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The Sims 4 Update Adds Burglars Back To The Series The Sims 4 Update Adds Burglars Back To The Series EA and Maxis are finally giving The Sims 4 a burglar of its own in a new update that’s live on all platforms. The Sims 4’s burglar update coincides with the launch of the new Businesses and Hobbies expansion, though you don’t have to buy the new pack to get the burglar. It’s a free update for the base game with special interactions if you own certain other expansions. Maxis included a burglar in The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3, but never in The Sims 4 until now. Robin Banks, the new version of the criminal mastermind, behaves in much the same way as the burglar in previous iterations. There’s a low chance that Robin will enter your residential or business lot at night, and she can potentially make off with anything inside that isn’t attached to the structure, such as windows or lights, or that isn’t planted in the ground, like your shrubbery. The update also adds a new lot challenge, Heist Havoc, that increases the likelihood of Robin appearing. Sims might wake up, catch Robin, and call the police before she makes off with their property, though there’s no guarantee the police will arrive before Robin makes her getaway. Maxis said the only sure way to stop a burglar is to install an alarm, which alerts police as soon as Robin enters the premises. Sims who are good with their hands can upgrade their alarm to keep it from breaking as frequently or even modify it to release an electric charge and stun the burglar. If your Sim is more physically inclined, they can also pick a fight with Robin, though they might lose if they aren’t in good shape. A handful of other Sims 4 expansions include unique interactions for the burglar. For example, if you own the Cats and Dogs pack and have a dog in your house, they might chase Robin out. Vampire Sims can turn Robin into a thrall and command her to leave, while scientists from the Get to Work pack can use a freeze ray to stop Robin. Non-playable Sims, such as Agnes Crumplebottom in the Cottage Living pack, will have their own methods for dealing with Robin. Finally, Maxis said The Sims 4 treats Robin like other special NPCs. You can make friends with her and add her to your household, and if she moves in with you or dies, another, generic burglar will spawn and take up her criminal mantle. Source link #Sims #Update #Adds #Burglars #Series Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Michigan veterinarian faces theft charge after refusing to return homeless man’s dog Michigan veterinarian faces theft charge after refusing to return homeless man’s dog GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan veterinarian who said she rescued a distressed dog that was tied to a truck is facing a theft charge after failing to return him to a homeless man. Amanda Hergenreder took the dog on a two-hour drive to her clinic, where she performed procedures to relieve a severe ******** tract infection and remove a rotten tooth. She named him Biggby and says the 16-year-old pit bull mix is thriving nearly four months later. But the Kent County prosecutor said Biggby belongs to Chris Hamilton, who lately lacks a permanent home in the Grand Rapids area and claims ownership of a dog known to him as his beloved Vinny. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “I just want my dog back,” Hamilton, 57, told WOOD-TV. “I had my dog 15 years. Never neglected him and, you know, we loved each other. I mean, I felt like I lost part of my body after that. Never felt the same after losing him.” Prosecutor Chris Becker said it is a simple case of larceny, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 93 days in jail. Jury selection for a future trial is scheduled for March 6. “You don’t have a right to just take something because you feel something’s wrong. … People have a very big attachment to their animals,” Becker told the TV station. “No matter where you are in life, what your stature is in life, be it rich, poor, whatever it is, this is something that’s important to an individual.” Hergenreder said she was in Grand Rapids in November for a professional conference when she saw the dog tied to a truck near a Biggby coffee shop. There is no dispute that she called the police department and animal shelter and also talked to a shop employee. “No energy, very lethargic,” Hergenreder said of the dog. “We carried him to our vehicle. It was just very sad.” Hergenreder said she performed medical procedures at her clinic worth $3,000. She said he runs and plays at her home, adding that she is “starting to slowly see the light come back in his eyes.” Hamilton acknowledged that he tied the dog to the truck while he walked to a gas station. He said when he returned, about 45 minutes later, coffee shop employees told him “some lady in a van came and took my dog, snipped the rope.” Hergenreder’s attorney, Miles Greengard, is offering a vigorous defense of the veterinarian. He said she fears the dog won’t get the attention he needs in old age if she gives him up. “Mr. Hamilton didn’t even take such basic steps as licensing the dog,” Greengard told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “Now he expects a benevolent doctor to give Biggby the medical treatment he’s been denied and needs moving forward, and then give the dog back? “I think it’s an unfortunate situation all the way around,” Greengard said. “But I’m glad Biggby is living his best life.” Source link #Michigan #veterinarian #faces #theft #charge #refusing #return #homeless #mans #dog Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE – The Associated Press Federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE – The Associated Press Federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE The Associated Press21 federal technology workers resign in protest of Elon Musk’s DOGE USA TODAYThe Latest: 21 employees resign from DOGE, refusing to ‘dismantle critical public services’ YahooTrump presidency latest: Some federal workers resign in protest of DOGE efforts CNN Source link #Federal #technology #staffers #resign #Musk #DOGE #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

21 DOGE staffers, whose employment predated Musk agency, resign 21 DOGE staffers, whose employment predated Musk agency, resign Twenty-one staffers of the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, have resigned, saying in a letter sent Tuesday to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles that they “will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.” The staffers said they were part of the U.S. Digital Service, the unit of the White House created in 2014 by former President Barack Obama. The office was renamed the United States DOGE Service by President Trump via an executive order on Inauguration Day. These officials wrote that they “will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services.” The letter, which was obtained by CBS News, and resignations were first reported by The Associated Press. In response to news of the letter, DOGE official Katie Miller posted on X, “These were full remote workers who hung Trans flags from their workplaces.” In their letter, the staffers noted that the day after Inauguration Day, they did 15-minute interviews with individuals wearing White House visitor badges. “Several of these interviewers refused to identify themselves, asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability,” the letter said. “This process created significant security risks and was designed to intimidate government employees.” They then said on Feb. 16, DOGE representatives started to try and integrate them into their efforts. They said their actions (“firing technical experts, mishandling sensitive data, and breaking critical systems”) contradict the mission laid out in the executive order creating DOGE. That executive order said DOGE was created to modernize “federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” All the names signed onto the letter are anonymous. The news comes as DOGE’s cuts in the federal workforce have caused chaos across multiple departments. DOGE employees have been going through data systems at agencies, identifying thousands of jobs as redundant or unaligned with the administration’s views, prompting mass terminations by federal agency heads. Over the weekend, Musk posted on his social media site X that he had sent an email to all government employees asking them to list five things they had done in the past week or be fired. But several department heads, including Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI director Kash Patel — both loyalists to Mr. Trump — have instructed their employees not to respond. Musk’s role at the helm of the agency has been questioned. While Mr. Trump’s executive order said DOGE would have an administrator, his administration said in a court challenge that Musk is not the administrator of the DOGE Service nor an employee of the organization. In a separate case on Monday, a federal judge in Washington on Monday questioned the constitutionality of DOGE and Musk’s role. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday did not directly answer if Musk is the DOGE administrator, and said she would not reveal from the podium who the administrator is. “The president tasked Elon Musk to oversee the DOGE effort,” Leavitt said “There are career officials and there are political appointees who are helping run DOGE on a day-to-day basis.” More from CBS News Aaron Navarro Aaron Navarro is a CBS News digital reporter covering the 2024 elections. He was previously an associate producer for the CBS News political unit in the 2021 and 2022 election cycles. Source link #DOGE #staffers #employment #predated #Musk #agency #resign Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PGA TOUR 2K25 (PS5) Review – CGMagazine PGA TOUR 2K25 (PS5) Review – CGMagazine PGA Tour 2K25 brings a new level of customization with its archetype system, allowing players to tailor their golfer’s play style to suit their preferences and strengths. Let’s dive into the various archetypes available and how to choose the best one for your game. Source link #PGA #TOUR #2K25 #PS5 #Review #CGMagazine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Keir Starmer cuts aid to fund hike in defence spending Keir Starmer cuts aid to fund hike in defence spending Joshua Nevett and Sam Francis Political reporters Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent Getty Images Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, as peace talks to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. The PM said he would cut the ***’s international aid budget to fund the rise in defence spending, which is currently 2.3% of GDP. Opposition parties welcomed the move to spend more on defence but the aid cuts were branded “a betrayal” by charities. The announcement comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Sir Keir and US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. President Trump has been urging European countries to spend more on defence, as global powers attempt to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The move was praised by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who called it a “strong step from an enduring partner”. Sir Keir said the ***’s aid budget would be reduced from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027, “fully funding the investment in defence”. He told the Commons that would mean spending £13.4bn more on defence every year from 2027. Last year the *** spent £53.9bn on defence. The prime minister said defence spending would rise to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, once the contribution of intelligence services to defence had been factored in. Urging European allies to step up, Sir Keir said the *** would also set out a “clear ambition” to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP after the next general election. Holding a news conference following the announcement, Sir Keir said an election pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP had been brought forward “in light of the grave threats that we face”, with the country facing a “dangerous new era”. Asked if pressure from Trump had pushed him to act, Sir Keir insisted it was “very much my decision, based on my assessment of the circumstances that we face as a country”. But he conceded “the last few weeks have accelerated my thinking”. “I think in our heart of hearts we’ve all known that this decision has been coming for three years, since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine,” the prime minister added. In its election manifesto, Labour pledged to restore development spending to 0.6% of gross national income “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow” – a goal the government says it is still committed to. Charities were stunned by the aid cut, with Save the Children calling it “a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children and the ***’s national interest”. “There is nothing respectful about slashing lifelines for families in the most dangerous places,” the charity’s chief executive Moazzam Malik said. Labour MP Sarah Champion, who chairs the Commons International Development Committee, called on the government to “rethink today’s announcement”. “Cutting the aid budget to fund defence spending is a false economy that will only make the world less safe,” she said. Responding to the criticism, Sir Keir said it was “not a decision I wanted to make” but he argued there was “no driver of migration and poverty like conflict”. The hike in defence spending will help the ***’s armed forces, which have experienced severe cuts since the end of the Cold War. However, it will not completely reverse the decline in the country’s military capability. Even before this extra cash injection, the Ministry of Defence was facing a ****** hole in its equipment budget of around £17bn over the next decade, according to the National Audit Office. A large part of the increase will go towards plugging holes in underfunded programs and fixing urgent shortages in munitions, according to Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute think tank. But he said the commitment to reach 3% of GDP by the mid-2030s could lead to a “transformation in how our military fights”, giving the armed forces the ability to plan long-term and “ensuring that innovation is not always squeezed out by spending on big platforms”. Dr Simon Anglim, a fellow at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, said spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 is “the barest minimum” to build a military strong enough to deter Russia. If the US were to withdraw military support “we may have to start talking about more than that”, he told the BBC. Sir Keir had previously said the government would set out a pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on the military by the next general election, following a review of the country’s defence capabilities. But rapid diplomatic developments, spurred by President Trump’s push to end the war in Ukraine, injected urgency into decisions about defence. It is unclear if the increase will impress Trump, who has been telling European Nato allies they should be spending something more like 5% on defence. Nato guidelines suggest each member state should spend at least 2% of their GDP, but recently the organisation’s head, Mark Rutte, said allies should be aiming for something “north of 3%”. The prime minister’s trip to the White House later this week follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s talks with Trump on Monday. Sir Keir will also host European leaders in the *** this weekend to discuss their future defence. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the increase in defence spending and the “repurposing” of money from the aid budget. But she did question whether the government had a strong enough economic strategy to underpin the rise in spending on defence. The Liberal Democrats have previously called for cross-party talks on reaching 3% of GDP on defence “as soon as possible”. Party leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the announcement but urged the government to “raise the money in different ways” through seizing frozen Russian assets or by increasing taxes on multi-national tech companies. The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said that whilst his party backed the increase in defence spending, it could not support “the populist playbook” of cutting aid to fund it. Source link #Keir #Starmer #cuts #aid #fund #hike #defence #spending Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Revival Sweeps College Campuses Across the Nation Leading Up to Collegiate Day of Prayer Revival Sweeps College Campuses Across the Nation Leading Up to Collegiate Day of Prayer A spiritual awakening is taking hold on college campuses nationwide as thousands of students gather for worship, prayer, and baptisms. The movement, fueled by various campus ministries, has seen unprecedented attendance and commitments to faith. Cale Matlock, a student at the University of Arkansas, described the experience as powerful. “It was awesome, just having 10,000 people that all love Jesus and are worshipping God,” Matlock said. The organization UniteUS has been at the forefront of these gatherings, with events drawing thousands of students. Tonya Prewett, the founder of the organization, highlighted the growing participation. “We started at Auburn University, we had 5,000 students show up, we had over 200 get baptized,” Prewett said. “We next went to FSU—Florida State, the second biggest party school in the nation. We had 4,500 students come and we had about 350 students get baptized at that event.” BELOW: Watch CBN News LIVE Coverage of the Collegiate Day of Prayer on February 27 at 8 P.M. Other ministries are also reporting increased engagement. According to InterVarsity, decisions for Christ rose by 33% last year. Markyel Pittman, a student at Jackson State University, described how prayer has become a regular fixture on campus. “Prayer got so contagious with us to where we had a prayer service right behind us, right where we are,” Pittman said. “A prayer service right here almost every week.” The Fellowship of Christian Athletes reported its highest number of salvations since the pandemic, and the international ministry Cru recently surpassed the one million mark in commitments to faith globally. Pastor Jonathan Pokluda, a well-known college speaker, noted that many students are coming to these gatherings burdened by past mistakes. “They’re coming in with guilt and shame. STDs, unwanted pregnancies, abortions,” Pokluda said. “And they come here and we’re showing them the one—the only one—who can really deal with their sin, is Jesus Christ.” The revival has also made its way to the football field. At Ohio State University, players used their national championship victory as a platform to share their faith. “I just got to give my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all the glory and all the praise, man. Amen. Amen,” said Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. ***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.***   His teammate, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, echoed that sentiment. “All praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for this moment,” Egbuka said. “The way He has been moving on this team has been incredible.” Spiritual awakening actually marked the entire season at Ohio State. Egbuka and other players had begun their season by leading thousands of students in a campus-wide testimony service, which resulted in 50 baptisms. And one month after Ohio State won the championship, a massive revival was held on campus in which nearly 2,000 students chose Christ in one night. The unfolding collegiate revival echoes the impact of Asbury University’s completely spontaneous spiritual movement at the beginning of 2023, which drew global attention. A representative from Asbury said students and staff continue to feel its effects. “Our students continue to be hungry. They continue to lead,” the representative said. “They’ve gone and they’ve shared. They’ve had over 50 groups go to ministries and churches both in the United States and overseas.” Prewett believes the movement will only continue to grow. “I believe it’s starting with college students, and the hunger and fire we’re seeing among college students and college campuses is just taking off,” Prewett said. “It’s a movement.” MORE ‘They Want God’: 8,000 Students Seek Jesus in Huge Kentucky Revival, 2,000 Give Lives to Christ Source link #Revival #Sweeps #College #Campuses #Nation #Leading #Collegiate #Day #Prayer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Super Micro shares fall ahead of filing deadline Super Micro shares fall ahead of filing deadline The Super Micro Computer Inc. headquarters in San Jose, California, US, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Super Micro Computer shares fell as much as 10% during trading on Tuesday as the company nears a deadline to file audited financial reports or be delisted from the Nasdaq exchange. Earlier this month, Super Micro CEO Charles Liang told investors that he was “confident” that the company could file those reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Feb. 25, a deadline set by Nasdaq. The company must file its audited annual report for fiscal 2024 and the first two quarters of fiscal 2025. If Super Micro fails to file the reports, its stock could be delisted from Nasdaq. It could also ask for another extension of up to 180 days. Super Micro representatives didn’t respond to a request for comment. Last fall, Super Micro shares slumped in August after the company delayed releasing its annual report for the year ending in June. Ernst & Young, the company’s auditor, quit citing governance issues in October. Super Micro named BDO as its new auditor in November. The company has also been targeted by an activist short seller, Hindenburg Research, which alleged accounting fraud. The uncertainty has led to a rollercoaster for the stock. It plunged last year to a low of about $18 per share in November after soaring more than 14-fold from the end of 2022 to its peak in March last year. So far in 2025, Super Micro’s stock price has risen more than 55%. Throughout this saga, Super Micro has risen to a higher level of prominence as its revenue has surged as a result of the ***** in artificial intelligence. The biggest driver of Super Micro’s growth is that it sells systems based around Nvidia graphics processor units, or GPUs, needed to build server clusters for AI. Elon Musk’s xAI, for example, buys Super Micro systems. According to its unaudited financials, Super Micro sales more than doubled in its fiscal 2024 to $14.94 billion. Analysts expect about $5.37 billion in revenue for the current quarter, which would be nearly a 40% increase year-over-year. The SEC’s system for accepting filings can receive documents as late at 10 p.m. Eastern, and depending on how late the filing is made, it can become public the next morning. — CNBC’s Samantha Subin and Kristina Partsinevelos contributed to this report. WATCH: Super Micro Computer cuts full year revenue guidance Source link #Super #Micro #shares #fall #ahead #filing #deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Members of killer ‘church’ cult The Saints to learn fate for manslaughter of Elizabeth Struhs, 8 Members of killer ‘church’ cult The Saints to learn fate for manslaughter of Elizabeth Struhs, 8 A sick group of fanatic religious killers who left an eight-year-old girl to suffer and die for days will learn their sentences on Wednesday. Source link #Members #killer #church #cult #Saints #learn #fate #manslaughter #Elizabeth #Struhs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is Perplexity: Take your pick of AI models What is Perplexity: Take your pick of AI models Perplexity is an AI search engine that can scour the web to deliver direct answers to any queries you throw at it.Rather than present a list of links, it’ll generate a concise response complete with citations, allowing you to verify the information and dive deeper. Thanks to the introduction of Deep Research, you can also go to the next level and get Perplexity to spend several minutes working on expert-level analysis across complex subject matters that would normally take hours to complete. In all cases, Perplexity will be calling upon some of the finest large language models around while seeking the best quality sources. So, read on to discover what else Perplexity is capable of doing and find out why you should consider using it. This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries. What is Perplexity? Perplexity was founded in 2022 and it was one of the first to blend traditional search engines such as Google with the conversational ability of AI. The idea was that you’d use natural language to conduct your research and get full written answers in return. With an ability to remember context, users could ask follow-up questions and know Perplexity would figure what you’re referring to. We’re used to such AI systems now, thanks to ChatGPT, but Perplexity still has a few tricks up its sleeve. One of its best features is its use of third-party services. For while Perplexity works on its own online large language models, it gives users access to the likes of OpenAI’s Chat-GPT and o3-mini, along with Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Sonar and even the open source DeepSeek R1 model. The models that are open to you depends on whether you’re happy to pay to use Perplexity but even if you’re just opting for the free service, you’re going to get so much out of this one. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (Image credit: Perplexity) What can you use Perplexity for? Perplexity can easily be used as an alternative to Google. Ask a question and, rather than having to constantly scroll and click links to find answers (hoping they’re pointing to something satisfactory), you can simply read a single, comprehensive answer and view the sources of that information. With the feature, Internal Knowledge, available for subscribers, you can also get Perplexity to consider your own documents and gain answers that also take into account a search of web sources. Throw Deep Research into the mix and Perplexity can search, read documents and employ reasoning skills to write professional reports on complex topics. Indeed, if reasoning is important to you, Perplexity will let you access DeepSeek R1 within its search engine without the privacy worries since it uses the open source AI model on US servers. What’s more, Perplexity won’t censor the results from DeepSeek R1. Ask it about Tiananmen Square and it’ll give you an honest answer. What can’t you use Perplexity for? Perplexity isn’t designed to deliver a conversational experience – if you want something like that, then you’re better using the likes of Grok and ChatGPT. Perplexity is not designed to generate images by entering a prompt either. Instead, you can only generate an image based on your search thread by selecting Generate Image because they’re designed to complement your responses. If you want straightforward AI image generation, you’ll have to look elsewhere. How much does Perplexity cost? Perplexity can be used for free and that allows you unlimited quick searches and access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. You will also get three Pro searches – these go beyond quick searches by using advanced AI models such as GPT-4 Omni and Claude 3 to ask clarifying questions. You’ll get links to every referenced source and you’ll get deeper research – scouring academic papers and the like. The free tier also allows three files to be uploaded per day and you will be allowed a small number of Deep Research queries each day. Purchase the Professional subscription at $20 / £16 /AU$31 per month and you get more than 300 Pro searches daily as well as unlimited file uploads and access to collaborative spaces. You’ll be able to access Spaces, too – an area where Threads and files can be organised by topic or project. Crucially, you’ll have an unlimited pick of AI including OpenAI o3-mini, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Sonar and DeepSeek R1 rather than be limited to five enhanced queries. Where can you use Perplexity? Perplexity is available via a browser as well as an app for Mac. There are also apps for iOS and Android offering voice, text and camera-based interactions. A Perplexity Assistant can help with dinner plans, booking rides and identifying objects. (Image credit: Perplexity) Is Perplexity any good? Perplexity is among the best AI Q&A tools. Although it was beaten in a head-to-head with ChatGPT, it was a close call but much of that was because the free version of Perplexity uses OpenAI’s models. Take into account the flexibility of the paid-for tier and the fact that Perplexity has added features such as Deep Research in the weeks since that comparison was made and the situation begins to feel different. The fact that you can use the DeepSeek R1 model without censorship and on US servers is a huge bonus too since it strips away a good chunk of the concerns surrounding that particular model. Use Perplexity if… You want an AI search engine that doesn’t stick to one AI model – and if you’d like to use DeepSeek R1 but were otherwise put off. You should also use Perplexity if you feel the Deep Research feature would be beneficial – the company says it’s particularly useful for better understanding topics related to finance, marketing, technology, current affairs and health. It can also be used to generate in-depth biographies and travel itineraries. Don’t use Perplexity if… You want to generate images by entering a prompt because it won’t play ball. You should also avoid Perplexity if you want to engage in a chat – it’s not really up to that task but it will do fun stuff like tell you a joke. Also consider The best alternative to Perplexity is ChatGPT since it has a search feature – given that Perplexity uses the GPT model means it can be hard to differentiate the two as chabots, but on a web search level it was close, but we thought Perplexity had the edge. You should also think about using Claude if you want an AI for problem solving and content creation. Want to read more about Perplexity? Source link #Perplexity #pick #models Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Pentagon deputy pick faces scrutiny over budget, staffing cuts Trump’s Pentagon deputy pick faces scrutiny over budget, staffing cuts Stephen Feinberg, the nominee to be the next deputy defense secretary, sought to reassure lawmakers in a confirmation hearing Tuesday that the Pentagon would follow the nation’s laws and preserve its core workforce amid the Trump administration’s drastic military shakeup. The hearing was a much more sober affair than that for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who spent hours denying widespread allegations of personal misconduct before Senators in January. Hegseth was later confirmed on a 51-50 vote after Vice President JD Vance broke the tie, marking the narrowest margin ever for a defense secretary, who usually receives bipartisan support. Feinberg, a billionaire investor, is a far more cautious public figure than Hegseth and hasn’t prompted nearly the same level of criticism. In his opening statement, Feinberg offered a similar assessment of the military’s top priorities to the Biden administration, which argued that China was its greatest challenge. “They are fully dedicated to becoming the strongest nation in the world and having dominance over the United States,” he said. Still, Democratic senators repeatedly asked about the changes occurring at the Pentagon under the Trump administration, including a commitment to restructure the military’s budget, cleave its workforce and replace many of its top uniformed leaders. On Friday, the administration fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chairman of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife, while pledging to also remove the top military lawyers for the Air Force, Army and Navy. These removals come amid the firing of 5,400 civilian employees, the start of a wider government purge now reaching the military. Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Salesses has also said the Pentagon will restructure its coming budget, shifting some $50 billion toward new priorities. Feinberg, who said he didn’t have enough detail while awaiting confirmation, didn’t answer many questions about the reach of those cuts and how they could harm the military’s fitness to fight wars or remain politically independent. If confirmed, he would take responsibility for implementing many of these efforts. The deputy secretary acts as a manager inside the Pentagon, the primary role overseeing its vast budget and workforce. “There is a real opportunity to make the right cuts,” he said. “It has to be done thoughtfully.” Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee were skeptical the Trump administration is taking that approach. “You can’t just take a meat axe. You have to use a scalpel in determining who is necessary,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Feinberg often cited his experience managing the investment firm Cerberus Capital to argue he would handle any cuts carefully. From that perch, he also discussed one of his top priorities if he were to be confirmed: reforming the Pentagon’s business practices. “It’s very rigid, gold-plated, [and with] endless rules,” Feinberg said of the current system, which he argued rewards large defense firms rather than those that are most innovative. Part of the promised $50 billion restructuring could include moving money away from such legacy systems and toward higher tech weapons, such as hypersonics and autonomy — both of which should be among the military’s top goals, Feinberg said. Still, not all of the senators on the committee were impressed by Feinberg’s credentials. The harshest criticism of his record came from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who accused his firm of gutting hospitals in her home state and questioned his potential conflicts of interest since Cerberus holds a bevy of defense investments. Feinberg disputed her characterizations. The Trump administration has moved slowly to confirm many of the top positions in the Pentagon, a list that has since expanded with the recent top military firings. The nominee to run policy, former defense official Elbridge Colby, doesn’t yet have a hearing date and is facing questions about his less hawkish defense views than many Republicans in the Senate. Source link #Trumps #Pentagon #deputy #pick #faces #scrutiny #budget #staffing #cuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Catholics Pray for Pope Francis as He Battles Pneumonia Catholics Pray for Pope Francis as He Battles Pneumonia On Tuesday night, the ******** said the pope was in “critical but stable” condition. Source link #Catholics #Pray #Pope #Francis #Battles #Pneumonia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Georgia deputy won’t be charged for killing an exonerated man during a violent traffic stop A Georgia deputy won’t be charged for killing an exonerated man during a violent traffic stop SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia sheriff’s deputy won’t face criminal charges for fatally shooting a ****** man during a 2023 traffic stop that spiraled into a violent struggle, the district attorney who examined body camera video and other evidence in the killing said Tuesday. Leonard Cure, 53, was killed just three years after Florida authorities had freed him from prison after serving 16 years for a crime he did not commit. A white deputy in Camden County, Georgia, pulled Cure over for speeding on Interstate 95 near the Florida line on Oct. 16, 2023. The deputy ordered Cure to get out of his pickup truck and shocked him with a stun gun when Cure refused to put his hands behind his back. Body and dash camera video showed Cure was fighting back and had a hand at the deputy’s throat when he was shot point-blank. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. “Use of deadly force at that point was objectively reasonable given that he was being overpowered at that time,” District Attorney Keith Higgins told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. Higgins, Georgia’s top prosecutor for the coastal Brunswick Judicial Circuit, said he told Cure’s family of his decision during a meeting Monday and also notified the deputy, Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge. Attorneys for Cure’s family have insisted Aldridge used excessive force. “This decision is a devastating failure of justice, sending the message that law enforcement officers can take a life without consequence,” family attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Deputy Dalton Vernakes, a spokesman for Camden County Sheriff James Kevin Chaney, confirmed Aldridge remains employed by the sheriff. Aldridge had been placed on administrative leave while Cure’s shooting was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Vernakes said he did not immediately know whether Aldridge had returned to normal duties. An attorney for Aldridge, Adrienne Browning, did not immediately return an email message seeking comment Tuesday. Relatives have said Cure likely resisted because of psychological trauma from his long imprisonment in Florida for an armed robbery he didn’t commit. Officials exonerated and freed him in 2020. Cure was killed after being pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving as he was traveling home to Atlanta after visiting his mother in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The sheriff’s office released Aldridge’s body and dash camera video of the traffic stop two days after the shooting. It showed the deputy ordering Cure to get out and stand with his hands on his pickup truck, telling Cure that he was speeding in excess of 100 mph (160 kph). On the video, Aldridge shocks Cure with a stun gun after he ignores commands to put his hands behind his back. Cure then spins around, flailing his arms, and grabs the deputy as traffic speeds past. The video shows both men grappling as Cure gets a hand on the deputy’s lower face and neck and begins forcing his head backward. The deputy strikes Cure in the side with a baton, but Cure maintains his grip. “Yeah, ******!” Cure says on the video. Then a single pop sounds and Aldridge can be seen holding his handgun as Cure slumps to the ground. Lawyers for Cure’s family have said the Camden County sheriff should never have hired Aldridge, who was fired by the neighboring Kingsland Police Department in 2017 after being disciplined a third time for using excessive force. Personnel records show the sheriff hired him nine months later. A year ago, Cure’s family filed a federal lawsuit against Aldridge and then-Sheriff Jim Proctor in U.S. District Court, seeking $16 million. It accuses Aldridge of using excessive force and Proctor of ignoring the deputy’s history of violence. Both have denied wrongdoing in court filings. The case is still pending in U.S. District Court. Source link #Georgia #deputy #wont #charged #killing #exonerated #man #violent #traffic #stop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

BioWare Co-Founders Dream: Transforming EA from Within Through SWTOR Success BioWare Co-Founders Dream: Transforming EA from Within Through SWTOR Success BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk reveals his unrealized dream of transforming EA from within, with hopes pinned on SWTORs success. Source link #BioWare #CoFounders #Dream #Transforming #SWTOR #Success Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis in critical condition but stable, ******** says Pope Francis in critical condition but stable, ******** says Pope Francis looks on, on the day he leads the Vespers prayer service to celebrate the conversion of St. Paul, at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome, Italy, Jan. 25, 2025. Yara Nardi | Reuters Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia, remains in critical condition for the fourth day running but is stable and has not had any further respiratory crises, the ******** said on Tuesday. The 88-year-old pope was spending his 12th night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the longest hospital stay of his papacy. “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remain critical, but stable,” the latest forthright health update read. The pope’s prognosis, it said, remains “guarded”. But his hemodynamic parameters, a measure of the functioning of his body’s circulatory system, were also “stable”. A ******** official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the pope’s condition, said earlier on Tuesday that Francis was eating normally, moving about his hospital room, and continuing his treatment. The ******** also revealed that Francis had met his second-in-line, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Parolin’s deputy on Monday. It said they had discussed several pending cases for sainthood. In addition, the ******** announced new appointments that would have needed the pope’s approval. Francis has been working occasionally from the hospital as ******** business continues apace during his illness. The pope’s only other known VIP visitor was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who saw him on February 19. On Monday, the ******** said the pontiff’s condition remained critical but had shown a “slight improvement”, adding that a “mild kidney insufficiency”, first reported at the weekend, was not a cause for concern. Tuesday’s statement did not mention renal issues. Prone to respiratory infections Double pneumonia is a serious infection of both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe. The ******** has said the pope’s infection is “complex”, and caused by two or more microorganisms. Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered several bouts of ill health over the past two years. He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Monday evening to pray for his recovery. His friend, the Honduran cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, told Italy’s la Repubblica newspaper: “I think … it’s not time for him to go to heaven yet.” The pope signalled in early February that he had a bad cold, which meant he could not read out his speeches. Despite this, he continued to have meetings every day and even take part in open-air Masses, despite the chill. Some well-wishers have said he should have taken better care of himself, but Maradiaga defended Francis’ work ethic. “He is aware that he has a mission he must carry out, and nothing stops him. The pope explained that he did not accept his election (as pontiff) in order to rest,” he said. Source link #Pope #Francis #critical #condition #stable #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dark Souls 3 Seamless Co-Op Mod Lets You And Your Friends Fight To The End Dark Souls 3 Seamless Co-Op Mod Lets You And Your Friends Fight To The End Fires fade, but From Software’s Dark Souls 3 remains popular among the franchise’s fans nearly a decade after it was originally released. And while Dark Souls 3 does include co-op, it’s limited in scope in the base game. That’s why a modder going by Yui has been working on a Dark Souls 3 seamless co-op mod, which is now out in its alpha form. The Dark Souls 3 seamless co-op mod can be found on Nexus Mods, but Yuri warns, “If you are looking for a bug free experience, you won’t find it in this version.” What you will find is the ability to play through the entire game with your friends without having to deal with the restrictions that were placed in Dark Souls 3’s original release. In this mod, the session won’t be ended when a player dies. Instead, they will respawn in the same world at the last bonfire where they rested. Additionally, players are no longer banished back to their own worlds once bosses or areas have been dealt with. The mod will also bring the players’ worlds together by allowing progression from online sessions to count in all players’ worlds, and by syncing up NPC dialogue scenes. Up to six players can take part in a joint campaign, and they can play all the way to the end of the game together. Yuri notes that having so many players makes the game a lot easier, which is why the mod also includes the option to scale the difficulty to higher settings. And if players die during a boss battle or an invasion from outside players, they won’t be able to rejoin the fight until either all players are dead or until one of the players rests at a bonfire. Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida recently stated that From Software choose not to work with Sony on Dark Souls because the company was unhappy about how it was treated during the creation of ******’s Souls. From Software went on to even greater success with Elden Ring, but the company hasn’t forgotten its roots. Dark Souls enemies will be in the upcoming title, Elden Ring: Nightreign. Unlike its previous titles, From Software is making Nightreign an explicitly co-op experience from the beginning. Source link #Dark #Souls #Seamless #CoOp #Mod #Lets #Friends #Fight Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

White House Moves to Pick the Pool Reporters Who Cover Trump White House Moves to Pick the Pool Reporters Who Cover Trump The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said on Tuesday that the Trump administration would start handpicking which media outlets were allowed to participate in the presidential pool, the small, rotating group of journalists who relay the president’s day-to-day activities to the public. The change announced by Ms. Leavitt breaks decades of precedent. The White House Correspondents’ Association, a group representing journalists who cover the administration, has long determined on its own which reporters would participate in the daily pool. Because presidents often hold events in smaller settings like the Oval Office, where not every reporter who covers the president can fit, the pool format has long been used to ensure that journalists accurately record a president’s comments. The reporters who witness the events distribute a series of “pool reports” to a wider group of journalists, including hundreds of news outlets that cover his daily activities and remarks. The pool is most often made up of journalists from organizations like CNN, Reuters, The Associated Press, ABC News, Fox News and The New York Times. Ms. Leavitt said that the new policy was intended to allow “new media” outlets — such as digital sites, streaming services and podcasts — “to share in this awesome responsibility.” The White House Correspondents’ Association rebuked the move in a blistering statement. “This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States,” Eugene Daniels, the president of the association, wrote. “It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.” The association said it was given no warning of Ms. Leavitt’s announcement and that there were no prior discussions about it with the White House. “The W.H.C.A. will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favor,” Mr. Daniels wrote. The Trump administration recently added a “new media” seat in the White House briefing room. The seat has been occupied by some journalists who strive for accuracy and fairness, such as reporters at Axios and Semafor, and also by partisan figures who are sympathetic to the Trump administration, such as the podcast host Sage Steele. “Legacy media outlets who been here for years will still participate in the pool, but new voices are going to be welcomed in as well,” Ms. Leavitt said at Tuesday’s press briefing. Ms. Leavitt did not provide specific details of how the plan might work, but it would allow Mr. Trump and his aides to handpick which reporters and media personalities were granted the ability to ask him questions and observe his behavior at specific events. Ms. Leavitt put a different spin on it. “By deciding which outlets make up the limited press pool on a day-to-day basis, the White House will be restoring power back to the American people,” she said. Source link #White #House #Moves #Pick #Pool #Reporters #Cover #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope’s condition remains critical but stable – ******** News – English Pope’s condition remains critical but stable – ******** News – English Pope’s condition remains critical but stable ******** News – EnglishPope Francis in critical but stable condition, has CT scan, ******** says Fox NewsFaithful flock to Rome, praying for Pope to pull through DW (English)Pope Francis met at the hospital with ******** No. 2, took major governing decisions The Associated PressAnxious Prayers as Pope Francis Lingers in Critical Condition The New York Times Source link #Popes #condition #remains #critical #stable #******** #News #English Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5 Hardest Secret Fights in Mortal Kombat Games, Starring Floyd 5 Hardest Secret Fights in Mortal Kombat Games, Starring Floyd Mortal Kombat games have some of the hardest secret fights that are so rare to find and defeat, and here are the top 5. Source link #Hardest #Secret #Fights #Mortal #Kombat #Games #Starring #Floyd Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Golden Guitar award-winning musician bringing country music to Manjimup on national headline tour Golden Guitar award-winning musician bringing country music to Manjimup on national headline tour An up-and-coming *********** country music star is bringing his national tour to Manjimup off the back of a highly successful year. Source link #Golden #Guitar #awardwinning #musician #bringing #country #music #Manjimup #national #headline #tour Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Framework updates its 13-inch laptop with AMD’s Ryzen 300 AI series chips Framework updates its 13-inch laptop with AMD’s Ryzen 300 AI series chips It’s a little weird to talk about Framework “launching” a new laptop given it just makes the same machine over and over again. That, of course, is the point, since it’s building a fleet of modular, upgradeable and repairable machines that eliminate unnecessary e-waste. Let’s agree that while launching isn’t the right word, it is how we’ll describe the advent of the updated AMD edition of the Framework 13, which now comes with the Ryzen AI 300 on board. Naturally, the big news is the fancier AMD unit welded to the mainboard, which boasts dramatically improved AI performance for Microsoft Copilot+. But Framework has made its usual series of nips and tucks, adding Wi-Fi 7, a new thermal system, improved keyboard and new color options. As usual, all of these features can be bolted onto any existing Framework 13 when required. One of the biggest issues for every Framework 13 so far has been the cooling — the tiny fans have to work overtime whenever the system gets taxed. So the advent of the new mainboard also sees a(nother) attempt at keeping the silicon far cooler than it has been before. Open this up and you’ll find a new single 10mm heat pipe paired with Honeywell’s PTM7958 thermal paste which, it’s hoped, will ensure you can hear yourself think over your laptop. If you recall from the previous AMD Framework 13, there was an issue with what standards each port supported. The situation is a little clearer here, since the rear ports support USB 4, while the forward ones both have USB 3.2 plus DisplayPort. We explored this in greater detail at the time, but the situation remains mildly annoying if you forget what can go where. Framework has also very gently tweaked the keyboard to address an issue with rigidity with the wide keys, like shift and the spacebar. If you buy a Windows 11 model, you’ll also have a Copilot key printed on it — but Framework reminds you it’s possible to buy a DIY edition without one, too. Framework Rounding out the changes is the advent of injection molded packaging, which enables Framework to sell you transparent hardware. It will now sell you a transparent bezel, as well as translucent purple, green and ****** options for greater customization. Plus, you’ll be able to pick up many of the expansion cards clad in transparent plastic, too, not just the ethernet expansion card — letting you relive your dream of owning the coolest Game Boy ever made. The new Framework Laptop 13 with AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series starts at $800 for the DIY edition and $1,099 for pre-built. Naturally, that price can go all sorts of places depending on how much gear you choose to throw on top of what comes as standard. Pre-orders are open today with shipments due to begin in April. Plus, the company will sell you the older Ryzen 7040 model for $749 — with CEO Nirav Patel saying this isn’t just a while stocks last deal, but as a way to lower the entry price for new buyers. Source link #Framework #updates #13inch #laptop #AMDs #Ryzen #series #chips Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

White House seizes control of press pool, will decide which outlets cover events with president White House seizes control of press pool, will decide which outlets cover events with president The White House announced on Tuesday that the administration — not an independent group of journalists — will determine which outlets have access to the president as part of a pool allowed into the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One and into other meetings and events that cannot accommodate the full press corps. The decision comes a day after the administration won a temporary ruling allowing it to bar the Associated Press from pooled events, in retaliation for the news wire’s decision to resist President Donald Trump’s demand that it rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the newest changes in the briefing room on Tuesday, asserting that the White House Correspondents’ Association “should no longer have a monopoly” on organizing press pools and that the White House would determine the makeup of the pool on a day-to-day basis. “All journalists, outlets and voices deserve a seat at this highly coveted table,” Leavitt said. WHCA, a group of journalists on the beat elected by their peers, have long overseen the rotations of print, radio and television correspondents that make up the pool, a 13-member group of journalists allowed access to the president in smaller settings. Leavitt said that the White House plans to continue those print, radio and TV pool rotations but would add representatives of additional outlets “that have long been denied” to all of them. Additionally, she said they plan to add more outlets and reporters to the pool “who are well suited to cover the news of the day.” Source link #White #House #seizes #control #press #pool #decide #outlets #cover #events #president Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Whiplash: Trump orders U-turn after 3 years of U.S. support for Ukraine in war with Russia – USA TODAY Whiplash: Trump orders U-turn after 3 years of U.S. support for Ukraine in war with Russia – USA TODAY Whiplash: Trump orders U-turn after 3 years of U.S. support for Ukraine in war with Russia USA TODAY3 Years Into Russia-Ukraine War, Trump Ushers in New World for Putin The New York TimesThe radical shift in US policy that shut Ukraine out amid talks to end war ABC News Source link #Whiplash #Trump #orders #Uturn #years #U.S #support #Ukraine #war #Russia #USA #TODAY Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BREAKING: Warner Bros. Games Cancels Wonder Woman, Shuts Down Multiple Studios BREAKING: Warner Bros. Games Cancels Wonder Woman, Shuts Down Multiple Studios Warner Bros. Games has canceled Wonder Woman and closed multiple studios. The post BREAKING: Warner Bros. Games Cancels Wonder Woman, Shuts Down Multiple Studios appeared first on Insider Gaming. Source link #BREAKING #Warner #Bros #Games #Cancels #Woman #Shuts #Multiple #Studios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How much has the US spent on aid to Ukraine? How much has the US spent on aid to Ukraine? US President Donald Trump claims the US had outspent Europe on aid to Ukraine by over $200bn. During questions at a White House summit, French President Emmanuel Macron countered these claims. So how much has the US actually spent in aid to Ukraine compared with Europe? BBC Verify’s Nick Eardley fact-checks Trump’s claims. Produced by Aisha Sembhi. Motion graphics by Sally Nicholls. Source link #spent #aid #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]