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Scurvy in Canada: Is the vitamin C deficiency ******** making a comeback? – National Scurvy in Canada: Is the vitamin C deficiency ******** making a comeback? – National Scurvy, a ******** caused by severe vitamin C deficiency and once thought to be an illness of the past, has never truly disappeared in Canada. Most recently, 27 cases were reported in Saskatchewan, shedding light on the ongoing risk, particularly among those facing food insecurity or limited access to fresh produce, experts warn. The ******** is both preventable and treatable, but without proper nutrition, a person can develop scurvy, which can lead to symptoms like bruising, gum ********, tooth loss and even ******. Despite the seriousness of scurvy, it is highly unlikely to develop in people who maintain a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruit and meats, all of which are excellent sources of vitamin C, explained John Neary, an associate professor of internal medicine and McMaster University in Hamilton. “It’s not exactly a ******** of the past, but it still can happen,” he said. Story continues below advertisement “But the amount of vitamin C human beings need for their diet to not develop scurvy is quite low. Essentially, it’s impossible to get scurvy if you eat any fresh fruit or vegetables or meat.” 1:56 La Ronge, Sask. doctors diagnose 27 cases of scurvy, highlighting food insecurity Scurvy is a ******** caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C, a vital nutrient that supports the production of collagen and is essential for maintaining the health of skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage, according to Health Canada. Story continues below advertisement Without sufficient vitamin C, the body cannot properly heal wounds, and the structural integrity of blood vessels and connective tissue deteriorates. Vitamin C also plays a crucial role in the formation of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, and gums, while helping the body absorb iron and recover from wounds and burns. “Vitamin C’s biological role in the human body is to help stabilize connective tissue,” Neary explained. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. “When the human body is lacking vitamin C, connective tissues are weaker than they should be, and that leads to phenomena such as bleeding gums, loosening teeth and easy bruising.” 2:08 Healthy eating increasingly out of reach for many B.C. families Other symptoms can also develop, he said, such as fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, fainting, and in the end stage, it can lead to cardiovascular collapse and ******. Story continues below advertisement Historically, Neary explained, scurvy was primarily associated with sailors and early explorers who, during long sea voyages, were deprived of fresh food sources. This lack of nutrition often led to severe cases of scurvy, as the sailors’ diets consisted mostly of preserved foods that lacked the essential nutrients necessary to prevent the ********. “It has been rare since the mid-19th century. It was primarily seen on long sailing voyages when people had no fresh fruit for months on end. And the advent of steamships largely did away with that,” he said. Since then, Neary said episodic cases of scurvy have emerged throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, often linked to socio-economic factors such as social isolation. The most recent case in Canada involves a community in northern Saskatchewan. On Nov. 15, it was reported that doctors in La Ronge, Sask., treated 27 cases of scurvy within the last six months. Story continues below advertisement In May, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band hired a doctor to investigate a potential vitamin C deficiency within the community. Blood tests on 50 people revealed that 27 were deficient in vitamin C, indicating scurvy, while 10 had low levels. All participants were over 20 years old, and 79 per cent were Indigenous. 1:57 Saskatchewan NDP urges Moe to address high food prices in light of scurvy cases Trending Now ‘GST holiday’ for all, $250 cheques for some: What Ottawa is promising Canadians set for a snowy winter, but how much depends on location In October, the ********* Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) issued a warning to doctors to be vigilant for signs of scurvy, following a case of a 65-year-old woman from Toronto diagnosed with the ******** last year. The woman, who had difficulty shopping and preparing balanced meals due to various mobility and health issues, had limited social support and relied heavily on canned soup, tuna, white bread and processed cheese. The study also said data from the 2017 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the U.S. was 5.9 per cent, while reports from the ******* Kingdom suggest that the prevalence of the deficiency may be as high as 25 per cent in some groups with low socioeconomic status. Story continues below advertisement A 2020 study from McMaster University looked at local hospital data between 2009 and 2017 in Hamilton. It found 52 cases of low vitamin C levels, including 13 that met the criteria for a diagnosis of scurvy. Another 39 cases tested positive for scurvy but were asymptomatic. These conditions were most prevalent in people experiencing malnutrition due to factors such as persistent vomiting, mental illness, social isolation, restrictive diets or reliance on others for food, the study added. “The most commonly documented findings in our clinical scurvy cohort were easy bruising, gingival bleeding, and perifollicular hemorrhages,” the authors said. Senior author of the CMAJ study Sally Engelhart, a doctor in general internal medicine at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, said it’s hard not to consider rising food costs as a likely factor in this case. “It is a diagnosis that people associate with sailors in the 18th century and not something that is relevant in 2024 in Canada and Toronto,” she said. Story continues below advertisement While a daily vitamin can help, Engelhart said fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources. She said scurvy would take “several weeks to months” of poor diet to emerge, but notes “there are people who can go several months without getting fruits, vegetables or other sources of vitamin C in the diet.” When discussing isolated cases of scurvy, such as the 65-year-old woman in Toronto, Neary emphasized that social isolation and food insecurity are often significant contributing factors. “When scurvy comes up in large urban areas, it’s usually in people who eat a completely monotonous diet. The same thing every day, often extremely socially isolated, don’t eat with other people, and what they’re eating happens to not contain any vitamin C,” he said. In the case of the 27 people in northern Saskatchewan diagnosed with scurvy, Neary described it as far more concerning, as it suggests the presence of a systemic issue within the community rather than an isolated incident. “There’s more public health implications in this Saskatchewan case,” he said. “This is likely a community where food is largely shipped in and fresh food is likely very expensive, which creates an economic barrier.” More on Health More videos Source link #Scurvy #Canada #vitamin #deficiency #******** #making #comeback #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin’s Rocket Ride to Near $100,000 — More to Come? Bitcoin’s Rocket Ride to Near $100,000 — More to Come? prices continue to rise and print fresh highs as speculation continues to grow around a favorable outlook toward crypto from the incoming Trump administration. To further support these rumors, leaks about a potential White House crypto expert appointment and rumors of Trumps social media companies interest in a buyout of crypto trading firm Bakkt has aided the rally. The Crypto ***** and Greed index shows markets are in a ******* of extreme greed. Source: FinancialJuice The question is whether this will lead to pullback or are we set for more gains in the coming weeks? Bitcoin’s Impressive Climb Amid Derivative Market Surge One big reason Bitcoin’s price has gone up is because institutional demand continues to rise.. They’re putting a lot of money into Bitcoin, which makes it more trustworthy. For example, MicroStrategy has bought a lot of Bitcoin and made a good profit as its value has increased. The way the market works also helps. More people are accepting Bitcoin as a real type of investment. Since there’s only a limited amount of Bitcoin available and more people want it, the price keeps going up on the basic rule of supply and demand. The derivatives market is a big factor in Bitcoin’s price increase. Bitcoin’s Open Interest, which shows how many contracts are active, has reached $63 billion. This is a record amount and is much higher than in 2021 when it was over $20 billion. Back then, Bitcoin’s price was at its highest, around $69,000. Source: Coinglass The derivatives market surge does pose risks however with volatility expected to be higher and price swings a more common occurrence. This is simply down to leverage with wild price swings likely to lead to an increase in liquidations. Over the past 24 hours, liquidations have totaled $450 million with around 60% of this coming from short positions. The old adage rings true for Bitcoin as well, ‘the trend is indeed your friend’. ETF Flows Surge Approaches $2 Billion in Three Days ETF flows have only increased over the past few days with a total nearing $2 billion over the ******* 18-20 November. Since November 1, Bitcoin ETFs have only experienced 5 days of outflows with 9 days of inflows. The rise in ETF adoption is likely to continue now given the hype around the Trump Presidency and his perceived pro crypto stance. If the ETF flows continue to grow it is likely that we have not seen the last of the current Bitcoin rally. Source: Coinglass Technical Analysis BTC/USD Bitcoin () is on a tear this week in particular, having traded just below $90k handle on Monday. Since then, we have had 3 consecutive days of gains boosted by a combination of factors. The difficult part about the technical outlook is that there is no historical price action to base any analysis off. As we discussed earlier in the article, there is the risk of swings due to the surge in the derivatives market. Looking at the RSI, it has been in overbought territory since Bitcoin has breached $75k. Another sign that despite the RSI being in overbought territory there is no guarantee that a pullback will materialize. For now, immediate support is at 95000 with a break lower eyeing a move toward 91804 and then the 90000 psychological level. Looking at a move to the upside and the 100000 mark could lead to some wild price swings as market participants may eye some profit taking as well. Beyond this at the moment, I will be keeping an eye on the round numbers/psychological numbers around 105000 and 110000. Source: TradingView.com (click to enlarge) Support Resistance Original Post Source link #Bitcoins #Rocket #Ride Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia Launches New Intermediate-Range Missile at Ukraine Russia Launches New Intermediate-Range Missile at Ukraine President Vladimir ****** said the ******* was in response to Ukraine’s recent use of ********* and British weapons to strike deeper into Russia. Source link #Russia #Launches #IntermediateRange #Missile #Ukraine Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********’s Creed Shadows Reveals New Stealth Gameplay Details *********’s Creed Shadows Reveals New Stealth Gameplay Details Ubisoft has provided players with new stealth gameplay details for *********’s Creed Shadows. The main focus of the new gameplay was Naoe, the agile shinobi. However, some skills are applicable to Yasuke the Samurai, too. *********’s Creed Shadows New Stealth Features Observe and Eagle Vision With the removal of the eagle companion, players in *********’s Creed Shadows will have to rely on two different scouting mechanics. The first is Observe, allowing players to identify targets, tag and monitor enemies, and highlight lootable stashes, collectables, and quest objectives. Players can also examine nearby locations through a Synch Point while using the Observe skill. Next is Eagle Vision, and this *********’s Creed Stealth mechanic identifies ****** positions and lets you tag them behind walls and other objects. Eagle Vision will also isolate any relevant sounds the enemies make and let you find hiding spots. Naoe can use these skills separately and concurrently to survey the area better. Hiding, Crouching and Going Prone The next *********’s Creed Shadows Stealth Features are movement mechanics, which include hiding in shadows, crouching, and going prone. During the nighttime, players will find different hiding pots covered in shadows—the best way to ambush their enemies. Crouching is an effective movement mechanic for indoors. If players crouch, then the sound they make decreases drastically. Also, their visibility is much lower when compared to standing. Crouching will also reduce the chance of you walking into any noisy objects. The next *********’s Creed Shadows stealth mechanic is for both Yasuke and Naoe. Players can be prone to reducing their visibility further when on rooftops, on the ground, or even underwater. When using prone as Naoe, players will be able to roll side to side or front to back by pressing the dodge buttons. There are also certain locations that you can crawl under by using prone. *********’s Creed Shadows Stealth Tools As a stealthy shinobi in *********’s Creed Shadows, Naoe uses an array of tools to move around as sneakily as possible. Naoe has four primary tools: Smoke *****, Shinobi Bells, Kunai and Shuriken. The first two are great for escaping or distracting enemies, while the others are better for damaging or stunning them. Return of Double Assassinations In *********’s Creed Shadows, players can go on the ultimate stealth runs, thanks to the return of Double Assassinations. All you need to do is have Tanto as your primary ******* and unlock the dedicated skill to perform the Double ************** with the Hidden Blade. There’s also a non-lethal stealth mechanic, which is grabbing. Players can silently ************ their enemies by grabbing them and pulling them into the shadows or bushes to get rid of them. Moreover, Naoe is the “smallest ********* to date”, so she will be able to squeeze through tiny wall cracks and hide inside small storage spaces and boxes to surprise her enemies. ****** Reactions While developing *********’s Creed Shadows’ stealth mechanics, the developers also focused on ****** tactics. Servants are a new non-lethal ****** that will be introduced in this game. They cannot harm you but can raise alarms to reveal your location to other enemies. Enemies will be more suspicious in the game once you have been detected. If you hide after being spotted, they will start looking for you in pairs and be more on guard moving forward. Another unique ****** in *********’s Creed Shadows is a Samurai. They cannot be tackled as you would with a regular ******, as they are much more skilled. For example, players can’t ************ them with a smoke *****, and Samurai are likelier to deny their assassinations. Moreover, Samurais will also slice bushes when searching for them. ************** Denial is also a new system, where an ****** is denoted with a white colour if they are an instant *****, a yellow colour if you need to deal some damage, and a red colour if the ****** will completely deny your ************** attempt. Yasuke’s Stealth Features Last but not least are Yasuke’s stealth mechanics in *********’s Creed Shadows. Yasuke is a samurai, a character that players should pick for a more aggressive approach. However, players can be stealthy if they use their bow and start picking enemies off from a distance. Yasuke can get behind enemies and deal swift finishing blows with his melee weapons. In other news, *********’s Creed Animus Hub revealed season pass content for Shadows. Also, the boss has revealed why the game was delayed. What are your thoughts on *********’s Creed Shadow stealth mechanics? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more information from Insider Gaming, read about it costing up to $500,000 for a spot on Opening Night Live. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Assassins #Creed #Shadows #Reveals #Stealth #Gameplay #Details Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin could be the mother of all manias as it soars toward $100,000 Bitcoin could be the mother of all manias as it soars toward $100,000 As bitcoin prepares to vault to $100,000, I can’t help but wonder if cryptocurrency – not artificial intelligence – is the mother of all financial market manias. Despite its increasingly widespread adoption as an investment vehicle, the flagship crypto has yet to make its intended mark as an alternative currency. While the market capitalization of bitcoin is approaching a staggering $2 trillion, the St. Louis Federal Reserve estimates that there are about $2.4 trillion in U.S. dollars in circulation globally. The U.S. dollar ******** the world’s reserve currency, broadly used in more than half of all global trade and in foreign exchange transactions. The dollar’s share of global payments, as reported by SWIFT , hit 49.1% in August 2024, a 12-year high, even as bitcoin was hitting all-time price highs. After studying bitcoin for years, I still have no idea of its utility value as a currency, which many in the industry claim it is. True, it has become a store of value, albeit with a great deal of volatility. BTC.CM= YTD mountain Bitcoin in 2024 The first bitcoin, minted in 2009 , changed hands at about one-tenth of one cent. With bitcoin at nearly $100,000 on Thursday, the first buyers of the cryptocurrency would, no doubt, be worth scores of billions of dollars. Kudos to them. However, bitcoin’s sky-rocketing price doesn’t mean that the crypto yet meets the criteria to be a currency. The three defining features of money are: A medium of exchange A unit of account A store of value Bitcoin – or any cryptocurrency – is not widely used for transactions. In fact, some experts estimate that bitcoin’s use case is still largely confined to ******** activities , or being used to get money out of countries with capital controls. The strength behind the U.S. dollar and gold The crypto crowd continues to insist that bitcoin and certain other cryptocurrencies will supplant the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency . Even as they make that claim, the dollar continues to appreciate against the world’s most widely used currencies, like the euro and the ********* yen and the ******** yuan. Critics of the current monetary system say that central banks create money out of thin air. This claim is rich with irony since bitcoins are “mined,” by solving complex mathematical problems. There are no physical bitcoins. They reside in virtual wallets while real dollars reside in leather ones. In my mind, though my thought process may be far less sophisticated than that of bitcoin’s creator, there’s simply no there there. Aside from that, dollars have also already been digitized through massive technological changes in global payment systems, rendering the need for an alternative moot. Of course, bitcoin could be “digital gold,” the alternative use case pushed by many in that arena. But physical gold has also rallied of late, outperforming several different asset classes amid uncertainties around inflation, interest rates and geopolitical instability. One of the biggest ironies is that President-elect Donald Trump wants to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. This notion is entirely antithetical to decentralized finance. No government or any other authority governs crypto. It is independent of policy and centralization. The real question in my mind ********, does the world need bitcoin, or does it just want the flagship crypto? Did the Dutch need – or want – tulip bulbs in the 1600s? They most certainly wanted them more than they needed them. As a result, the Dutch massively bid up their prices. The resultant ****** after the Dutch ” tulip mania ,” as it was called by historian Charles Mackay, was spectacular, though with less economic impact than some have claimed. If bitcoin crashed tomorrow – and I believe a ****** is coming in crypto – many would lose vast fortunes, just as tulip speculators did in 17th century Holland. But, if I were a ******** man, I would wager that no one else in the world would miss it. — CNBC contributor Ron Insana is CEO of iFi.AI, an artificial intelligence fintech firm. Source link #Bitcoin #mother #manias #soars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic is coming to Switch next month Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic is coming to Switch next month Atari has announced that Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic is coming to Switch next month. Set for release on December 5 at a price of $24.99 / £22.49, the compilation contains Rollercoaster Tycoon and its sequel Rollercoaster Tycoon 2, which were originally released in 1999 and 2002 respectively. Released on iOS and Android in 2016 then PC in 2017, Classic marks the first time the original games have been released on a Nintendo system. Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic also includes the Toolkit, Wacky Worlds and Time Twister expansion packs previously released, making for a total of 95 scenarios across both titles. “Fans of RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic have been hoping for a Switch version and we are excited to bring it to the platform,” Atari’s VP of games publishing Ethan Stearns said in a statement. “Our partners at Graphite Lab did an amazing job translating RCT Classic’s detailed keyboard-based controls to controller input.” He added: “Bringing RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic to the Switch, with its massive install base, is an opportunity to re-engage lapsed players, provide active players with another great hardware platform, and reach a new generation of players who will now discover the franchise on the Switch.” This is the latest in a series of events Atari has organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rollercoaster Tycoon, including the release of Rollercoaster Tycoon merchandise on the Atari store and the re-release of Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic on Android. It also acquired Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 from Frontier, which it says let it “reunite an important game with the franchise catalogue”. Source link #Rollercoaster #Tycoon #Classic #coming #Switch #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

73% of workers worry Social Security won’t be able to pay benefits 73% of workers worry Social Security won’t be able to pay benefits Sporrer/Rupp | Image Source | Getty Images Most Americans are concerned about what may happen to Social Security when its retirement trust fund crosses a projected 2033 depletion date, according to a new Bankrate survey. Nearly three-quarters, 73%, of non-retired adults and 71% retired adults say they worry they won’t receive their benefits if the trust fund runs out. The October survey included 2,492 individuals. Those worries loom large for older Americans who are not yet retired, according to the results. That includes 81% of working baby boomers and 82% of Gen Xers who are worried they may not receive their benefits at retirement age if the trust fund is depleted. “Once someone’s actually staring at the prospect of the end of their full-time employment, the seriousness of the need to fund that part of their life comes into full view,” said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. More from Personal Finance: Thanksgiving meals are expected to be cheaper in 2024 Could Trump reinstate forgiven student debt? What experts say 2025-26 FAFSA is open ahead of schedule Still, a majority of millennials and Gen Zers surveyed, at 69% and 62%, respectively, are similarly concerned. Social Security relies on trust funds to supplement its monthly benefit payments that currently reach more than 72.5 million beneficiaries, including Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. While payroll taxes provide a steady stream of revenue into the program, the trust funds help to supplement benefit checks. Social Security’s actuaries project the fund the program relies on to pay retirement benefits will be depleted in 2033. At that time, an estimated 79% of those benefits will still be payable. What financial advisors are telling clients now Financial advisors say they frequently field questions from clients on Social Security’s future. And they often tell their clients it’s still best to wait to claim benefits, if possible. Retirees can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, though they take a permanent lifetime reduction. By waiting until full retirement age — generally from 66 to 67, depending on date of birth — individuals receive 100% of the benefits they’ve earned. By delaying from full retirement age to as late as age 70, retirees stand to get an 8% annual boost to their benefits. When talking with clients, George Gagliardi, a certified financial planner and founder of Coromandel Wealth Strategies in Lexington, Massachusetts, said he tells them Washington lawmakers are unlikely to leave Social Security’s solvency unaddressed by the trust fund depletion deadline. But even if that does happen, it still makes sense to delay claiming Social Security benefits until 70, if possible, unless there is a critical situation where it makes sense to claim early, he said. “My bottom line on the whole thing is, you don’t know how long you’re going to live,” Gagliardi said. “But basically, you want to bet on longevity.” Experts say retirees need to be mindful of longevity risk — the potential that you will outlive your savings. Social Security is “inflation indexed longevity insurance,” said CFP David Haas, owner of Cereus Financial Advisors in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Every year, benefits are automatically adjusted for inflation, a feature that would be difficult to match when purchasing an insurance product like an annuity. “You really can’t get that from anywhere else,” Haas said. While more than a quarter — 28% — of non-retired adults overall expect to be “very” reliant on Social Security in retirement, older individuals expect to be more dependent on the program, according to Bankrate. The survey found 69% of non-retired baby boomers and 56% of non-retired Gen Xers expect to rely on the program. To avoid relying on Social Security for the bulk of your income in retirement, you need to save earlier and for longer, Haas said. “You need to compound your savings over a longer *******, and then you’ll be flexible,” Haas said. To be sure, shoring up a long-term nest egg is not a top-ranked concern for many Americans now as many face cost-of-living challenges. A separate election Bankrate survey found the top three economic concerns now are inflation, health care costs and housing affordability. Source link #workers #worry #Social #Security #wont #pay #benefits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gary Gensler to leave role as SEC chairman Gary Gensler to leave role as SEC chairman The head of the US financial regulator, Gary Gensler, will resign from his role on the day of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Mr Gensler confirmed the news on social media platform X after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said its 33rd chairman would step down on 20 January next year. “I thank President Biden for entrusting me with this incredible responsibility. The SEC has met our mission and enforced the law without ***** or favor,” Mr Gensler said. Trump revealed plans to sack Mr Gensler on “day one” of his new administration after the chairman took legal action against crypto firms, sparking controversy in some quarters. Appointed SEC chair in 2021, Mr Gensler’s term is technically supposed to run until 2026, but it is normal for agency leaders to depart their positions when a new administration begins. The president-elect and Mr Gensler have very different views on cryptocurrencies, which has sparked tension between them. At a Bitcoin conference in July, Trump said he would make the US “the crypto capital of the planet”. In contrast Mr Gensler told the BBC in September that it was an industry “rife with ****** and hucksters and grifters”. Under the Biden administration, SEC has led a crackdown on the industry, which resulted in a record high of 46 enforcement actions last year. Those cases led to the founders of two of the world’s biggest crypto platforms, FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried and Binance’s Changpeng Zhao, being sentenced to jail. It’s thought the new Trump administration will put far less resources into policing the industry. The SEC has also clashed with tech billionaire Elon Musk – who has become a strong ally of Trump’s. It has been investigating Mr Musk for potential ****** involving his purchase of social media platform X in 2022 – Mr Musk has accused the SEC of harassment and has refused to continue cooperating with its investigation. Source link #Gary #Gensler #leave #role #SEC #chairman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Bloodborne’ Sequel’ is Here, Created Without Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Permission The Bloodborne’ Sequel’ is Here, Created Without Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Permission For years, fans of Bloodborne have been pleading to Sony to “just do something” with the IP—a PC port, a remaster, a sequel—just something to satiate the hunger to explore that world in all its glory. The Orphan of Kos staring at the moon mournfully – Image Credit: FromSofware. Considering how both Sony and FromSoftware have remained mostly quiet on the matter, the Soulsborne community, finally, has taken things into their own hands: Enter Graceborne, a mod that doesn’t just tweak Elden Ring—it transforms it into the Bloodborne sequel of your dreams. A Gothic and Eldritch Overhaul is Just What The Lands Between Needed A modded Maliketh in Graceborne – Image Credit: corvianNoctis. So, at its core, Graceborne essentially seeks to transform Elden Ring’s overall vibe into something slightly darker and infinitely creepier, reminiscent of Bloodborne. It’s not that it doesn’t have its fair share of dark themes and subject matters, but Elden Ring is arguably the brightest game FromSoftware has ever made – with the exception of Evergrace, of course. But that’s not the only thing this mod changes. Taking inspiration from Bloodborne’s mechanics, it also introduced functioning trick weapons, firearms that can parry enemies, Bloodborne-styled vials for heals, quick-steps when locked on, and our favorite, a setting that stays permanently at night. So far, the mod’s creator, corvianNoctis, has added 35 weapons, 17 trick weapons, and 22 armor sets, with a lot more to come, as the whole thing is still in early stages of development. What’s most notable, however, is how it also alters the overall aesthetics of Elden Ring to something more fitting of Bloodborne, swapping the overall look and feel of cutscenes, NPCs, enemies, and bosses. Just take a look at the mod’s trailer, and you’ll see exactly what we mean: Considering how bad Sony has treated Bloodborne’s player base, driving us all to the point of insanity—there’s no other explanation for having a PS1 Demake, a Kart Racing Spin-off, and an entire emulator with infinite patches made just to be able to run it—this mod might just be the healing balm we all need, at least for the time being. Elden Ring Is The Perfect Game for an overhaul mod like Graceborne The Tarnished exploring the Gravesite Plain – Image Credit: FromSoftware. If you’ve been participating in these games’ discussion boards long enough, you might have noticed a certain theory about how all of FromSoftware’s Souls games are connected and part of one big universe. You probably already know the old theory—******’s Souls’ bad ending leads into Dark Souls, and then the Painting Woman’s work leads directly into Bloodborne. What’s fascinating, though, is that people have extended this theory to Elden Ring by connecting it with Bloodborne. This part of the theory postulates that the entirety of Elden Ring is essentially a massive Dream within the world of Bloodborne, and that might be why the Great Ones feel so eerily similar in description to the new game’s Outer Gods. If we’re being honest, there’s a lot that can be used to disparage this theory, but hey, if we put our tinfoil hats on, the mod we’ve been discussing feels like the perfect fan fiction to connect the two worlds, doesn’t it? When you put that theory into perspective, this mod delivers a perfect fusion of FromSoft’s two most beloved titles, and it will undoubtedly be interesting to see what exciting directions corvianNoctis manages to take this mod in the future. But with all that said, what are your thoughts on Graceborne? Would you be willing to give it a try? Let us know in the comments below! Source link #Bloodborne #Sequel #Created #Hidetaka #Miyazakis #Permission Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What does the International ********* Court do? What does the International ********* Court do? The court, in the Dutch city of The Hague, was established in 2002 to hold rogue leaders responsible for atrocities to account. World leaders had increasingly pushed for its creation in the wake of the Yugoslav wars and the Rwandan Genocide. It is a court of last resort, intervening only when national authorities cannot, or will not, prosecute. It can only deal with ******* committed after 1 July 2002, when the Rome Statute – which established the court – came into force. The Rome Statute has been ratified by 124 countries. A further 34 have signed and may ratify it in the future. However, ******* is not a member and the US is another notable absence. Source link #International #********* #Court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

8-Bit Adventures 2 (Switch) – A Well-Crafted Ode To Classic RPGs That Goes On A Bit| NintendoLife 8-Bit Adventures 2 (Switch) – A Well-Crafted Ode To Classic RPGs That Goes On A Bit| NintendoLife “8-Bit Adventures 2 is an exquisitely crafted RPG epic that any fan of classic (and we mean classic) RPGs will appreciate for its adherence to the conventions of games of the era. With gorgeous pixel art, a satisfying battle style with as much challenge as variety, and a story that both honours and subverts RPG tropes, there’s so much to love. However, it doesn’t always respect your time and the lack of some modern conveniences — auto-battle, an auto-scroll for dialogue, any real way to point you towards your goal or remind you of the story so far — could make this a journey that many get lost on before reaching the end.” – Nathan Ellingsworth| NintendoLife Source link #8Bit #Adventures #Switch #WellCrafted #Ode #Classic #RPGs #Bit #NintendoLife Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands rush to US border before Trump takes office Thousands rush to US border before Trump takes office Thousands of migrants from Central America left southern Mexico on 20 November, aiming to reach the US before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The group hopes to avoid potential immigration controls and continue using the CBP-ONE asylum system to enter the country. Trump has promised mass deportations when he takes office. The migrants seek permission for free movement across Mexico to reach the US border. Past caravans have often dispersed along the way. Source link #Thousands #rush #border #Trump #takes #office Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

KartRider Rush+ x Smurfs collab launches alongside Season 29 in “Extra Icy” update KartRider Rush+ x Smurfs collab launches alongside Season 29 in “Extra Icy” update Welcome The Smurfs to the fray Grab collab goodies for a limited time New karts, tracks, and playable characters to unlock Things are starting to get chilly in KartRider Rush+ this season, particularly because it’s literally “Extra Icy” with the new update within the popular mobile racer. Apart from new karts and tracks to tinker around with, there’s also going to be a bunch of newcomers joining the fray – incredibly blue-skinned ones, to be more specific. In the latest crossover event within KartRider Rush+, you can not only look forward to Season 29, but you can also expect to welcome The Smurfs to the fray. Simply log in and clear event missions to nab collab goodies, including the Smurfette Driftmoji (Perm) and Jokey Smurf Balloon until December 8th. Additionally, the Smurf Outfit Set (M/F) will be up for grabs until December 20th, while the Cotton Gold and Cotton ****** karts plus the Golden Storm Blade will also be available. As for the tracks, expect to prove your racing prowess with the Winter Training Camp (Ice) track, with playable characters Raptor R, Snowman Ethen and Arctic Bazzi. That’s a lot to look forward to this season apart from the tired ol’ “winter is coming” memes, isn’t it? If you’re on the hunt for more hot-off-the-press releases, why not take a look at our list of the best ones you should give a go this week? In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in on all the fun, you can do so by checking out KartRider Rush+ on the App Store and on Google Play. It’s free-to-play with in-app purchases. You can also join the community of followers on the official Facebook page to stay updated on all the latest developments, visit the official website for more info, or take a little peek at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the crossover’s vibes and visuals. Source link #KartRider #Rush #Smurfs #collab #launches #Season #Extra #Icy #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Patient sues Algerian author over claims he used her in prize novel Patient sues Algerian author over claims he used her in prize novel Getty Images Saada Arbane said she had refused to meet Kamel Daoud when she found out he wanted to use her as the basis of his book This year’s winner of France’s biggest book prize is being sued in Algeria over claims he stole the story from a patient of his psychiatrist wife. Kamel Daoud was awarded the Goncourt prize earlier this month for his novel Houris, a searing account of Algeria’s 1990s civil war in which up to 200,000 people were *******. But a woman who survived one of the massacres has appeared on Algerian television, alleging that the book’s heroine – named Fajr – is based on her own personal story. As a girl, Saada Arbane had her throat cut in an Islamist militant ******* that wiped out most of her family, and now communicates through a speaking tube. In the book, Fajr has suffered the same fate. Ms Arbane said that from 2015 she had several psychiatric sessions with Daoud’s future wife, Aicha Dahdouh, and she accused the couple of using her story without her consent. She said that many details in the heroine’s life – “her speaking tube, her scars, her tattoos, her hairdresser” – came directly from what she told Ms Dahdouh. Likewise, she said, Fajr’s relationship with her mother and her ******* for an *********. Ms Arbane alleged she answered an invitation to meet Daoud three years ago, but refused when he asked if he could use her story as the basis for his book. “It’s my life. It’s my past. He had no right to chuck me out like that,“ she told Algeria One TV. Two lawsuits have been filed in Algeria against Daoud and his wife. One cites rules on medical confidentiality. The second cites a law enacted after the end of the civil war which makes it a ****** to “instrumentalise the wounds of the national tragedy”. This “reconciliation” law greatly restricts the right to publish or speak publicly on the civil war, and is the reason why Daoud’s book has been proscribed in his home country and why his French publisher Gallimard was banned from the recent Algiers book fair. MAGALI COHEN/Hans Lucas/AFP Daoud, who moved to Paris in 2020 and took French nationality, is a controversial figure in Algeria, where he is accused by some of selling out to the former colonial power. He is the first Algerian to win the main Goncourt prize. An earlier work The Meursault Investigation won the best first novel award in 2015. Daoud has yet to react to the lawsuit, although the BBC has approached the author for comment. Antoine Gallimard, of the publishing firm, said that the writer was being made “the target of a campaign of violent defamation orchestrated by certain media close to the Algerian government. “Houris was certainly inspired by the tragic events which happened in Algeria … but its plot, its characters and its heroine are purely fictional.” The lawsuits against Daoud and his wife were made public in Algeria on Wednesday by lawyer Fatima Benbraham, a woman described by Le Monde newspaper as a “fervent supporter of the regime”. She said the lawsuits were filed in August, shortly after the book’s publication, but were only revealed now “because the plaintiffs did not want it to be said that they were trying to upset the [book’s] nomination for the Goncourt.” The row comes at a time of worsening tensions between Algeria and France, triggered by President Emmanuel Macron’s recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Algeria is the historic backer of the Polisario independence movement. Macron’s move angered many Algerians, who view the award to Daoud as a political rather than a literary gesture. Another award-winning French-based Algerian writer Boualel Sansal was on Thursday reported to have gone missing in Algeria, amid fears he has been arrested. Sansal, 75, obtained French nationality earlier this year but returned regularly to Algeria. He is known as a critic of the Algerian regime as well as of Islamism. He flew to Algiers from Paris on Saturday. His editor Jean-François Colosimo said he had not been heard from since then. “I am more than worried,” Mr Colosimo said. Source link #Patient #sues #Algerian #author #claims #prize Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Friday deals include the 4K Chromecast with Google TV for $40 ****** Friday deals include the 4K Chromecast with Google TV for $40 The 4K Chromecast with Google TV streaming stick is down to $40 on Amazon as part of a ****** Friday *****. That’s a savings of 20 percent, or ten bucks for the math wizards out there. We called the 1080p version of this device “a great little streaming dongle” and that certainly holds true for the newer 4K model. It supports HDR and is compatible with just about any TV with an HDMI port. Once plugged in, it streams via Wi-Fi. Google The model also allows users to view live TV in 4K. This works with a bunch of different live TV providers, like YouTube TV, Pluto TV, Sling TV and Philo. It ships with a voice remote embedded with Google Assistant, allowing people to bark orders regarding what stuff they want to watch. As with most streaming sticks, users can cast stuff from their phones or tablets. There’s also the option to build a ****-friendly profile, complete with family-friendly content and robust parental controls. However, there is one caveat here. This model is likely on the way out. The company looks to be prioritizing the recently-released Google TV Streamer, which drops the dongle design in favor of a wedge. This one boasts more storage and a faster CPU than the aforementioned dongle. The company also shoehorned some AI in the new device because that’s what everyone must do now. However, the Google TV Streamer costs $100. I’d go for the $40 Chromecast myself. Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #****** #Friday #deals #include #Chromecast #Google Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin could be the mother of all manias as it soars toward $100,000 Bitcoin could be the mother of all manias as it soars toward $100,000 As bitcoin prepares to vault to $100,000, I can’t help but wonder if cryptocurrency – not artificial intelligence – is the mother of all financial market manias. Despite its increasingly widespread adoption as an investment vehicle, the flagship crypto has yet to make its intended mark as an alternative currency. While the market capitalization of bitcoin is approaching a staggering $2 trillion, the St. Louis Federal Reserve estimates that there are about $2.4 trillion in U.S. dollars in circulation globally. The U.S. dollar ******** the world’s reserve currency, broadly used in more than half of all global trade and in foreign exchange transactions. The dollar’s share of global payments, as reported by SWIFT , hit 49.1% in August 2024, a 12-year high, even as bitcoin was hitting all-time price highs. After studying bitcoin for years, I still have no idea of its utility value as a currency, which many in the industry claim it is. True, it has become a store of value, albeit with a great deal of volatility. BTC.CM= YTD mountain Bitcoin in 2024 The first bitcoin, minted in 2009 , changed hands at about one-tenth of one cent. With bitcoin at nearly $100,000 on Thursday, the first buyers of the cryptocurrency would, no doubt, be worth scores of billions of dollars. Kudos to them. However, bitcoin’s sky-rocketing price doesn’t mean that the crypto yet meets the criteria to be a currency. The three defining features of money are: A medium of exchange A unit of account A store of value Bitcoin – or any cryptocurrency – is not widely used for transactions. In fact, some experts estimate that bitcoin’s use case is still largely confined to ******** activities , or being used to get money out of countries with capital controls. The strength behind the U.S. dollar and gold The crypto crowd continues to insist that bitcoin and certain other cryptocurrencies will supplant the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency . Even as they make that claim, the dollar continues to appreciate against the world’s most widely used currencies, like the euro and the ********* yen and the ******** yuan. Critics of the current monetary system say that central banks create money out of thin air. This claim is rich with irony since bitcoins are “mined,” by solving complex mathematical problems. There are no physical bitcoins. They reside in virtual wallets while real dollars reside in leather ones. In my mind, though my thought process may be far less sophisticated than that of bitcoin’s creator, there’s simply no there there. Aside from that, dollars have also already been digitized through massive technological changes in global payment systems, rendering the need for an alternative moot. Of course, bitcoin could be “digital gold,” the alternative use case pushed by many in that arena. But physical gold has also rallied of late, outperforming several different asset classes amid uncertainties around inflation, interest rates and geopolitical instability. One of the biggest ironies is that President-elect Donald Trump wants to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. This notion is entirely antithetical to decentralized finance. No government or any other authority governs crypto. It is independent of policy and centralization. The real question in my mind ********, does the world need bitcoin, or does it just want the flagship crypto? Did the Dutch need – or want – tulip bulbs in the 1600s? They most certainly wanted them more than they needed them. As a result, the Dutch massively bid up their prices. The resultant ****** after the Dutch ” tulip mania ,” as it was called by historian Charles Mackay, was spectacular, though with less economic impact than some have claimed. If bitcoin crashed tomorrow – and I believe a ****** is coming in crypto – many would lose vast fortunes, just as tulip speculators did in 17th century Holland. But, if I were a ******** man, I would wager that no one else in the world would miss it. — CNBC contributor Ron Insana is CEO of iFi.AI, an artificial intelligence fintech firm. Source link #Bitcoin #mother #manias #soars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Contraceptive recalled in South ******* due to packaging mix-up Contraceptive recalled in South ******* due to packaging mix-up Regulators in South ******* have recalled a batch of the popular Yaz Plus contraceptive pill, after a packaging mix-up which means the contraception could be potentially ineffective. Manufacturer Bayer Ltd said women using pills from the affected batch should stop immediately and seek medical advice. A packaging mix-up led to a number of blister packs carrying 24 inactive pills, instead of 24 hormone-containing active pills. The issue affected only a limited number of packets in a specific batch labelled WEW96J, expiring in March 2026 The erroneous batch has been recalled by Bayer, in consultation with South ******* Health Products Regulatory Agency, with the company stressing the “root cause” of the mix-up had been identified and dealt with. A regular pack of Yaz Plus contraceptives contains 24 active pills containing hormones, which are pink in colour, followed by four hormone-free, inactive pills, which are light orange in colour. In the recalled batch, a number of packs instead carried 24 hormone-free inactive pills and only four active hormone pills. The concern is that a woman could be at risk of becoming pregnant having taken inactive pills believing she was taking effective hormonal contraception. Bayer Ltd’s recall notice says: “While only a limited number of packs from the respective batch is affected, as a precautionary measure, no tablets from these packs shall be used until you have consulted your healthcare practitioner, as they may potentially not provide the contraceptive protection you expect.” Anyone who has acquired a packet of pills belonging to the stipulated batch is advised to return the tablets to pharmacies for a replacement or refund. Healthcare professionals, hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, nurses and wholesalers who have packets of the affected batch should also return them. In a statement, Bayer Ltd said “the root cause for the mix-up of tablets in the packaging has been identified and corrective measures have been implemented”. The incident is limited to only one batch and no other batches are affected, the company said. The company has set up a helpline for people with any further questions. Source link #Contraceptive #recalled #South #******* #due #packaging #mixup Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stalker 2 Gets Day-One Patch Improvements, But Problems Remain Across PC And Xbox Stalker 2 Gets Day-One Patch Improvements, But Problems Remain Across PC And Xbox Few video game developers have had to deal with the things that GSC Game World had to face while making Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The Ukrainian game developer behind this first-person shooter survival-horror title was derailed by Russia’s invasion of its country in 2022. But the game was finally released earlier this month with some noticeable issues. Fortunately, a day-one patch has reportedly dealt with some of those problems, while others remain. As noted by Eurogamer and Digital Foundry, the patch arrived after reviewers had already played through Stalker 2. The good news is that this patch seems to have significantly helped the game’s frame-rate performance. But the site notes that “the game still suffers from everything to minor, amusing bugs to more serious issues and heavy CPU utilization.” On Xbox Series X, the game is said to occasionally freeze entirely for a few seconds when visiting large towns, before continuing with an erratic rate of frames per second. Overall, the first impression left by Stalker 2 ******** positive. GameSpot’s Richard Wakeling wrote in his Stalker 2 review notes that it “boldly sticks to the studio’s vision of a seamless open-world survival shooter, which the series has always strived to be. It’s rough around the edges and uncompromising in a way that is sometimes off-putting. Yet the series’ emergent gameplay ******** intact and is further complemented by a fascinating setting and the most accomplished combat in the series so far.” However, Wakeling also reiterated many of the technical issues stated above, as well as crashes and other bugs that hampered the experience. Xbox released the behind-the-scenes documentary War Game: The Making of Stalker 2 last month, which chronicles the ordeal that GSC Game World’s team went through in order to complete the game during war time. Ultimately, many of the developers had to leave Ukraine to finish the development while others remained behind to ****** for their country. That war continues to this day with no resolution in sight. Source link #Stalker #DayOne #Patch #Improvements #Problems #Remain #Xbox Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft slaps down Egyptian-run rent-a-phish operation Microsoft slaps down Egyptian-run rent-a-phish operation Microsoft’s Digital ******* Unit (DCU) has scored a major win against the cyber ********* underworld after leading an operation to seize 240 fraudulent websites used by an Egyptian national – named today as Abanoub Nady – who sold do-it-yourself phishing kits under the brand name ONNX to less adept crooks. Nady, who used the handle MRxD0DER, both developed and sold the phishing-as-a-service kits, which were used in multiple campaigns against Microsoft customers in various sectors, although it is understood that the financial services industry was the most heavily targeted. The DCU believes that emails originating from the ONNX ‘family of products’ made up a significant portion of the tens to hundreds of millions of phishes caught in Microsoft’s nets every month – it was likely among the top five such ops globally. Redmond said that in targeting ONNX, it was disrupting the illicit cyber ********* supply chain and protecting customers from downstream threats such as ******, data theft, and ransomware. “This action builds on the DCU’s strategy of disrupting the broader cyber ********* ecosystem and targeting the tools cyber ********** use to launch their attacks,” Microsoft DCU assistant general counsel Stephen Masada explained. “Our goal in all cases is to protect customers by severing bad actors from the infrastructure required to operate and to deter future cyber ********* behaviour by significantly raising the barriers of entry and the cost of doing business. “We are joined by co-plaintiff LF (Linux Foundation) Projects, LLC, the trademark owner of the actual registered ONNX name and logo. ONNX or Open Neural Network Exchange is an open standard format and open source runtime for representing machine learning models, enabling interoperability between different hardware, frameworks, and tools for easier deployment and scalability,” he said. “Together, we are taking affirmative action to protect online users globally rather than standing idly by while malicious actors illegally use our names and logos to enhance the perceived legitimacy of their attacks.” Masada said that the DCU had unilaterally opted to name Nady to serve as a further deterrent to others. A spokesperson for the Linux Foundation said: “At the Linux Foundation, we advocate collaboration as a powerful tool for tackling complex challenges. Today, we celebrate our recent collaboration with Microsoft to defend millions of individuals and organisations from a global phishing-as-a-service ********* operation. We encourage organisations who find themselves in a position to ****** one element of a cyber ****** problem to identify ways to collaborate and build a stronger collective response.” Microsoft on the case Recent months have seen a significant upswing in sophisticated adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) phishing attacks such as those orchestrated through ONNX in recent months, notably a spike in so-called quishing – phishing using malicious QR codes. However, Microsoft’s action against ONNX is in fact the result of a lengthy investigation dating back to 2017. Over the years, said Microsoft, it has tracked various of Nady’s ‘enterprises’ including other phishing operations known as Caffeine and FUHRER. All of his kits were designed to send emails at scale in coordinated campaigns, and ONNX was sold on a subscription-based model with various tiers of access and support, even a VIP tier for the most discerning **********, who benefited from round-the-clock tech support offering step-by-step guidance. ONNX was mostly promoted, sold and configured via the Telegram messaging platform, alongside demonstration videos. Once bought, customers were able to orchestrate attacks using the provided templates and the fraudulent ONNX technical infrastructure, where they were allowed to connect malicious domains obtained from elsewhere. Under a civil court order, unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia, Microsoft has now taken over this technical infrastructure, putting it beyond use for future attacks. More to come Unfortunately, observed Masada, while the DCU’s action will substantially disrupt ONNX, it is a certainty that other threat actors will fill the void, with adapted techniques. “However, taking action sends a strong message to those who choose to replicate our services to harm users online: we will proactively pursue remedies to protect our services and our customers and are continuously improving our technical and legal strategies to have greater impact,” he said. “Furthermore, as cyber ********** continue to evolve their methods, it is crucial for organisations and individuals to stay informed and vigilant. By understanding the tactics employed by cybercriminals and implementing robust security measures, we can collectively work towards a safer digital environment. Continued collaboration, like the partnership with LF Projects, ******** essential if we want to meaningfully dent the cyber threat landscape.” Source link #Microsoft #slaps #Egyptianrun #rentaphish #operation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s why you should max out your health savings account Here’s why you should max out your health savings account Marco Vdm | E+ | Getty Images Many employees have a health savings account, which offers tax incentives to save for medical expenses. However, most are still missing out on long-term HSA benefits, experts say. Two-thirds of companies offer investment options for HSA contributions, up 60% from one year ago, according to a survey released in November by the Plan Sponsor Council of America, which polled more than 500 employers in the summer of 2024. But only 18% of participants invest their HSA balance, down slightly from the previous year, the survey found. That could be a “huge mistake” because HSAs are “the only triple-tax-free account in America,” said certified financial planner Ted Jenkin, founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial in Atlanta. More from Personal Finance: Thanksgiving meals are expected to be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Could Trump reinstate the student debt that Biden forgave? What experts say 2025-26 FAFSA is open ahead of schedule: Why it’s important to file early Health savings accounts are popular among advisors, who encourage clients to invest the funds long term rather than spending the funds on yearly medical expenses. But you need an eligible high-deductible health plan to make contributions. Some 66% of employees picked an HSA-qualifying health plan when given the choice, according to the Plan Sponsor Council of America survey. However, the best health insurance plan depends on your family’s expected medical expenses for the upcoming year, experts say. Typically, high-deductible plans have lower premiums but more upfront expenses. HSAs can look like a ‘health 401(K)’ HSAs have three tax benefits. There’s an upfront deduction on contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. If you invest it wisely, it can look like a health 401(k). Ted Jenkin Founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial “It’s one way to deal with the inflationary cost of health care,” said Jenkin, who is also a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council. “If you invest it wisely, it can look like a health 401(k).” A 65-year-old retiring today can expect to spend an average of $165,000 in health and medical expenses through retirement, up nearly 5% from 2023, according to a Fidelity report released in August. That estimate doesn’t include the cost of long-term care, which can be significantly higher, depending on needs. Why employees don’t use HSAs for long-term savings There are a couple of reasons why most employees aren’t investing their HSA balances, according to Hattie Greenan, director of research and communications for the Plan Sponsor Council of America. “I think there’s a lot of confusion about HSAs and [flexible spending accounts],” including how they work and how they’re different,” she said. While both accounts offer tax benefits, your FSA balance typically must be spent yearly, whereas HSA funds can accumulate for multiple years. Plus, your HSA is portable, meaning you can take the balance when changing jobs. However, many employees can’t afford to cover medical costs yearly while their HSA balance grows, Greenan said. “Ultimately, most participants still are using that HSA for current health care expenses.” Source link #Heres #max #health #savings #account Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem Methanol poisoning deaths highlight SE Asia’s fake alcohol problem Getty Images Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos – where the fatal poisonings took place – are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia Suspected methanol poisoning from tainted drinks has reportedly ******* five tourists in a Laos holiday town in the past fortnight. A British woman, an *********** woman, a US man and two Danish nationals have *****, while another *********** woman ******** critically ill in hospital. The deaths remain under police investigation, but news reports and testimonies online from other tourists suggest they may have consumed drinks laced with methanol, a deadly substance often found in bootleg alcohol. Methanol poisoning has long been a well-known issue across South-East Asia, particularly in the poorer countries along the Mekong river. But despite foreign governments posting warnings about alcohol consumption in these places, there is still little awareness among the backpacker party scene. Flavourless and colourless, methanol is hard to detect in drinks and victims typically don’t see symptoms of poisoning straight away. And in countries like Laos – one of the poorest and least developed in Asia – the problem arises from alcohol suppliers exploiting an environment where there is low law enforcement and almost no regulations in the food and hospitality industries. What is methanol poisoning? Methanol is a toxic alcohol used in industrial and household products like paint thinners, antifreeze, varnish and photocopier fluid. It is colourless and has a similar smell to ethyl alcohol – the chemical substance found in alcoholic drinks. But methanol is dangerous for humans and drinking just 25ml of it can be lethal. It can take up to 24 hours for victims to start showing signs of illness which include: nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain which can escalate into hyperventilation and breathing problems. If not treated, fatality rates are often reported to be 20% to 40%, depending on the concentration of methanol and the amount taken, says international medical charity Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) which tracks the number of global outbreaks. But if a poisoning is diagnosed quickly enough, ideally within the first 30 hours, treatment can reduce some of the worse effects. How common is the problem in South-East Asia? Asia has the highest prevalence of methanol poisoning worldwide, according to MSF’s database. It is a problem that often affects poorer countries – outbreaks are common in Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Indonesia is regarded as a hotspot – it has reported the highest number of incidents in the past two decades, according to MSF, largely down to the widespread production and consumption of bootleg *******. Towns like Vang Vieng in Laos, where the fatal poisonings took place, are known stops on the backpacking trail through South East Asia. The town’s economy is built on tourism, with streets of bars, restaurants and hostels that cater to visitors. But in Laos, law enforcement is under-resourced and there are few regulations around food and alcohol standards. There is also an industry of home-brewed alcohol, which can lead to accidental poisonings. Producers also make counterfeit drinks by making products with methanol instead of ethanol because it is cheaper, say local observers. “You have the unscrupulous producer adding methanol to their drinks because it’s cheaper – it’s used to create a stronger-seeming drink or make lower-quality alcohol drinks seem more potent,” one Western diplomat in the region told the BBC. They also said methanol poisonings are reported to consulates across the region. However, a lack of data means it is hard to quantify the scale of the contamination, and where tainted drinks enter the supply chain. “I don’t think it’s nefarious bar owners going out of their way to poison tourists – that’s not good for them or their industry either,” the diplomat said. “It’s more about the production side – there being being low education, low regulation, people cutting corners.” What can be done about it? The diplomat also said that the risks of bootleg alcohol are well known among tourism operators and embassies, but a high-profile campaign is needed to inform tourists. “This horrific event will probably help educate people, but not solve the cause of the problem,” they added. Several Western governments updated their advice about alcohol dangers in South-East Asia on their consulate and travel pages this week. Some campaigners have sought to raise attention to the dangers before. *********** man Colin Ahearn runs a Facebook page called ‘Don’t Drink Spirits in Bali‘ where he warns against mixed drinks like cocktails or drinks made from opened bottles of spirits. He told *********** media earlier this week that his page used to receive a submission a week about methanol poisoning across South East Asia. Addressing this, the western diplomat told the BBC that it would be hard for people to protect themselves unless they went completely teetotal on holiday, as it is unrealistic for tourists to check the original source of all their alcoholic drinks. Source link #Methanol #poisoning #deaths #highlight #Asias #fake #alcohol #problem Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

It Can Cost Up To $500,000 For A Spot On Opening Night Live 2025 It Can Cost Up To $500,000 For A Spot On Opening Night Live 2025 · · November 21, 2024 The cost to show your game at Opening Night Live is set to get even more expensive for studios. According to a new report from ******* outlet GamesWirtschaft, Geoff Keighley’s annual event at Gamescom is charging up to nearly $500,000 for an spot on Opening Night Live 2025. The report claims that prices start at $146,800 (€140,000) for a 30-second ad and rises to roughly $487,506 (€465,000) for a 180-second (three-minute) ad, based on currency conversion rates as of writing. The three-minute ad is one of two new tiers offered for 2025 along with a 150-second ad for roughly $419,360 (€400,000). In total, there are six different tiers to choose from, all more expensive than the reported cost for the same amount of time in 2024. Across the board, the increases range from 17.4% up to 21.9%. Opening Night Live 2025 is scheduled to air August 19, 2025, the day before Gamescom 2025 officially begins. Opening Night Live 2025 Ad Rates 30 seconds: $146,776 or €140,000 ($125,000 or €115,000 in 2024) 60 seconds: $214,922 or €205,000 ($179,600 or €165,000 in 2024) 90 seconds: $283,068 or €270,000 ($234,000 or €215,000 in 2024) 120 seconds: $351,214 or €335,000 ($288,000 or €265,000 in 2024) 150 seconds: $419,360 or €400,000 180 seconds: $487,506 or €465,000 It’s worth noting that neither Keighley himself nor the Gamescom promoters have confirmed these prices. Insider Gaming has attempted to reach out for comment, though no response has been received as of publishing. What do you think of the cost to air a trailer or ad during Opening Night Live 2025? Let us know in the comments, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming Forums. For more Insider Gaming, check out the full list of winners at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Cost #Spot #Opening #Night #Live Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump gets a brutal reality check Donald Trump gets a brutal reality check Donald Trump is not a monarch. That’s the unmistakable lesson of the ill-fated nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Rather than showcasing Trump’s absolute power over his GOP allies, it revealed his limits. The doomed nomination lasted just eight days — and its ******** is an unwelcome lesson for the president-elect, who has been projecting invincibility and claiming a historic mandate despite his reed-thin popular vote victory. “The short version is ‘checks and balances work,’” said Eugene Volokh, a UCLA professor of law. Though Republicans will control both chambers of Congress, the resistance from Senate Republicans to Gaetz’s nomination proved that there are still some checks on Trump — no matter how limited — that can hold, despite ***** on the left that he will squeeze Congress into submission, get carte blanche from the *************-dominated Supreme Court and enact his agenda at will. “I think it shows that Donald Trump cannot get anything he wants,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California-Berkeley School of Law. Chemerinsky and others cautioned against extrapolating too much from the Gaetz debacle; he was so uniquely despised and compromised by legal and political scandal, and vying for a position that wields unique and extraordinary power, that his ******* nomination may not be a harbinger of the pushback Trump may face for other nominees. In fact, if Trump is able to muscle through his other controversial nominees, the lesson may be that Trump is more unchecked by Congress than ever, said Edward Foley, an Ohio State University constitutional law expert. “The Senate will have come up short as measured by the Senators’ own views about the nominees and their capacity to withstand presidential pressure,” Foley said. Still, Trump has long sought to avoid even the appearance that his power, particularly over Republicans, has limits. He won the presidential election just 16 days ago and is at the apex of his influence, unfurling unconventional nominees for powerful government posts at breakneck speed. And he has vowed to launch his second term with a fusillade of executive branch force, from mass deportations to pardons for Jan. 6 rioters to facilitating the wind-down of the Russia-Ukraine war. And he is also expected to rely on the attorney general to rip out the last vestiges of any lingering investigations into his own alleged *******. And in recent days, Trump appeared to lean into the Gaetz nomination despite acknowledging its uphill climb. He reportedly called senators and urged them to keep an open mind, and he sent his Vice President-elect JD Vance to Capitol Hill to persuade senators with reservations about Gaetz. The ******** to confirm Gaetz — perhaps his most ferocious loyalist in Washington — to a post that wields significant influence over Trump’s own legal fate is not the plan Trump drew up. Sen. Chuck Grassley said the episode shows that Trump’s ability to jam through controversial nominees is roughly the same as it was for Bill Clinton. “He had to send up three secretaries of treasury before he finally got one,” the Iowa *********** noted. Jordain Carney contributed to this report. Source link #Donald #Trump #brutal #reality #check Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stephen Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP Stephen Flynn will not seek dual mandate to become MSP PA Media Stephen Flynn represents Aberdeen South at Westminster SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says he will not seek a dual mandate to stand as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament while remaining an MP. Flynn, who represents Aberdeen South in the House of Commons, said: “Hands up, I’ve got this one wrong.” He previously said he would aim to hold his Westminster seat until the next general election, due in 2029, but would not accept two salaries. The Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at Holyrood is currently held by the SNP’s Audrey Nicoll. Flynn said he had sought a dual mandate “for the right reasons” but it did not change the fact he had got it wrong. He said: “My aim to save the public purse from unnecessary strain by potentially overlapping the role of an MP and an MSP for a short ******* until the next general Election was genuine in its intent. “Alongside all SNP members, I now look forward to assessing the new candidate selection rules that my party will put in place.” PA Media Stephen Flynn with SNP leader John Swinney Flynn’s intention to stand had caused anger within his party. Ahead of the 2021 election, the SNP changed internal rules to require MPs to resign their seat at Westminster to ****** for selection to Holyrood. The party’s ruling body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – could decide to scrap the rule for contests ahead of 2026. First Minister John Swinney said last week that the SNP had yet to make a decision on whether its politicians could hold a dual mandate – where a single person sits in both Westminster and Holyrood. Swinney, who held seats at both Westminster and Holyrood between 1999 and 2001, told BBC Scotland News: “We’ve had times in the past when we’ve had dual mandates – I had a dual mandate myself for two years in the early days of devolution. “The party has got to come to its conclusions about these particular issues and it will do in the fullness of time.” Source link #Stephen #Flynn #seek #dual #mandate #MSP Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Outlaws’ Lando story DLC is out today Star Wars Outlaws’ Lando story DLC is out today The first story DLC for Star Wars Outlaws is available today. Wild Card, which is available as part of the game’s Season Pass or can be bought separately, sees protagonist Kay hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament and crossing paths with Lando Calrissian. The game also makes its debut on Steam today, containing all previous updates including today’s new version 1.4 update which removes stealth ******** from almost all quest objectives. Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card is OUT! Kay is hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament. As she crosses paths with the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, she soon learns that another game is being played.@UbiMassive pic.twitter.com/z7n0KlByZc — Star Wars Outlaws (@StarWarsOutlaws) November 21, 2024 Source link #Star #Wars #Outlaws #Lando #story #DLC #today Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]