There really is a big opportunity here, to make some fundamental shifts in public sentiment on the value of the government that Trump is trying to burn to the ground. A 2019 study by the Niskanen Center found that Americans “mistrust services provided by the public sector, even though they increasingly rely on government programs.” The misalignment is so bad, in fact, that the public tends to “misperceive good services” rendered by the government as coming from the private sector. The biggest problem, according to the study, is that most of the good work the government does is invisible—we only notice when it’s being done poorly. Because of that, the study concludes, the public’s “views of government don’t become more positive even if they directly benefit.” As Trump and Musk stampede through Washington, and the inevitable maladies of this destruction become more visible to the public, liberals might be staring at a historic opportunity to turn public opinion on the value of government around. And they can back up their case by showing some backbone in Washington, because the price of being associated with Trumpism is too high. This week, they passed an important test with flying colors when they voted in lockstep against the Republican budget plan, and with considerable aplomb: California Representative Kevin Mullin flew to Washington to cast his vote straight from being discharged from the hospital; his Colorado colleague Brittany Pettersen made a similar sojourn with her newborn son. All in all, this was an instructive week of how an out-of-power party can offer a steely response to, and take advantage of, a stumbling Trump. So let the cheap clickbait merchants beat on about how Democrats would be better off rolling over and playing dead. With public sentiment riding against Trump’s designs and no end in sight to the chaos he and Musk foment, there’s never been a better time for the party that believes in government to defend that government, connecting the ruination of the civil service to the ruination that will be visited on ordinary people. Democrats might be locked out of power, but they don’t need a parliamentary majority to land damaging blows against a flailing president and party. Strike while the iron is hot. This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here. Source link #Trumpism #Isnt #Working Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump's past speeches to Congress asked them to pass his agenda. Now, he's willing to go it alone – The Associated Press Trump's past speeches to Congress asked them to pass his agenda. Now, he's willing to go it alone – The Associated Press Trump’s past speeches to Congress asked them to pass his agenda. Now, he’s willing to go it alone The Associated PressLook right, look left: Trump will survey a landscape transformed in speech to Congress USA TODAYUkraine, Gaza expected to feature in Trump’s address to Congress Voice of America Source link #Trump039s #speeches #Congress #asked #pass #agenda #he039s #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Disgraceful’: union sues to undo rail strike stoppage ‘Disgraceful’: union sues to undo rail strike stoppage Strikes on Australia’s busiest rail network might restart sooner than expected as a tribunal’s ruling to halt ongoing industrial action comes under fire in the courts. A full bench of the Fair Work Commission ordered in February that strikes on Sydney’s railways be paused until July 1 while the NSW government and rail workers try to resolve an ongoing pay dispute. The disagreement led to extended pain for commuters through cancellations and delays as negotiations continued. On Thursday, the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union (CEPU) applied to the Federal Court to quash the FWC’s decision via an expedited hearing. The CEPU was one of seven unions, including the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, working under the banner of the Combined Rail Unions which had been in discussions with state transport officials since May 2024. However after the FWC’s decision, the CEPU made the decision to break away. Electrical Trades Union NSW/ACT secretary Allen Hicks told members via email that the CRU had not adequately represented their interests. The ETU is a division of the CEPU. Union members were deeply disappointed with the commission’s ruling, Mr Hicks told AAP on Monday. “The Fair Work Commission fundamentally failed to take into account the interests of all bargaining representatives and as such the ETU has applied to the Federal Court for a review of this disgraceful decision,” he said. “We wish to restore the fundamental right of union members to take protected industrial action to encourage a swift and fair resolution to this enterprise bargaining dispute.” The CEPU and the RTBU had been seeking a 32 per cent pay rise across four years, but the government has only offered 15 per cent for the same *******, including a federally mandated superannuation increase. More recently, the parties were at odds over a $4500 one-off payment included in workers’ last pay agreement, which officials from both unions said should form part of the new deal. In an affidavit filed with the court, ETU NSW head of legal and operations Alana Heffernan described the commission’s ruling as “irrational or legally unreasonable”. “By suspending protected industrial action, the commission has substantially reduced the capacity of members of the CEPU to exert legitimate influence to achieve an enterprise agreement that includes the claimed sign-on bonus,” she wrote. The decision provided a strategic negotiating advantage to the government and rewarded its opposition to the union’s proposed terms, she said. If the dispute is not resolved by August 6, the commission can make an bargaining declaration forcing the unions to stop all industrial action related to the enterprise agreement, court documents reveal. A spokesperson from Transport for NSW told AAP that it would continue working towards finalising the enterprise agreement. In February, NSW Premier Chris Minns did not accept his government would have to dig further into its funds to seal an agreement, despite the apparent gulf between its offer and the union’s asking price. “But we’re open to genuine discussions about what a package would look like,” he said. He stood by the FWC’s decision to suspend industrial action until July, saying negotiations could continue without “holding the people of NSW hostage”. Opposition Leader Mark Speakman also welcomed the commission’s call at the time, but said there would be “more pain for commuters or taxpayers or both down the road”. The case will come before the court on March 7. Source link #Disgraceful #union #sues #undo #rail #strike #stoppage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Unison League teams up with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End for some crossover goodies this month Unison League teams up with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End for some crossover goodies this month Collab-exclusive goodies up for grabs Crossover characters available in the gacha Free summons galore Ateam Entertainment Inc. has announced a new collaboration event within Unison League, and just in time for the RPG’s 10th-anniversary festivities too. In particular, you can look forward to welcoming the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End to the fray, with Frieren, Fern, Stark and Aura joining in among others. Now, if you’re a big gacha player and are all too familiar with these kinds of crossover events, you’ll be happy to know that there seem to be lots of free pulls to score here. Particularly, up to 140 Collab Spawns will be up for grabs, along with exclusive Stickers and EX Animations that you can nab after completing certain quests. This will run until March 14th – this means there’s plenty of time to catch the login bonuses, which include the Collab-Exclusive Character “[Magic Collector] Frieren”. Collab quests will also feature [Mage] Frieren and other heroes – she’ll no doubt come in handy given she can boost your stats and healing received with her “Infinite Element” Field Effect. Honestly, the fact that this RPG is celebrating a whopping ten years of service is already pretty commendable to me, especially since it seems to be getting harder and harder to stay afloat for gachas in the mobile sphere recently. If you’re a fan of these epic quests to save the world, why not take a look at our list of the best JRPGs on Android to get your fill? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out Unison League on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the vibes and visuals. Source link #Unison #League #teams #Frieren #Journeys #crossover #goodies #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Find Evidence of Vehicles From Tens of Thousands of Years Ago Scientists Find Evidence of Vehicles From Tens of Thousands of Years Ago Uncannily preserved in the sands of New Mexico, archaeologists have discovered the oldest evidence yet of a vehicle used by humans: drag marks, along with footprints, left in the ground that have been dated to 22,000 years ago. As detailed in a study published in the journal Quaternary Science Advances, these marks were left behind by a type of sledge known as a travois. Think of it as a wheelbarrow without the wheels. Typically comprising two wooden poles held in each hand at the front, and intersecting at the back in a V or X-shape, a travois would have been pulled across the ground, carrying meat, game or other supplies. Their usage is well-known to scientists — but this is by far the oldest example, predating the invention of the wheeled vehicle in Mesopotamia by some 17,000 years, according to researchers. “There’s nothing this old,” study author Matthew Bennett at the University of Bournemouth told New Scientist. The ancient runnels, as the authors describe them, were discovered in the dried mud of a bygone lake in White Sands National Park in New Mexico, hidden by sediment for untold ages, and finally exhumed by a chance mix of natural erosion and careful excavation by researchers. “The drag-marks extend for dozens of meters before disappearing beneath overlying sediment,” explained Bennet in a writeup for The Conversation. “They clip barefoot human tracks along their length, suggesting the user dragged the travois over their own footprints as they went along.” Rarely were they found in isolation, with the researchers discovering other tracks of footprints nearby all heading in the same direction. In many cases, based on their size, the prints were left behind by children. “We believe the footprints and drag-marks tell a story of the movement of resources at the edge of this former wetland,” Bennett wrote in The Conversation. “Adults pulled the simple, probably improvised travois, while a group of children tagged along to the side and behind.” To New Scientist, Bennet added that while travois were often pulled by animals like horses in other cultures, the White Sands discovery only indicated human usage. It’s possible some of the marks were left by dragging firewood, “but this does not fit all the cases we found,” Bennett wrote in his Conversation essay. But perhaps the discovery’s most staggering implication is that humans may have crossed into the Americas much earlier than commonly believed, with dominant theories — which are being increasingly challenged — holding that nobody made the trek until around 15,000 years ago. “The peopling of the Americas debate is a very controversial one, but we’re fairly confident about the dates,” Bennett told New Scientist. “The traditional story is that the ice sheets parted and they came, but you can come through before the door closes, too.” More on ancient humans: Scientists Say Skeletons Show Ancient Humans With Huge Heads Source link #Scientists #Find #Evidence #Vehicles #Tens #Thousands #Years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Shedeur Sanders Defends Ohio State's Will Howard After NFL Combine Performance – Sports Illustrated Shedeur Sanders Defends Ohio State's Will Howard After NFL Combine Performance – Sports Illustrated Shedeur Sanders Defends Ohio State’s Will Howard After NFL Combine Performance Sports IllustratedShedeur Sanders defends Ohio State QB Will Howard after lackluster showing at NFL Combine Yahoo Canada SportsThree Local College Athletes Show Out At 2025 NFL Scouting Combine KSL SportsWill Howard’s Final GPA at Ohio State Surfaces After NFL Combine Athlon SportsOhio State QB Will Howard Sends Bold Message to Critics Sports Illustrated Source link #Shedeur #Sanders #Defends #Ohio #State039s #Howard #NFL #Combine #Performance #Sports #Illustrated Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Young Socceroo ‘Rocky’ seeks smoother times back home Young Socceroo ‘Rocky’ seeks smoother times back home Fresh from being crowned player of the tournament at the Under-20 Asian Cup, Alex Badolato is hellbent on using a loan move to Melbourne Victory to relaunch his club career and kick on even further. Badolato was in red-hot form as the Young Socceroos clinched Australia’s first major trophy at any level in over a decade, scoring two goals and assisting three others at the tournament in China. The attacking midfielder also converted his shootout penalty in the final against Saudi Arabia with an audacious panenka. Badolato touched down in Sydney on Monday with his ***********-based teammates to a hero’s welcome and said: “It’s a real band of brothers we have here. “It (the award) is not something you think about during the tournament, you just want to contribute to the team, and goals and assists are a way to do that. “It’ll go on my bedside table in my new apartment in Melbourne. Hopefully it’s the first of many.” Badolato’s performances were all the more impressive considering he has struggled to break into Western Sydney Wanderers’ A-League Men side, playing just twice this season, both times as a substitute. The playmaker sealed a loan move to Melbourne Victory while in Young Socceroos camp and will relocate to the Victorian capital in the coming days. The 20-year-old, nicknamed “Rocky” by his teammates because of his slight resemblance to Sylvester Stallone, is eager to bring his continental form back on to home soil. “While I was away Victory instilled a lot of belief in me as well, which I’m very thankful for,” Badolato said. “I was able to show that on the field, how confident I am. “I knew pretty early in the window there were offers and I was pretty adamant on going to get some game time somewhere. “A club like Victory is a great stepping stone, a big club, the most successful in the country, and it’s a really amazing opportunity. “It’s a game of opinions. The Wanderers are a great team and there’s a lot of competition for places and that’s just the way football works.” If he can finish the year strongly at Victory, Badolato knows he will be one of the first names on the plane for the Under-20 World Cup in Chile in September. “This is a big 12 months for me personally, I think there’s a lot of opportunities,” Badolato said. “Not only in the A-League, but also at the World Cup, and the World Cup is definitely something I want to work towards.” Source link #Young #Socceroo #Rocky #seeks #smoother #times #home Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]