Pelican Press

Ford Ordered To Pay Family $2.5 Billion For Super Duty Rollover Fatality Ford Ordered To Pay Family $2.5 Billion For Super Duty Rollover Fatality Read the full story on The Auto Wire Ford Ordered To Pay Family $2.5 Billion For Super Duty Rollover Fatality Ford is hurting after a Georgia court ordered the automaker to pay a whopping $2.5 billion to the family of a couple killed back in 2022. They were riding in a Super Duty pickup when it rolled, the roof caving in and crushing them both. A jury in the case found Ford was mostly at fault for their deaths. Towing company owner arrested for allegedly stealing a 1967 Camaro. The couple were driving down a road in Decatur County back in August 2022 when their 2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty hit a drainage culvert at a driveway. The pickup went airborne for approximately 81 feet before it hit the ground and rolled, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Attorneys for the couple’s children argued in court that all 1999 to 2016 Super Duty trucks have “indisputably weak” roofs in comparison to the F-150. The jury seemed to agree with that sentiment. A spokesperson for Ford said the automaker will be appealing the verdict, calling it “impermissibly extreme and not supported by the evidence.” Previously, Ford was ordered by a court, also in Georgia, to pay out $1.7 billion for a similar rollover accident resulting in a fatality. The verdict was the previous record for the most awarded in a lawsuit for the state, but this latest one is now the new record. Ford just can’t catch a break lately, having been hit with the second-highest penalty ever issued by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to the tune of $165 million back in November. The automaker has also dealt with an abnormal number of recalls in the past year. In June of last year, Ford was ordered to pay an Expedition owner almost $57 million. The owner’s leg was broken thanks to a defect in the SUV. Some have argued the amount was excessive. One could argue this latest order of $2.5 billion is far more extreme. With verdicts like this in lawsuits against Ford, one has to wonder how this will affect all automakers going forward. Image via Kristen Kunzman/Facebook Marketplace Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Source link #Ford #Ordered #Pay #Family #Billion #Super #Duty #Rollover #Fatality Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Bug Could Be the Inspiration NetEase Needs to Star Selling Weapon Skins Marvel Rivals Bug Could Be the Inspiration NetEase Needs to Star Selling Weapon Skins Marvel Rivals has had a fantastic first two months, managing to top Steam player charts all while accumulating massive playerbase and stellar reviews. The game is generally well thought out and offers a fun time, but there exist some glaring omissions here and there. One such area would be the complete lack of a certain subclass of cosmetics – in particular, weapon skins, which are missed dearly. While not as large scale as a full-fledged skin, these could potentially pave the way for Netease to start making a lot more money. Marvel Rivals glitch lets players walk around with weapon ‘skins’ A new glitch lets players run around with weapon skins | Image Credit: Netease Games A recent post on the r/marvelrivals subreddit has gained a fair bit of traction recently, showcasing what appears to be a glitch of some sort. The glitch was caused due to a recent interaction among teammates which resulted in a cloak-effect being stuck on Namor’s trident. The weapon appears to be infused with a sort of cosmic aura to it, making for a very cool look. The glitch is indeed quite bewildering, and almost appears to be a weapon skin of sorts, which the poster obtained for no additional cost. Comment byu/IncendiaryCherry from discussion inmarvelrivals Comment byu/IncendiaryCherry from discussion inmarvelrivals It certainly looks like one of those camo skins, resembling dark matter in particular. While being ‘stuck’ with this could seem unusual, many would argue that it is indeed a blessing in disguise, given that the end result looks so ridiculously appealing. Comment byu/IncendiaryCherry from discussion inmarvelrivals Netease could do well by listening to player feedback | Image Credit: Netease Games If anything, Netease Games should listen to player feedback regarding this addition, and implement it in some fashion. The mechanic does bear a stark resemblance to Gold Weapons from Overwatch, which turned out to be quite popular amongst its player base. Comment byu/IncendiaryCherry from discussion inmarvelrivals Being able to buy camo skins either by grinding through the game or buying them outright would be a fine addition, and having multiple variations would also be appreciated. Netease should capitalize on this demand More cosmetics is generally a good thing | Image Credit: Netease Games It’s clear from the comments section of the post, that players are not against the idea of more cosmetics being added to the game. Netease Games could do themselves a solid favor and figure out a way to implement these features into the game. Of course, weapon skins would have to have entirely new effects to make them more appealing. As such, new animations and visual perks could be added to further enhance their appeal. These ‘special’ weapons would have to be cheaper than your usual, full-fledged skins though. This would perhaps help popularize it further, given their relatively low point of entry and appeal. Additionally, Netease would likely also find it beneficial if they sold skin and weapon skins together as a bundle, offering a way for players to ‘complete’ a set. This and many more ideas can be incorporated into the game without negatively affecting its balancing of heroes in any shape or form. That’s not to say that Rivals has a lack of cosmetics – far from it, as the game presents players with multiple skins, both paid and grindable. It’s just that adding in a new set of skins would add further to the complexity, which would be appreciated by its playerbase. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Bug #Inspiration #NetEase #Star #Selling #Weapon #Skins Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Solana slides as Argentina’s president faces scandal for promoting a crypto token: CNBC Crypto World Solana slides as Argentina’s president faces scandal for promoting a crypto token: CNBC Crypto World ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email On today’s episode of CNBC Crypto World, a judge in Argentina reportedly investigates the country’s president after he promoted a cryptocurrency in a now-deleted post on X. Plus, FTX begins payouts to creditors as its bankruptcy saga winds down. And, Eric Chen of Injective Labs discusses what’s ahead for crypto investors. Source link #Solana #slides #Argentinas #president #faces #scandal #promoting #crypto #token #CNBC #Crypto #World Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Post Trauma Hands-On Preview – What’s Old Is New Again | MP1st Post Trauma Hands-On Preview – What’s Old Is New Again | MP1st An interview with Roberto Serra Gascon (Game Director) where he talks about his indie studio’s (Red Soul Games) upcoming survival horror game, Post Trauma. He also talks about what inspired him to make the game, what made him decide to go with Raw Fury as his publishing partner, and what his future plans are after the game launches on 29th October 2024 on PC, XBox Series, and PS5… Enjoy! Source link #Post #Trauma #HandsOn #Preview #Whats #MP1st Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** chipmaker claims new Loongson 3B6600 CPU could hit 13th-Gen Intel performance ******** chipmaker claims new Loongson 3B6600 CPU could hit 13th-Gen Intel performance ******** chipmaker Loongson recently announced in an investor call its 3B6600 CPU, which will likely succeed the 3A6000 processor that debuted in April 2024. According to Fast Technology (machine translated), the new desktop chip features eight cores and will have an integrated GPU. But, more importantly, the company claims that the Loongson 3B6600 is competitive with Intel Core i5 and i7 chips of the Alder Lake and Raptor Lake processor families. While these processors are already four years old, having been launched in November 2021, they still mark an advancement over the 3A6000 which is compared to 14nm chips, which were in production from 2014 to early 2021. The 386600 CPU is expected to maintain the 2.5GHz frequency of the previous generation 3A6000 chip. However, its single-core turbo frequency is expected to increase by 20%, allowing it to hit as much as 3GHz. Loongson even claims that its single-core performance would be one of the world leaders, but we’d like to see proper benchmarking to back this up. Aside from its single- and multi-core performance, the new chip will also support DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0, and HDMI 2.1 output. The company has been working on these chips since April 2024, and we expect them to arrive on the market later this year. Despite that, they’re still years behind the cutting-edge chips produced by TSMC, AMD, and Intel. Because of this, even local companies are seemingly reluctant to adopt these homegrown processors, so Loongson is likely facing an uphill battle even as China blocks Western-made chips from government offices and servers. Despite that, Loongson’s silicon has come quite a long way, especially as the company seems to be starting from scratch and doesn’t have the decades of expertise that American and Taiwanese firms have. American sanctions are likely pushing ******** companies to develop alternatives to chips that have had export controls applied to them, and we’ve seen innovations like “tock-tock-tick” strategy to help close the gap. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #******** #chipmaker #claims #Loongson #3B6600 #CPU #hit #13thGen #Intel #performance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bank of America likes these assets, and some have coupons exceeding 7% Bank of America likes these assets, and some have coupons exceeding 7% Investors on the hunt for portfolio income may want to look at newly issued preferred securities from banks, according to Bank of America. Preferred securities combine attributes of stocks and bonds. Like equities, they trade publicly on exchanges. They also offer investors a stream of income, typically paid on a quarterly basis. These income payments can exceed 5%, but investors may receive favorable tax treatment. The coupons are typically subject to the same tax rate as capital gains: 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your taxable income. That’s different from bonds, whose income payments are taxed as ordinary income, meaning they’re subject to rates as high as 37%. Banks and the preferreds market Banks and utilities are the common issuers of preferreds, and the financial services giants are issuing some very attractive offerings, according to Michael Youngworth, head of global convertibles and preferreds strategy at Bank of America. “Following their earnings, a number of large banks have engaged in refinancing activity within their preferred and hybrid capital stacks,” he wrote in a Feb. 10 note. Goldman Sachs , State Street , JPMorgan and Citi were among the names he called out. “Notably, the banks’ new $1000 par preferreds have priced with hefty coupons, averaging 6.7%,” he said. While preferred securities in the $1,000 par market tend to be the purview of institutional investors, those in the $25 par corner are sold to retail investors. Coupons for $25 par preferreds are typically fixed for the term or “fixed to floating,” which means the rate can adjust after a certain *******. Preferreds usually have long maturity dates or are perpetual, but they also tend to have “call dates,” at which point the issuer can redeem the securities. To that end, Youngworth highlighted a slate of $25 par preferreds that made the firm’s “recommended” list in a Feb. 3 note. See below for a few of the names. Fixed-rate offerings that made the cut include an Allstate perpetual preferred that offers a coupon of 7.375% and has a call date of July 15, 2028. A preferred from M & T Bank made the list, as well: It’s perpetual, with a call date of June 15, 2029, and a coupon of 7.5%. The strategist also called out a few $25 par fixed-to-floating rate preferreds, including one from Regions Financial , with a dividend of 6.95%, a call date of Sept. 15, 2029, and a perpetual maturity. “We expect that both interest rates and net issuance trends will continue to drive preferred returns in 2025,” Youngworth wrote in the Feb. 3 note. Investors shopping for individual preferreds should be aware that perpetual securities have greater interest rate sensitivity, which can make their prices volatile. Like bonds, prices on preferreds come down when rates rise. “In our 2025 year-ahead outlook, we also discussed our current preference for shorter-duration $1000 par over $25 par preferreds, though buying opportunities for duration may emerge if yields move meaningfully higher from here,” Youngworth said in his Feb. 10 note. Further, investors buying individual securities will need to watch issuers’ credit ratings. Those with ratings of BBB- or better are deemed investment grade by Standard & Poor’s. Holders of preferred securities rank below bondholders in the event an issuer is liquidated, which brings in another element of risk with these holdings. Making an ETF play Investors seeking broader exposure to preferreds may want to consider buying an exchange traded fund that focuses on these securities. “Retail fund flows imply that investors also still prefer shorter-duration, fixed-to-floating and floating rate preferred structures,” said Youngworth in his Feb. 10 note. To that end, he pointed out that retail flows as of late have been flocking toward the Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF (VRP) . In the past month, the fund has gathered nearly $27 million in inflows, according to FactSet. VRP has an expense ratio of 0.5% and a total return of about 10.3% over the past year. Other ETFs in the preferred securities space include the iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (PFF) , which has an expense ratio of 0.46% and a total return of roughly 6.5% over the past year, and the First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF (FPE) , which has an expense ratio of 0.84% and a one-year total return of about 10.7%. Source link #Bank #America #likes #assets #coupons #exceeding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs, ******** says Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs, ******** says Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both his lungs and his condition remains “complex”, the ******** says. The 88-year-old has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday. “The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent this afternoon… demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy,” The ******** said. It said lab tests, a chest X-ray and the Pope’s clinical condition “continue to present a complex picture”. Despite this, Pope Francis remained in “good spirits”, the statement said. Before his admission last week, the Pope had bronchitis symptoms for several days and had delegated officials to read prepared speeches at events. He had been due to lead several events over the weekend for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year which runs through to next January, however all public events on the Pope’s calendar have been cancelled through to Sunday. On Monday, the ******** said that doctors had changed the pope’s drug therapy for the second time during his hospital stay to tackle what at the time was thought to be a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract”. The Pope is especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy as an adult and having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21. During his 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, he has been hospitalised several times including in March 2023 when he spent three nights in hospital with bronchitis. Source link #Pope #Francis #pneumonia #lungs #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 Review – Captured Moments | COGconnected Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 Review – Captured Moments | COGconnected shadowT|2h ago|Review|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source GameRadar writes: “I’m blown away by Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – Tape 1, and if this continues into Tape 2, Don’t Nod will have totally captured the core essence of its most iconic series, blossoming into something new and brilliant.” Lost Records: Bloom & Rage PC gamesradar.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] gamesradar.com Source link #Lost #Records #Bloom #Rage #Tape #Review #Captured #Moments #COGconnected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia says it won’t rejoin G7 after Trump floats the idea – National Russia says it won’t rejoin G7 after Trump floats the idea – National By Dylan Robertson The ********* Press Posted February 18, 2025 2:50 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canada disagrees with U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Russia rejoin the G7 — but Moscow says the idea is a non-starter anyway. Moscow’s Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov says “Russia has no interest” in joining the Group of Seven, which he calls an “outdated structure.” Russia used to be part of what was known as the Group of Eight until other members suspended it in 2014 following the invasion of Ukraine. 3:24 U.S. vows Ukraine’s involvement in peace talks with Russia, Zelenskyy unaware of negotiations Trending Now Toronto plane ******: Video captures moment Delta flight overturns, bursts into flames Here’s the latest on the Delta plane ****** at Toronto Pearson airport Trump says that was a mistake and claims the ongoing war might have been prevented if Russia had retained its membership, which he says should now be restored. Story continues below advertisement Canada is chairing the G7 this year and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said this weekend that Canada is firmly opposed to having Russia reinstated in the group. She spoke after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland both rejected the idea. More on World More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Russia #wont #rejoin #Trump #floats #idea #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Advance Wars Meets Mars Attacks In This Strategy Game From Relic Entertainment Advance Wars Meets Mars Attacks In This Strategy Game From Relic Entertainment Relic Entertainment has announced Earth vs. Mars, a new turn-based strategy game that looks like a mash-up of Advance Wars, Mars Attacks, and irresponsible genetic manipulation. Currently scheduled to be released on PC in Summer 2025, the game pits humans against Martians in a battle for supremacy over our corner of the cosmos. Like Nintendo’s Advance Wars games, you’ll get to pick from several commanders to lead Earth’s military forces, with each battlefield leader having unique abilities that you can make tactical use of. Earth vs. Mars Gallery While you’ll have access to military hardware like tanks and artillery, the real secret weapon here is the Splice-O-Tron that can be used to transform “volunteers” into powerful super-soldiers when you add some animal DNA to the mix. Some of the interesting combinations teased include the fast-moving cheetah-fly, powerhouse human-rhino hybrids, and the deadly squirrel-cow infantry. Relic says the game will feature over 30 missions in the single-player campaign, a versus mode against AI, and online multiplayer. On top of all that, there’ll also be a map editor that you can use to create custom levels and scenarios. Earth vs. Mars is the first game from the new Relic Labs initiative–a program that will let the studio explore new sub-genres and experiment with several ideas between its big real-time strategy game releases. The Company of Heroes developer became independent of ***** last year, a move which resulted in several layoffs. As part of its new business strategy, Relic will also continue to focus on supporting its recently released games and it plans to revisit older franchises through remasters and re-releases. Source link #Advance #Wars #Meets #Mars #Attacks #Strategy #Game #Relic #Entertainment Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US states grappling with a measles outbreak US states grappling with a measles outbreak A measles outbreak in Texas has grown to 58 cases and eight people in neighbouring New Mexico also have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease. Public health officials in New Mexico have said they suspect some of the state’s cases are linked to the Texas outbreak, but haven’t confirmed it. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Monday that 13 people are in hospital with measles. State health officials say this outbreak is Texas’ largest in nearly 30 years. Health department spokeswoman Lara Anton said last week that cases have been concentrated in a “close-knit, under-vaccinated” Mennonite community — especially among families who attend small private religious schools or are homeschooled. At least three of the New Mexico cases are in Lea County, which borders Gaines County in Texas. The state health department has said people may have been exposed at a grocery store, a primary school, a church, Nor-Lea Hospital and a Walgreens in Hobbs, New Mexico. Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to nine out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Most kids will recover from measles if they get it, but infection can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing measles infection and severe cases of the disease. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between four and six years old. The vaccine series is required for kids before entering kindergarten in US public schools. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, the US saw some three million to four million cases per year. Now, it’s usually fewer than 200 in a normal year. There is no link between the vaccine and autism, despite a now-discredited study and health disinformation. In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95 per cent — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The US saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60. Gaines County has one of the highest rates in Texas of school-aged children who opt out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14 per cent of K-12 children in the 2023-24 school year. Health officials say that number is likely higher because it doesn’t include many children who are homeschooled and whose data would not be reported. Health workers are hosting regular vaccination clinics and screening efforts in Texas. They are also working with schools to educate people about the importance of vaccination and offering shots. Source link #states #grappling #measles #outbreak Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rockstar May Embrace User-Generated Content In Grand Theft Auto 6 – Report Rockstar May Embrace User-Generated Content In Grand Theft Auto 6 – Report The arrival of Grand Theft Auto 6 at some point later this year remains one of the biggest stories in gaming. It’s not a question of whether it will be one of the biggest releases of 2025; it’s about how big it can be at launch and in the years to come. Now, a new report suggests that Rockstar Games is going to expand GTA 6 even further by turning the game into a platform for user-generated content. According to Digiday, Rockstar is in talks with experienced Roblox and Fortnite creators in addition to GTA mod creators about creating customized experiences in Grand Theft Auto 6. It’s not that far of a conceptual leap, since there are already numerous Grand Theft Auto 5 mods, and because Rockstar purchased FiveM, which lets players take part in modified versions of the game with hundreds of other users. The belief among some industry insiders is that Rockstar will follow the example of Fortnite and allow users to create customized locations and items that could be purchased by other players or accessed via subscriptions. Any money earned from these creations would likely include a sizable share for Rockstar itself, while also giving modders the chance to make money as well. “It is my firm belief that is the reason that they purchased FiveM is exactly that–to spin up a metaversal universe of custom-built experiences, and potentially UGC items, with an attached UGC creator economy,” said WPP agency Wavemaker’s global and esports lead Pete Basgen in the Digiday report. “It will essentially occupy that adult-enumerated space at the top of the ecosystem; there’s a very natural place there for people that graduate from Roblox and Minecraft.” While GTA 6 user-created content could be extremely lucrative, GTA Online players have been concerned that the game will be discontinued after Grand Theft Auto 6 launches. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick recently hinted that GTA Online could continue to exist alongside GTA 6, but he declined to outright confirm that. Zelnick also noted that a PC port for GTA 6 won’t be released at launch. The game itself still doesn’t have a firm release window, but since Take-Two has set Borderlands 4 for a late September release, the drop date for GTA 6 may be coming into focus. Source link #Rockstar #Embrace #UserGenerated #Content #Grand #Theft #Auto #Report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What’s a Realistic Retirement Budget? I’m 62 With $890k in a 401(k), $115k in a Roth IRA and I’m Eligible for Social Security. What’s a Realistic Retirement Budget? I’m 62 With $890k in a 401(k), $115k in a Roth IRA and I’m Eligible for Social Security. SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. During most of the decades you are preparing financially for retirement, you are likely focused on saving as close as you can get to the recommended amount, without worrying too much about the details. As you approach retirement, however, it’s a good idea to look more closely at what might be a realistic retirement budget. At age 62, with $890,000 in a 401(k) account, $115,000 in a Roth IRA and accounting for Social Security benefits, you can likely generate enough income to cover typical retiree lifestyle expenses. Your individual needs may vary, of course, but there are likely moves you can make now and in retirement to give you the flexibility you’ll need to fund a comfortable and secure retirement. Consider speaking with a financial advisor for help building an effective retirement strategy. A typical retirement budget starts with the income side and Social Security benefits represent an important part of that for a large majority of retirees. Social Security is lifelong, guaranteed by the U.S. government and includes annual cost-of-living adjustments to keep up with inflation. The amount of your specific benefit is controlled by your work history and age at claiming. Assuming your current income is $90,000 annually, here are estimates of your annual Social Security benefit based on your age when you start claiming benefits: Age Benefit 62 $2,508 67 $41,670 70 $52,271 You will likely want to consider waiting to claim Social Security as long as possible so the benefits can increase. You may claim sooner for a variety of reasons, including lower lifespan expectation or physical disability that force you to stop working. But for many people, delaying will produce a larger overall payout. You will also be able to generate income from your investment portfolio. The age at which you plan to retire is an important consideration here as well when it comes to how you’ll manage your nest egg. If you plan to stop working in the next year or two, you’ll likely pursue a conservative investment strategy designed to protect principal and perhaps generate income. If you expect to work until age 70, on the other hand, you may seek a more growth-oriented approach in order to help your savings grow. A conservative strategy employing an asset allocation evenly balanced between stocks and fixed-income investments might generate a 5% annual return. A relatively aggressive growth strategy might put 70% of the portfolio in stocks and 30% in bonds which could in theory return 10% each year. This growth plan could more than double the current combined total of $1,005,000 in your 401(k) and Roth IRA to $2,154,307 in eight years. Story Continues If you retire immediately and start relying on your nest egg to cover your living expenses, you could use the 4% safe withdrawal guideline. This approach withdraws 4% of the principal to pay expenses and adjusts following withdrawals by the inflation rate. Using it, you could take out 4% of $1,005,000 or $40,200 the first year of retirement. Assuming 2% inflation, you would withdraw $41,808 the following year and so on. Financial modeling suggests you have a high likelihood of being able to do this for at least 30 years without exhausting your account. Combining the first-year withdrawal of $40,200 with the $29,508 from Social Security at age 62, you would have $69,708 to cover your bills the first year of retirement. This amount would adjust annually to reflect inflation, protecting your purchasing power. If you wait until age 70 to retire, the safe withdrawal amount increases to $86,172. Together with $52,271 from Social Security, you’d have $138,443 each year, still carrying little risk from inflation or running out of money. A financial advisor can help you make projections and weigh your investment and withdrawal options. The next question is whether this would be enough. Many planners estimate retiree living expenses as a percentage of your income the year before retirement. A common percentage is 75%. If you are making $90,000 now and retire next year, that suggests expenses would be 75% of that or $67,500. Assuming this guideline is accurate for you, you might be able to retire immediately since you can expect $69,708 from Social Security and investments, although this would leave little cushion for the unexpected. A more individualized way to estimate retirement expenses is to start with your actual current expenses and adjust for changes after you stop working. Add up current annual outlays for major expense categories including housing, transportation, healthcare, food and utilities. Some retirement expenses will be lower than they are now. Retirement contributions and work-related expenses such as commuting costs will likely end entirely, for example. However, you may spend more for travel and healthcare. For instance, if you retire before reaching Medicare eligibility at 65, you’ll have to budget for private health insurance. Taxes are generally a smaller issue after retirement, because Social Security income is at least partially sheltered from taxation and investment income is not subject to ***** payroll taxes. If it appears you may be in a higher tax bracket after retirement, you may want to consider transferring all or part of your 401(k) to the Roth account. A Roth conversion involves paying taxes now at your current normal income rate on any funds you transfer, but withdrawals later are tax-free. Consider using this free tool to match with a financial advisor who can help you integrate the various elements of your retirement plan. With $890,000 in a 401(k) account, $115,000 in a Roth IRA and Social Security to rely on, many 62-year-olds could retire immediately without having to worry about paying their expenses in retirement. However, whether this will work for you depends on your current income, Social Security work history and the lifestyle you expect to maintain in retirement, among other factors. One key variable is when you retire, since the longer you wait the more your Social Security benefit will increase and the larger your nest egg will grow. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. SmartAsset’s RMD Calculator uses the IRS table along with your own data to calculate how much you’ll have to withdraw from retirement accounts each year once you reach the age when RMD rules apply. Keep an emergency fund on hand in case you run into unexpected expenses. An emergency fund should be liquid — in an account that isn’t at risk of significant fluctuation like the stock market. The tradeoff is that the value of liquid cash can be eroded by inflation. But a high-interest account allows you to earn compound interest. Compare savings accounts from these banks. Are you a financial advisor looking to grow your business? SmartAsset AMP helps advisors connect with leads and offers marketing automation solutions so you can spend more time making conversions. Learn more about SmartAsset AMP. Photo credit: ©iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko The post What’s a Realistic Retirement Budget? I’m 62 With $890k in a 401(k), $115k in a Roth IRA and I’m Eligible for Social Security. appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Source link #Whats #Realistic #Retirement #Budget #890k #401k #115k #Roth #IRA #Eligible #Social #Security Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Developers Laid Off As NetEase Guts Entire Team Marvel Rivals Developers Laid Off As NetEase Guts Entire Team · · February 18, 2025 Marvel Rivals, one of the more success games of the last year, has seen its development staff it with layoffs. According to multiple posts on social media, publisher NetEase has laid off an entire Marvel Rivals development team. Marvel Rivals’ game director Thaddeus Sasser took to LinkedIn to reveal the news on Tuesday afternoon. “This is such a weird industry…” Sasser wrote. “My stellar, talented team just helped deliver an incredibly successful new franchise in Marvel Rivals for NetEase Games…and were just laid off!” Based on the wording, it’s unclear if Sasser was included in the layoffs or if it was just his team. Insider Gaming has reached out for clarification. Insider Gaming has also reached out to NetEase for comment on the layoffs and how many people are being let go. Should a response to any outstanding questions be received, they will be added to this story. Developing story… For more Insider Gaming, read our full review of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and check out the latest on Assassin’s Creed Shadows. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Developers #Laid #NetEase #Guts #Entire #Team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people – CNN West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people – CNN West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people CNNMeasles outbreak continues to worsen among kids in this US state Fox NewsSouth Plains health officials working to contain measles outbreak, encouraging vaccination KCBDWidening Measles Outbreak In Texas Signals Problem With Vaccine Rate ForbesTexas reports outbreak of measles in South Plains region Texas Public Radio Source link #West #Texas #measles #outbreak #grows #cases #including #vaccinated #people #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Witcher 3 Director’s Vampire Game Might Be A Literal Time ***** Witcher 3 Director’s Vampire Game Might Be A Literal Time ***** Earlier this year, The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and his company, Rebel Wolves, shared the first look at The Blood of Dawnwalker. This action-RPG will put players in control of the titular Dawnwalker, Coen, a half-human/half-vampire hybrid who has 30 days and nights to save his family. But if players spend too much time in The Blood of Dawnwalker, then Coen may not be able to finish his quest. During a recent interview with PC Gamer, Tomaszkiewicz compared the experience in The Blood of Dawnwalker to The Witcher 3’s Geralt playing the card game Gwint instead of helping out Ceri in her hour of need. There weren’t any consequences if players took their time before rejoining the main story. But in The Blood of Dawnwalker, Tomaszkiewicz noted that wasted time could prove to be fatal for Coen’s family. “If you had some resource, and you know that maybe if you don’t go, something would happen–then your thinking about this game would be different, and maybe the immersion would be better, and maybe your emotions would be different,” said Tomaszkiewicz. Daniel Sadowski, the design director for The Blood of Dawnwalker, added that the game treats time more like a currency. The in-game time limit won’t advance if players are simply moving about in the open world, but time will go forward if users choose to engage in any side quests, minigames, or the main storyline. “We want the time system to be part of the narrative experience, and part of the whole ‘both action and inaction have consequences’ [approach],” explained Sadowski. “It will work in interesting ways. It will definitely force you to make choices at some points, like what to do, and what to ignore, because you will also have to choose which content you want to do, and which content you want to ignore, in order to maximize your chances of defeating the main enemy… But you will be able to choose between different ways to approach the problem, and all that ties into the narrative sandbox again.” The Blood of Dawnwalker doesn’t currently have a release date, but the gameplay reveal will arrive this summer. Source link #Witcher #Directors #Vampire #Game #Literal #Time #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate to vote on budget resolution this week, speeding ahead of House Senate to vote on budget resolution this week, speeding ahead of House Washington — Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Tuesday that the Senate will move forward with a vote on a budget proposal to begin enacting President Trump’s agenda this week, moving ahead of Republicans in the House who are pursuing a competing plan. “It’s time to act on the decisive mandate the American people gave to President Trump in November,” Thune said in a post on X Tuesday afternoon, adding that “ecuring the border, rebuilding our defense, and unleashing American energy” will begin “this week.” The Senate’s budget resolution is the first of two the chamber intends to pursue under the reconciliation process. The first is focused on border security, defense and energy, while the second will address the extension of the 2017 tax cuts. The House is also moving forward with its own budget resolution, which would address the border security, defense, energy and tax priorities in a single bill. That could see a vote on the House floor as soon as next week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks as Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham listens during the Senate Republicans’ news conference in the Capitol on Feb. 11, 2025. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images The Senate Budget Committee marked up its resolution last week, voting to advance it to the floor on Wednesday. During the committee meeting, the panel’s chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina touted the legislation, outlining that it would allow $175 billion to be spent on border security and $150 billion on military capabilities, while instructing committees to find reconciliation-compliant offsets to cut mandatory spending outside of Social Security. Graham acknowledged that while “there’s been a bit of debate between the House and the Senate about what to do and why,” he decided to move forward with the budget resolution due to a “sense of urgency” about implementing Mr. Trump’s immigration agenda. “The problem we have now is that ICE is running out of money,” Graham said. “And to my colleagues in the House, I hope you can pass one big beautiful bill meeting the priorities of President Trump and what we’ve been promising to do as a party. But we’ve got to move on this issue.” The House also advanced its own budget proposal out of committee last week, which includes up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, spending cuts of at least $1.5 trillion and an increase of the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. The House is away this week on recess and plans to bring its own resolution when lawmakers return next week. Thune’s announcement on Tuesday that the Senate will vote on the proposal as soon as this week marks a step forward. But approving the budget resolution is just one hurdle in the reconciliation process. Reconciliation allows lawmakers to bypass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate that makes advancing partisan legislation extremely difficult. But in order to use it, lawmakers must first approve identical budget resolutions through both chambers and direct committees to craft bills reconciling spending with the new budget goals. The legislation can ultimately include only provisions dealing with taxes, spending or the debt limit, and any new spending must be paid for. The Senate parliamentarian must also sign off on the package, and settles disputes over whether a provision has direct budgetary consequences. Despite support among Senate Republicans for a two-bill approach, House Republicans have argued that passing two pieces of legislation carries a wider margin for error, given the narrow GOP majority in the lower chamber. Senate Democrats have expressed opposition to the budget resolution. During the committee markup, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington called the resolution “pro-billionaire, anti-middle class,” while Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon warned of potential cuts to Medicaid, saying he expects an “effort to keep the Medicaid cuts hidden behind the curtain, but they’re going to come sooner or later.” Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #vote #budget #resolution #week #speeding #ahead #House Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Warren-Blackwood Liberal candidate Wade De Campo in bid to champion small towns Warren-Blackwood Liberal candidate Wade De Campo in bid to champion small towns Farmers are being placed in the spotlight of Warren-Blackwood’s Liberal candidate Wade De Campo’s campaign bid. Source link #WarrenBlackwood #Liberal #candidate #Wade #Campo #bid #champion #small #towns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Will Now Reward You For Leftover Battle Pass Currency Marvel Rivals Will Now Reward You For Leftover Battle Pass Currency Marvel Rivals Season 1 mid-season update is coming on February 21, bringing changes to the hero shooter, including a change to leftover battle-pass currency. The mid-season update will also add The Thing and Human Torch, along with a new map and balance update. Shared in the Marvel Rivals Dev Vision, leftover Chrono Tokens, the battle-pass currency, will be exchanged for Units, an in-game currency used to buy cosmetics from the store, like hero skins. While the exact ratio wasn’t revealed in the video, this exchange will be available to players who have purchased the premium version of the battle pass and redeemed all of the rewards in the battle pass. If you meet those two requirements by the end of the season, whatever tokens you have left will be exchanged at whatever the ratio is. It wasn’t stated if the ratio will be revealed along with the patch notes for the mid-season update, or if it will be revealed towards the end of Season 1. Chrono Tokens are earned exclusively from challenges–daily, season, or event–so players cannot earn them endlessly. However, in Season 0 there were certainly far more tokens that could be earned than needed to unlock every item in the battle pass, and the Season 1 battle pass is tracking to be similar. Marvel Rivals battle passes don’t expire, so this exchange offers a reward for players who finish a battle pass within the same season it’s released. Marvel Rivals Season 1 mid-season update drops on Friday, February 21, bringing a new Duelist and Vanguard to the roster, along with a new map and balance updates, like some much needed nerfs for certain Strategist ultimates. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Reward #Leftover #Battle #Pass #Currency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps By Ali Sawafta JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps in the occupied West Bank have left their homes as a weeks-long Israeli offensive has demolished houses and torn up vital infrastructure in the heavily built up townships, ************ authorities said. Israeli forces began their operation in the refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Jan. 21, deploying hundreds of troops and bulldozers that demolished houses and dug up roads, driving almost all of the camp’s residents out. 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. “We don’t know what’s going on in the camp but there is continuous demolition and roads being dug up,” said Mohammed al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee. The operation, which Israel says is aimed at thwarting Iranian-backed militant groups in the West Bank, has since been extended to other camps, notably the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby Nur Shams camp, both of which have also been devastated. The camps, built for descendants of ************ refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centres for armed militant groups. They have been raided repeatedly by the Israeli military but the current operation, which began as a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza, has been on an unusually large scale. According to figures from the ************ Authority, around 17,000 people have now left Jenin refugee camp, leaving the site almost completely deserted, while in Nur Shams 6,000 people, or about two thirds of the total, have left, with another 10,000 leaving from Tulkarm camp. “The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee. “The Civil Defence, the Red Crescent and the ************ security forces brought them some food yesterday but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp.” The Israeli raids have demolished dozens of houses and torn up large stretches of roadway as well as cutting off water and power, but the military has denied forcing residents to leave their homes. “People obviously have the possibility to move or go where they want, if they will. But if they don’t, they’re allowed to stay,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters. The operation began as Israel moved to banish the main U.N. ************ relief organization UNRWA from its headquarters in East Jerusalem and cut it off from any contact with Israeli officials. The ban, which took effect at the end of January, has hit UNRWA’s work in the West Bank and Gaza, where it provides aid for millions of Palestinians in the refugee camps. Israel has accused UNRWA of cooperating with ****** and said some UNRWA workers even took part in the ******-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that set off the 15-month war in Gaza. (Writing by James Mackenzie, Editing by William Maclean) Source link #Tens #thousands #Palestinians #flee #West #Bank #refugee #camps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After The Illuminate, Helldivers 2 Can Combine Automatons and Terminids For a Whole New 4th Faction After The Illuminate, Helldivers 2 Can Combine Automatons and Terminids For a Whole New 4th Faction Helldivers 2 recently got its third faction, the Illuminate, which wasn’t a disappointing addition to the game at all. The Illuminate missions are quite exciting but for everyone who has played the first game, it is technically the same experience all over again. The game now needs a brand-new enemy faction, preferably mutants. The next enemy faction should focus on former humans who will rebel against Super Earth (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) Mutations are quite common in the Helldivers universe, so it would make sense that some Super Earth’s citizens or soldiers came in contact with a foreign chemical that turned them against Super Earth. In fact, an entirely new faction full of rebels would also be a sensible addition to the game, considering how Super Earth’s dark truth is slowly getting exposed. Helldivers 2‘s fourth enemy faction could be a combination of Automatons and Terminids There are many theories online that Automatons are “children” of Cyborgs of Cyberstan, but there is not enough evidence to prove that this theory is true. To some extent, this theory might be true because Automatons are mindless robots, so there might be someone pulling the strings. It is believed that these “cyborgs” who are controlling Automatons are former humans who rebelled against Super Earth. There is a possibility that a similar race exists within the universe that evolved into mutants due to a certain alien virus, or due to exposure to Terminid DNA. The possibilities are endless, but mutants are a great starting point for Arrowhead Game Studios. The Illuminate is great, but it is about time the studio gives players something fresh, something that comes out of the ongoing lore in Helldivers 2. The community has shared some wild ideas for new enemies It has been confirmed that more Illuminate units will be added to the game (Image via Arrowhead Game Studios) After the announcement of the Omens of Tyranny update, game director Mikael Eriksson told IGN that the initial invasion involved the Illuminate Vanguard Fleet, so more Illuminate enemies are yet to appear on the battlefield. To make things easier for Arrowhead, players on social media have shared some wild ideas for new Illuminate units, and one of them involves Super Earth’s soldiers going rogue. New Illuminate Unit Idea: Fallen Helldiver#Helldivers2 pic.twitter.com/6AoJBvgcJ5 — Helldivers 2 Media (@Helldiversmedia) February 16, 2025 This concept suggests that some of the Helldivers who fought against the Illuminate in the first Galactic War were captured and turned into one of the Illuminate units. This also ties in with the theory that Super Earth has been exploiting Terminids, Automatons, and Illuminate for their resources. In fact, Johan Pilestedt, the Chief Creative Officer of Arrowhead once hinted that Super Earth is actually the “evil side.“ Recently, it was confirmed that a new Terminid strain has appeared on the battlefield, which certainly makes the game more exciting, but the Helldivers 2 community is constantly hoping for fresh content, and introducing some sort of rebels would make the lore much more intriguing. Source link #Illuminate #Helldivers #Combine #Automatons #Terminids #4th #Faction Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

These stocks are primed to withstand rising tensions on global trade, Morgan Stanley says These stocks are primed to withstand rising tensions on global trade, Morgan Stanley says As global trading tensions mount, U.S. companies that provide services should be more well-sheltered than goods manufacturers, according to Morgan Stanley. The new Trump administration’s economic levies and tariffs pose a serious threat to companies with extensive overseas operations. But certain stocks, such as those providing services to consumers, are in a position to better weather a looming global trade war, Morgan Stanley wrote in a recent note. “Our preferred sectors in a world of supply chain strain driven by multipolar escalation and/or new tariffs vary by region — in some regions there are clear sector implications while in others it is about identifying relative opportunities within sectors. In the U.S., our Equity Strategy team prefers services (Financials, Software, Media & Entertainment, and Consumer Services) over Consumer Goods at the broadest level,” the bank wrote. “Though, among companies more exposed to the supply chain, they prefer enablers within machinery and cap goods where pricing power is also stronger.” In the same note, the bank shared a basket of stocks it considers “well positioned to cope with supply chain strain” in this new era. Some select stocks in the U.S. market that Morgan Stanley has currently assigned an overweight rating are listed below: One stock on the list was Rockwell Automation . Shares of the industrial automation firm have popped 7% in the past 12 months. The stock added 13% last Monday after posting fiscal first-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.83 per share, which exceeded the FactSet consensus estimate of $1.58 per share. Rockwell’s $1.88 billion revenue came in line with expectations. Analysts are generally split between a bullish or neutral sentiment on shares of Rockwell Automation. The average price target implies a potential upside of 3%. Shares of Martin Marietta Materials have mostly traded rangebound in the last 12 months. In January, Wolfe Research upgraded the construction materials supplier to an outperform rating from peer perform. “We upgrade MLM to Outperform as our favored name in our building materials coverage, after a 16% drop in shares since our March downgrade to Peer Perform. Better pricing power and robust recent M & A can support volumes, even as construction may not recover until later in 2025E,” wrote analyst Timna Tanners. Tanners’ $563 price target is approximately 7% above where shares closed on Friday, although the average analyst price target implies a 16% upside. Analysts generally hold a bullish view on the stock, with 17 of 23 ratings on the stock a buy or strong buy, according to LSEG. Mobile storage solutions provider Willscott , power management firm Eaton and HVAC manufacturer Trane Technologies were other names on the list. Source link #stocks #primed #withstand #rising #tensions #global #trade #Morgan #Stanley Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people – CNN West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people – CNN West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated people CNNTexas measles cases are up, and New Mexico now has an outbreak. Here’s what you need to know The Seattle TimesSouth Plains health officials working to contain measles outbreak, encouraging vaccination KCBDWidening Measles Outbreak In Texas Signals Problem With Vaccine Rate ForbesMeasles outbreak in Texas reaches 48 cases, experts warn actual number may be higher KHOU.com Source link #West #Texas #measles #outbreak #grows #cases #including #vaccinated #people #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to watch Annapurna’s publisher showcase on February 24 How to watch Annapurna’s publisher showcase on February 24 Annapurna Interactive is holding a games showcase on February 24. It streams live at 12PM ET via the company’s YouTube page. The publisher has released a short teaser video to hold us over until Monday. This is the first event Annapurna Interactive has held since the entire staff, including the executives, resigned from the company last year. That mass walkout occurred after a failed attempt to spin off the games division from the remainder of the company. “All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,” the team said in a joint statement. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and we did not take this action lightly.” Annapurna hired new people to replace those who left, which was pretty much everyone. This is the first time we’ll get to see what the revamped publishing house has been working on. So what can we expect? The company says the showcase will be 30 minutes long and will focus on its 2025 lineup of releases. These include titles like Wanderstop, Skin Deep, Wheel World, Faraway, Lushfoil, To a T and Morsels, among others. We are especially excited for Wheel World, which was formerly called Ghost Bike. Faraway also looks pretty cool. Annapurna promises “a few more surprises” in addition to the aforementioned games. The publisher is primarily known for games like Stray, which recently launched for Nintendo Switch, and What Remains of Edith Finch. It also published Cocoon, Outer Wilds and the absolutely fantastic Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Source link #watch #Annapurnas #publisher #showcase #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Louis Rees-Zammit: What does new Jacksonville Jaguars deal mean for Welshman? Louis Rees-Zammit: What does new Jacksonville Jaguars deal mean for Welshman? It goes without saying that to play in the NFL, you need to have a team. With no regular-season snaps to his name, having signed a new deal with the Jaguars is a positive step for Rees-Zammit. However, it by no means guarantees him any regular-season game time. NFL franchises can have up to 90 players on their off-season rosters, a number which gets cut down to 53 before the start of the regular season in Sepember. As part of the Jaguars’ off-season roster, Rees-Zammit will be given the opportunity to impress in training camp and in pre-season games in August. The dates and opponents of the Jaguars’ pre-season games will be announced in May. As well as featuring as a wide receiver, Rees-Zammit will be expected to impress on special teams. In the NFL, special teams plays are those involving kick-offs, punts and field goals. If the former Wales wing has any chance of making the Jaguars’ regular-season roster of 53 players, he must prove himself to be an asset on such plays. As a graduate of the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP), if Rees-Zammit ends up back on the Jagaurs’ practice squad, the franchise can elevate him to the active roster on three occasions during the regular season. But he has his sights set on a regular-season roster spot, and says he is “doing everything I can to make that happen”. Source link #Louis #ReesZammit #Jacksonville #Jaguars #deal #Welshman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]