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Meta develops ‘hat’ for typing text by thinking — uses AI to read brain signals for keypresses Meta develops ‘hat’ for typing text by thinking — uses AI to read brain signals for keypresses Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has previously said that the company is working on a system that will allow you to type directly via your brain. According to MIT Technology Review, the tech giant was actually able to successfully create this technology, with the system capable of accurately determining what key the user was ‘pressing’ about 80% of the time. This probably isn’t an impressive number to skilled typists, but we must remember that this machine reads your brain signals externally — no implantation or invasive procedure required — which is a feat in and of itself. However, don’t think this is a comfortable hat that one could just wear anywhere, day to day. Instead, it’s a massive and expensive machine that needs to be used in isolation to work effectively. Forest Neurotech founder Sumner Norman likens it to “an MRI machine tipped on its side and suspended above the user’s head,” with one device estimated to cost $2,000,000. Aside from that, the magnetoencephalography scanner, which reads the magnetic signals that your neurons generate when they fire, can only be used in a shielded room. That’s because the earth’s magnetic field, which is several orders of magnitude stronger than the one in your head, will interfere with the reading. The machine also loses the signal when the subject moves their head, making it impractical to use in everyday settings. Meta Brain & AI Research Team Head Jean-Rémi King says that the research isn’t geared towards making a marketable device. “Our effort is not at all toward products,” says King. “In fact, my message is always to say I don’t think there is a path for products because it’s too difficult.” Nevertheless, the research returned meaningful results, as it discovered how the brain produces language information. Meta’s team determined that our neurons first generate a signal for a thought or sentence, which then creates subsequent signals for words, syllables, and, lastly, letters. They were then able to see how these different levels interact with each other as a system for written communication. The company could then learn how this works and use it as a way to train artificial intelligence. “Trying to understand the precise architecture or principles of the human brain could be a way to inform the development of machine intelligence,” said King. He adds, “Language has become a foundation of AI. So, the computation principles that allow the brain, or any system, to acquire such ability is the key motivation behind this work.” Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Meta #develops #hat #typing #text #thinking #read #brain #signals #keypresses Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What Should Battlefield 6 Take From Battlefield 5? What Should Battlefield 6 Take From Battlefield 5? In February 2025, Electronic Arts divulged the future of the Battlefield franchise alongside a reveal of ‘Battlefield Labs’. This all-new testing initiative promised to invite fans into the fold to have them trial Battlefield products long before they are released to the open market. It was also when we got our first look at Battlefield 6 – or whatever it’ll end up being named. It got me thinking about the games that came before, more particularly Battlefield 5, which I often consider to be the last good Battlefield game. Don’t hate me. Without further ado, here’s what I think Battlefield 6 should take from Battlefield 5. What Does Battlefield 6 Need To Have? There are many features and mechanics unique to Battlefield 5 (or defined by Battlefield 5) that I feel would be right at home in Battlefield 6 – not that the title or numbering has been confirmed, of course. Here they are. Battle Royale Let’s get that controversial one out of the way right off the bat. I think Firestorm was a fantastic addition to Battlefield 5 but it was underappreciated and poorly utilised. It dropped in May 2019, just months after Respawn Entertainment released Apex Legends and around a year before Call of Duty Warzone hit the market. It was a tough time for the competition in the battle royale space, but Firestorm had potential – and guess who developed it? Criterion Games, in conjunction with EA’s DICE. Both of these studios are working on the next Battlefield game, and the rumours are that Battlefield 6 will feature a battle royale. Related: Next Battlefield is a ‘Reimagination’ Destruction Mechanics Battlefield 5’s destruction mechanics were monumental, and through artillery, missiles, bombs, tanks, planes, and everything else in between, users could raze the entire map to the ground. Entire villages would fall under the weight of devastating explosions, tanks could crawl through buildings, and even now, the sound of a V2 bomb buzzing over fills me with impending dread. There was a huge backstep in Battlefield 2042 that stripped almost every ounce of destruction from the game. It was a defining feature of the Battlefield franchise, and it was last done best in Battlefield 5. From what we saw in the first pre-alpha trailer for Battlefield 6, the game will feature intense destruction mechanics. ****struction Mechanics There’s a fantastic ability written almost into the background of Battlefield 5, and it allows players to whip out a toolbox and start building defences around their objectives. It’s a neat little feature that adds extra immersion to an already immersive title, and it allows players to get a little more strategic when defending a flag or a building. It’s a basic thing – players can click or hold a button to lay down sandbags, dig trenches, reinforce windows, set up tank traps, or roll out walls of razor wire. It can turn a simple farmhouse into a well-defended objective in just a few minutes, and I believe that if expanded upon, it could be a fantastic returning feature in Battlefield 6. Related: ‘Battlefield 2042 Never Stood a Chance’ Multi-Dimensional Campaign Battlefield 5 was the last game in the series to have a core campaign, which was built around the typical model – various theatres of war around the world during a major conflict. Battlefield 5’s campaign was cinematic and emotional, and it revealed some of the more ‘secret stories’ of the Second World War, much like Battlefield 1 exposed subtones present in World War I. When Battlefield 2042 debuted without a campaign, many millions of players believed the game was nursing a gigantic hole front and centre. It has been promised that Battlefield 6 will have a solid campaign like the one of days gone by, but the proof will be in the pudding. Related: Criterion Games is Helping with Battlefield Again Another Realistic Theatre of War It wasn’t just the campaign that was gritty and raw – it was the entire war itself. From map to map, players experienced the brutality and totality of the Second World War, travelling from Africa to France and from Norway to Japan. In Battlefield 2042, the lack of ‘realism’ was an issue, as up until that point, Battlefield had more or less become synonymous with the realistic portrayal of war. With the introduction of robot dogs, fantastical wing suits, instant zip-lines, and all manner of futuristic technology, Battlefield 2042 – for a while – didn’t feel like Battlefield at all. If Battlefield 6 is going to succeed, I’d like to suggest that it’ll be because it’s rooted in realism, whether that be modern combat or another revisiting of an older conflict. The early trailer released to showcase pre-alpha gameplay of Battlefield 6 led us to believe that it’ll be set in a present-day theatre of war, which is good. Related: Will Battlefield 2042 Ever Be Free to Play? Squads, Soldiers, and Platoons Battlefield 5 was much better for the player who loved Battlefield. It allowed them to form ‘Platoons’, it encouraged better squad-based play and saw players fill leadership roles, and it didn’t need to rely on Specialists (all with unique abilities, like a ‘hero shooter’) to fill out the ranks. Many of these elements didn’t port over to Battlefield 2042, and it felt for a while like EA had stripped the community aspects from the series. Are there any mechanics or elements you’d love to see featured in Battlefield 6 from previous games? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Battlefield #Battlefield Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

6 Top Ways You Can Keep Your Checking Account Safe 6 Top Ways You Can Keep Your Checking Account Safe tsingha25 / Getty Images According to a 2023 study by the American Banking Association, only 9% of people still take care of their banking needs in a physical brand location. Instead, they’re relying on the accessibility of online banking and banking apps. Find Out: How Much Money Do Americans Have in Their Bank Accounts in 2025? Try This: 4 Low-Risk Ways To Build Your Savings in 2025 Another study by Chase found that 87% of Americans use their banking app at least once per month. However, with the rise of online and mobile banking also comes an increase in cybercrime. According to the FBI, over $4 billion was lost to cyber criminals in 2020 alone. This means it’s more crucial than ever to make sure you’re protecting yourself and your money. “I’ve talked to so many customers that can’t tell me the last time they actually looked through their bank statement,” said Nicole W., teller at Chase Bank. “They come in because they noticed an error in their account from months ago, but they’re just now noticing something’s wrong.” Keep reading to learn what Nicole recommends anyone utilizing online or mobile banking to do so they can keep their accounts safe. One of the worst things you can do is have a weak password. The last thing you want is to use a password like 111111 or 123456. This is going to make it much easier for criminals to gain access to your accounts. “Use random passwords for each of your online accounts,” Nicole said. “If possible, never use the same password for more than one account. I would also suggest making it as long and as strong as possible. Use lower and upper case letters, numbers and special characters.” If you’re using different passwords for each online account, it can get difficult to remember each of them. While you could write them down and store them in a safe place in your home, there are also several online password storage vaults available. Nicole frequently recommends 1password.com to friends and family. Learn More: These Are the 5 Biggest Discrepancies With How People Bank by Generation Even if you have a strong password, there’s always a chance that hackers can gain access. That’s why many organizations are now using two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security to your bank account. “If you’re offered the ability to use two-factor authentication, do so,” said Nicole. “How this works is you will have your password as the first layer of defense, and then you will have a special code sent to your phone number. While someone may be able to hack your password, it will be much more difficult to get the special code sent, as well.” Story Continues According to Security magazine, 1.76 billion phishing emails were sent in 2023, which was an increase of 51% over the previous year. Cyber criminals will go to great lengths to be able to uncover your sensitive information. “Be cautious when you’re doing anything online,” Nicole said. “Only visit reputable websites that you trust, and only open emails from people you know. Oftentimes, thieves will use phishing emails in an attempt to get you to click links that give them access to your device. When they are successful, they have a good chance of uncovering your personal information.” There could be times when you need to use your bank’s app when you’re out shopping, but it’s best to avoid this if possible. Using an unsecured network can make it much easier for someone to track what you’re doing. “When you need to log in and check your bank account, try and do so at home from your secure network,” said Nicole. “Using public Wi-Fi is unsecure, and anyone with the right skills can steal your username and password after you press submit.” If you find yourself needing to access your financial accounts frequently while you’re on the go, consider signing up for a virtual private network (VPN) on your phone. Even if you’re on a public Wi-Fi network, the VPN will provide a layer of encryption to keep your personal information safe. Most financial institutions will give you the ability to sign up for text or email alerts if there is unusual activity on your account. With the rise in artificial intelligence, spotting fraud is going to become even easier. “Ten or 15 years ago, most people would check their monthly bank statement to see if anything looked out of place,” Nicole added. “That created inefficiencies for tracking fraudulent transactions. Today, if we notice a transaction was made out in a location you’re not frequently at, we can send you an alert, so you can approve or deny the transaction.” Some banks will even allow you to receive an alert each time your account is used. While this might be annoying for some people, it can help keep you in the know about what’s happening with your account. With social media being such a big part of many people’s lives, it’s important to be aware of the information you’re sharing. “While many people might not think about negatives to sharing information online, some things can be used to build a profile on a person,” Nicole explained. “For example, have you ever shared something about your child’s birthday? If your social media profile is public, anyone has access to your child’s name and their birthday. This information can be used for the wrong reasons.” More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Bank Teller: 6 Top Ways You Can Keep Your Checking Account Safe Source link #Top #Ways #Checking #Account #Safe Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Inside the Chiefs’ top 10 postseason blitzes unleashed by Steve Spagnuolo Inside the Chiefs’ top 10 postseason blitzes unleashed by Steve Spagnuolo The Athletic has live coverage of Chiefs vs Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, and Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. NEW ORLEANS — Chiefs All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie is one of the NFL’s best coverage defenders, a player who can stay step-for-step with the best receivers. Most of the time, though, McDuffie’s favorite moment in a game comes when he doesn’t start the play backpedaling. As the linebacker with the green dot on his helmet, Nick Bolton gets the play calls from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo transmitted in his ear and relays them to his teammates. Bolton loves when he realizes — before his teammates know — that the Chiefs defense is about to go on the offensive. Justin Reid, the Chiefs’ all-everything safety, reminds himself of a short message just before the defense blitzes the opposing quarterback. “The only thought is, ‘Don’t be late,’” Reid said, smiling. “You don’t want to hang those guys covering out to dry.” A sequence of details in the final minute of the Chiefs’ most recent game, a win over the Buffalo Bills, is part of why the team will play in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday. The Chiefs defense, led by Spagnuolo, is most known for its bold, exotic blitzes — especially in the biggest moments of postseason games. The Chiefs, who are aiming to beat the Philadelphia Eagles to become the first NFL team to capture an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory, have won nine consecutive playoff games. Each of those nine wins featured a successful Chiefs blitz at a critical time. “Throughout the whole game, he plays the chess match with the offense,” safeties coach Donald D’Alesio said of Spagnuolo. “I’m showing this (play) to set up this (blitz) later in the game. Or I’m showing this to hope later in the game they slide (the pass protection) that way and we get the blitz coming the other way.” GO DEEPER Cheeseburgers and beyond: Andy Reid loves food as much as football That’s exactly what happened with two minutes left in the AFC Championship Game against the Bills. The Chiefs defense, trying to protect a three-point lead, put the Bills offense in a pressurized fourth-and-5 snap. Spagnuolo poured over his play sheet during the two-minute warning to find just the right blitz, one he hoped would surprise quarterback Josh Allen. “I said to myself, ‘We haven’t run it yet, so let’s run something we haven’t run yet,’” Spagnuolo said of his boldest blitz this season. “It was on the list. It could’ve been on a third-down call. It was one of three or four (play calls).” McDuffie blitzed from the perimeter, leading to immediate pressure on Allen, who was forced into a rushed deep passing attempt. “I always tell people I have the biggest smile on my face when I’m blitzing,” McDuffie said, smiling. The Chiefs make the stop on fourth down! : #BUFvsKC on CBS : Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s4rXNURB3z — NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025 Allen’s pass fell incomplete when tight end Dalton Kincaid failed to make a diving catch, surrounded by defenders. It was the Bills’ last offensive play of the season. “I’ve got confidence in Spags,” coach Andy Reid said. “In certain situations, I don’t have to run over to him and go, ‘Hey, let’s not do that or this.’ I have enough confidence in him and been around him long enough to know he’s going to make the right call for the right time.” Before the unit unveils its next attack, one the Chiefs hope to use to frustrate Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, here’s a recap of the 10 most important blitzes Spagnuolo and his players have unleashed to outwit their opponents to help Kansas City become the NFL’s newest dynasty. Jacksonville (2022 divisional round) The situation: Chiefs leading 27-17, fourth quarter, 3:55 left, second-and-6 from midfield The blitzers: Reid and safety Bryan Cook Unsung hero: pass rusher Chris Jones Although it was Bolton’s fourth career postseason game, he was still sometimes nervous or anxious with Spagnuolo calling a blitz for a significant moment in the fourth quarter. Bolton knew the Chiefs could give up a long completion to the Jaguars if Reid or Cook didn’t hit Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. “There’s a couple of blitzes where you’re like, ‘Uh, I don’t know…’” Bolton said, laughing. “You look at the formation and they could block it or they have people to block it — or maybe they can get the ball out quick, like a screen alert. You don’t really know until you see the result of the play.” Bolton was technically correct about this blitz: The Jaguars had enough blockers (six) to block each of the Chiefs’ six blitzers. But the Jaguars still had two interior linemen assigned to Jones, the Chiefs’ best defensive player. Jones occupied two linemen in the middle of the field, which allowed Reid to sprint untouched through the B gap, leading him to hit Lawrence as he released an intermediate pass. The pressure influenced Lawrence’s pass, which was intercepted by cornerback Jaylen Watson, who made a one-handed catch. OH MY GOODNESS @JAYLENWATSON12 pic.twitter.com/v4UrSL7CEK — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 22, 2023 Cincinnati (2022 AFC Championship Game) The situation: Tied 20-20, fourth quarter, 7:08 left, second-and-3 from the Bengals’ 36 The blitzers: McDuffie and linebacker Darius Harris Unsung hero: cornerback Joshua Williams The Bengals began the drive looking to take their first lead of the game. The Chiefs appeared to be in zone coverage pre-snap, but Spagnuolo tested the Bengals’ offensive line and running back Samaje Perine to see if they could win each of the six one-on-one blocks. Indeed, the Bengals — in a rarity that night — succeeded and gave quarterback Joe Burrow enough time to find a favorable one-on-one matchup: receiver Ja’Marr Chase running a 15-yard corner route against Williams. The play ended in an incompletion because Williams stayed close enough to Chase that the ball fell to the turf down near the Chiefs’ sideline. “There’s a lot of moving pieces,” Spagnuolo said. “Everybody gets focused on the guys that are actually coming. But the guys on the back end that are taking things away so the quarterback can’t get (the ball) out of his hands (quickly) are just as important.” On the next play, Burrow attempted a deep pass to receiver Tee Higgins, who was double-covered by Cook and Williams. Cook located the ball and deflected the pass up and away from Higgins. The ball landed in Williams’ hands for a timely interception. Rookie DBs Bryan Cook & Joshua Williams came up big for the @Chiefs @Pepsi | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/XdPSWGfa51 — NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2023 Philadelphia (2022 Super Bowl) The situation: Chiefs leading 28-27, fourth quarter, 10:40 left, third-and-3 from Eagles’ 32 The blitzers: McDuffie and linebacker ******* Gay Unsung hero: Jones With the Chiefs clinging to a one-point lead, Spagnuolo wanted to force the Eagles to punt after a three-and-out. He called a blitz he felt would work against a run or a pass. He was right. Hurts did a run-pass option fake, which gave McDuffie and Gay plenty of time to generate immediate pressure from both sides of the Eagles’ formation. Jones forced Hurts to escape the pocket, too, beating a double team against two interior linemen. With none of his three receivers open, Hurts threw the ball out of bounds. On the next play, Kadarius Toney returned the Eagles’ punt a Super Bowl-record 65 yards to set up a touchdown. Miami (2023 wild-card round) The situation: Chiefs leading 26-7, fourth quarter, 7:27 left, first-and-1o from the Chiefs’ 25 The blitzers: Reid and Gay Unsung hero: cornerback L’Jarius Sneed Although the Chiefs were up 19 points, Spagnuolo wanted to stop the Dolphins from building any momentum with a touchdown. He hadn’t blitzed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa much to that point in a game that started with a temperature of minus-4, the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. The Dolphins did not score because Spagnuolo called one of Reid’s favorite blitzes. “There’s one where I get to blitz the A gap and we disguise it like I’m not even coming at all or like I’m (more) coming off the edge,” Reid said. “At the last moment, we get to run over the center and we’ve got some twist (with defensive linemen) happening and you have a corner coming, too. Usually, somebody gets home.” When the Dolphins showed their formation before the snap, Tagovailoa had three receivers on the right side. Tyreek Hill was the closest to the offensive line. Across from Hill was Reid, giving the impression that he would be the defender in man coverage. But just before the snap, Reid timed his blitz toward the A gap with McDuffie moving to cover Hill. Tagovailoa then made an ill-advised decision: He targeted Hill, who was double-covered, on a deep pass. Sneed broke up the pass in the end zone. GO DEEPER Inside the mind of Chiefs star Travis Kelce: ‘He’s always in his own zone’ Buffalo (2023 divisional round) The situation: Chiefs leading 27-24, fourth quarter, 13:38 left, second-and-2 from the Bills’ 33 The blitzer: linebacker Drue Tranquill Unsung hero: Reid Spagnuolo rarely blitzed Allen in this one, the Chiefs’ first road playoff game in the Patrick Mahomes era. The Bills were hoping to retake the lead when the Chiefs employed one of their best run blitzes. Before the snap, Reid moved forward, suggesting to the offensive line that he could blitz. Reid wanted the Bills to see that. The Bills responded by having their left tackle take responsibility for blocking Reid. The Bills, though, didn’t know that Tranquill, in the middle of the field, was going to blitz from the A gap. Unaccounted for, Tranquill tackled running back James Cook for a 3-yard loss. Two plays later, the Bills turned the ball over to the Chiefs on a failed fake punt. “The players have confidence in their (assistant) coaches and Spags,” Andy Reid said. “They want to learn the system, that’s a tough system. You have to really stay focused during the meetings, you have to detail it at practice, you have to detail the walkthroughs that you do. Then, most of all, you have to execute it on game day.” Baltimore (2023 AFC Championship Game) The situation: Chiefs leading 17-7, fourth quarter, 15:00 left, second-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 9 The blitzers: Tranquill, Bolton and Reid Unsung hero: Sneed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson made the right decision in the red zone when he noticed the Chiefs’ Cover 0 blitz: he identified that receiver Zay Flowers was open on a ****** route for an easy, short completion. “It goes back to Coach Spags just trusting us,” McDuffie said. “When you blitz, there’s some holes in the defense and some guys may be put in awkward situations.” Flowers made the reception in front of Sneed, who was trailing in coverage. But as Flowers sprinted toward the end zone, he dived, extending the ball toward the goal line. Sneed, with perfect timing, knocked the ball out of Flowers’ hands. The ball bounced into the end zone, where McDuffie recovered it. Sneed’s momentum-halting highlight dropped the Ravens’ win probability from 28.3 percent to 13.5 percent, according to Next Gen Stats. “I’m just thankful, man,” Sneed said. “I just punched the ball out. We practice that every week.” LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, L’JARIUS SNEED!!! pic.twitter.com/rHw8hcuUgG — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 28, 2024 San Francisco (2023 Super Bowl) The situation: Tied 16-16, fourth quarter, 2:00 left, third-and-5 from the Chiefs’ 35 The blitzers: McDuffie and safety Chamarri Conner Unsung hero: pass rusher Chris Jones Every Friday in practice, the Chiefs go through end-of-game scenarios — such as five seconds and the opposing offense has one timeout or 20 seconds left and is trying to get a few more yards to get into field goal range to win the game. “It may not come up that Sunday in the game, but it’s going to come up (maybe) three weeks down the road,” D’Alesio said. “We’re just always kind of prepared for that moment.” After the two-minute warning in last year’s Super Bowl, Spagnuolo called one of his favorite six-man blitzes. McDuffie, who lined up in the slot, appeared to be in a matchup with receiver Brandon Aiyuk before the ball was snapped. GO DEEPER Why the Chiefs love Steve Spagnuolo: Exotic blitzes, tough love and home cooking When quarterback Brock Purdy dropped his eyes to receive the shotgun snap, McDuffie sprinted toward him, his body directly in the passing lane where Purdy wanted to throw a short pass to Aiyuk, who ran a ****** route. McDuffie got a hand on the pass, which fell incomplete. Purdy couldn’t even try passing to tight end George Kittle, who lined up in the backfield, because Connor’s blitz forced Kittle to block in pass protection “Trent has a great feel and it’s so hard to coach,” D’Alesio said. “You try to coach people to time it up the right way, not giving it away too early or with your body language. Trent is just such a smooth guy. He has that feel.” On 3rd & 5 with two minutes left in regulation, the Chiefs defense came out with 7 defensive backs on the field. Trent McDuffie generated his 16th unblocked pressure of the season (including playoffs), five more than any other defensive back.#SuperBowlLVIII | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/dwwNJYG57O — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 12, 2024 The situation: Tied 19-19, overtime, 7:29 left, third-and-4 from the Chiefs’ 9 The blitzers: Bolton and Reid Unsung hero: Jones Coach Kyle Shanahan made an interesting decision when the 49ers won the coin toss before the start of overtime. He decided to have the 49ers take the ball first. The mission for the Chiefs defense was simple: Just don’t surrender a touchdown. For their final defensive play of the season, Spagnuolo broke his play-calling tendency: The Chiefs surprised Purdy with a Cover 0 blitz. Before the ball was snapped on third-and-5, Spagnuolo matched his best cornerbacks, McDuffie and Sneed, on Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ best receivers. Shanahan made a small concession: He had running back Christian McCaffrey motion from right to left across the formation before chip-blocking for Purdy. The secondary — including McDuffie, Conner and safety Mike Edwards — covered the 49ers’ skill-position players just long enough for Jones to get to Purdy, who threw an incompletion. After the play, two of the 49ers linemen argued as to which of them should’ve blocked Jones. “Usually, it’s dictated by what we’ve seen on tape protection-wise,” Spagnuolo said of his blitzes. “When I first got in this league, there weren’t that many (pass) protections — and you could kind of dictate it even better. Now offensive coaches do a good job of taking things away. “Sometimes you think they’re going to protect (the quarterback) a certain way and they don’t. When they do and you get a free runner (at the quarterback), that’s what we’re always looking for.” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is at his best in the most critical moments, and so is his defense. (David Eulitt / Getty Images) Houston (2024 divisional round) The situation: Chiefs leading 20-12, fourth quarter, 10:05 left, fourth-and-10 from the Chiefs’ 40 The blitzers: Bolton and rookie safety Jaden Hicks Unsung hero: Cook Protecting an eight-point lead, Spagnuolo anticipated that quarterback C.J. Stroud would need at least three seconds before throwing a pass to allow his receiver to get past the line to gain. He blitzed six defenders, which forced a tight end to block George Karlaftis one-on-one. Karlaftis won his matchup with ease and sacked Stroud. Stroud couldn’t even try a deep pass because Cook didn’t let any of the Texans’ receivers get behind him for a potential completion. “Everybody is a piece to a ******* puzzle and everybody has to work together for the puzzle to do what it needs to do,” Cook said. “Something that might seem small matters. If I’m in the post, even if I’m not getting action, (my coverage) still is vital for the (blitz). “Even though I’m not in the limelight, I never asked to be, too. I came here to play ball and get respect. The coaches appreciate that. That’s all I care about. I’m blessed and appreciative of what we have. I just do my job as best I can.” DEFENSE WOKE UP HUNGRY TODAY pic.twitter.com/JGw5bKEAHF — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 18, 2025 Buffalo (2024 AFC Championship Game) The situation: Chiefs leading 32-29, fourth quarter, 2:00 left, fourth-and-5 from the Bills’ 47 The blitzers: McDuffie and Reid Unsung heroes: Jones and Cook When he called his game-winning blitz, Spagnuolo knew it would leave an opening on the right side of the Chiefs’ coverage, the area McDuffie attacked from. Allen noticed the Chiefs’ blitz and looked to two receivers, each running a crossing route. But Cook was in the middle of the field, ready to break up a pass or make a tackle to stop the Bills from gaining a first down. “He gets us in the right position to win games,” Cook said. “He dials them up in critical situations. When the play comes into the huddle, we’re fully confident in what we can do.” McDuffie and Reid were able to generate immediate pressure on Allen because the offensive line was most concerned with blocking Jones, who lined up across the left tackle. “Honestly, whenever Coach Spags calls a blitz, I’m usually pretty confident, especially late in the game,” McDuffie said. “You never know what side (of the defense) the blitz is coming from. Guys may say, ‘They’re going to blitz,’ but you don’t know which way it’s coming. “I heard the O-lineman actually check the protection the other way. Right after that, I was like, ‘We got them.’ It was a good feeling.” Spags’ shining moment His disguised blitz call led to a 4th down stop @Chiefs fans will never forget#NFLTurningPoint on ESPN+ with @LRiddickESPN pic.twitter.com/Ja9tqmpPYW — NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 30, 2025 (Top photo of Trent McDuffie blitzing Brock Purdy in Super Bowl LVIII: Michael Reaves / Getty Images) Source link #Chiefs #top #postseason #blitzes #unleashed #Steve #Spagnuolo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Taylor Swift and the evolution of the NFL WAG – Axios Taylor Swift and the evolution of the NFL WAG – Axios Taylor Swift and the evolution of the NFL WAG AxiosChiefs’ star TE Travis Kelce undecided about returning for 2025 NFL season NFL.comWhat time is Super Bowl today? Eagles vs Chiefs TV channel, live stream info USA TODAYMiles Teller Says the Philadelphia Eagles Are ‘Going to Destroy’ the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl (Exclusive) PEOPLETaylor Swift at the Super Bowl 2025: Everything We Know Newsweek Source link #Taylor #Swift #evolution #NFL #WAG #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Belly **** more than doubles the risk for liver damage from alcohol, study finds Belly **** more than doubles the risk for liver damage from alcohol, study finds Drinking alcohol if you have a large belly or diabetes more than doubles the risk of serious liver damage, while having high blood pressure and drinking nearly doubles the risk, a new study found. That’s important news to consider this Super Bowl Sunday, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, who was not involved in the study. “People are going to do exactly what they shouldn’t do, and poison themselves during the Super Bowl,” Freeman said. “Particularly during big football games, people will eat things like hot dogs, sausage, bacon, pepperoni and ham — and these processed meats are in the same category as cigarettes for ******* risk. “When you’re eating all these highly processed, high ****, high sugar foods, insulin goes into overdrive, which creates insulin resistance, then excess blood sugar, and then fatty liver,” Freeman added. “Then if you’re drinking on top of it, it just amplifies the risk.” A waist measurement of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men, which is often associated with obesity, is one of several cardiometabolic risk factors that also include high blood sugar and elevated blood pressure. Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, more than 1 in 3 have pre-diabetes, while about 40% of the population is considered obese, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These health conditions contribute to a buildup of **** in the liver, experts say, which can then lead to fibrosis, or scarring of the liver. “Most people don’t realize this, but before one develops diabetes, for example, they typically first develop fatty liver,” Freeman said. “It has to do with sugar dysregulation — when you have high blood sugars, your liver is storing **** to get rid of some of that sugar, and it’s that excess **** that impairs liver function.” Separately, drinking damages liver cells trying to metabolize alcohol and can lead to additional **** buildup. The inflammation and scarring caused by excess **** may eventually lead to cirrhosis, which increases the risk of liver failure and liver *******. This double whammy of fatty deposits may be a reason behind the significant increase in liver scarring the study found among moderate to heavy drinkers with chronic conditions, said lead study author Dr. Brian Lee, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. “The results identify a very high-risk segment of the population prone to liver disease and suggest that preexisting health issues may have a large impact on how alcohol affects the liver,” Lee said in a statement. Just because a person may not have a big belly, high blood pressure or diabetes does not mean that it’s safe for people to heavily consume alcohol, Lee said. “We know that alcohol is toxic to the liver and all heavy drinkers are at risk for advanced liver disease,” Lee said. What is a ‘heavy’ drinker? The study, published recently in the journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national government survey of nearly 41,000 people. Of those, over 2,200 were categorized as “heavy” drinkers. In the study, women who drank more than 0.7 ounces (20 grams) or more a day and men who drank 1.05 ounces (30 grams) or more a day were defined as heavy drinkers. .However, that amount of alcohol is typically considered to be “moderate” drinking, according to the CDC. A standard drink in the United States is defined as 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure liquor. That’s equivalent to 5 ounces of wine with 12% alcohol, a 12-ounce can of beer that is 5% alcohol or 1.5 ounces (one shot) of liquor (80 proof) or distilled spirts. Most people don’t realize they are pouring drinks that far exceed those standards, experts say. “If you look at what people drink with dinner or as a *********, they’re filling up their glass with three or four ounces,” Freeman said. “If a restaurant came out and poured you five ounces of wine, you’d complain that they didn’t fill your glass. People are probably drinking much more than they realize.” An alarming number of new studies are finding that any amount of alcohol is dangerous to health. In January, then-US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a strongly worded advisory about the link between alcohol and *******. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of ******* responsible for about 100,000 cases of ******* and 20,000 ******* deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic ****** fatalities per year in the US – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” Murthy said. However, only 45% of Americans surveyed by the American Institute for ******* Research in 2019 said they believed that drinking alcohol causes *******, the new advisory notes. How to cut back on alcohol One easy way is to substitute mocktails for alcohol, especially in a social setting where you want to feel part of the party. Some mocktails rely on manufactured non-alcoholic spirits, botanicals and bitters but others are simple mixtures of fruit juice, soda, and syrup, experts say. If you find mocktails don’t satisfy your urges for alcohol, experts suggest using the SMART method to set attainable goals. The acronym stands for: 1. Specific: Set an achievable goal, such as cutting back on drinking three days a week. You can add days until you reach your final goal. 2. Measurable: How many drinks will you cut — and are you watching the size of your drink? 3. Achievable: Reduce the number of social engagements where alcohol is likely to be served during your move toward becoming alcohol free. 4. Relevant: Ask yourself how not drinking will help you with with life and health. 5. Time based: Set a reasonable time frame to reduce alcohol consumption. “If you set a bar too high, you may fail, so it’s better to set smaller goals to achieve it,” Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist based in New York City, told CNN in a prior interview. To start, Hafeez noted, it’s good to be aware of what you’re already doing: “Nothing starts without an honest conversation with yourself.” CNN’s Ben Tinker, Meg Tirrell and Brenda Goodman contributed to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Belly #**** #doubles #risk #liver #damage #alcohol #study #finds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tory shadow minister downplays talk of Reform pact Tory shadow minister downplays talk of Reform pact Joshua Nevett Political reporter Watch: Could the Tories do a deal with Reform? Conservative shadow minister Alex Burghart has said there is “not a conversation to be had” about suggestions of an electoral pact with Reform ***. Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Burghart was asked whether he could see a pact happening, given some Conservative figures had proposed one in recent days. Burghart said the Tories were “not going to do a deal with a party who wants to kill us”, but did not definitively rule it out when pressed on the subject by Kuenssberg. A Reform *** spokesperson said there were no circumstances in which the party would do a pact with the Conservatives. The rebranded Brexit Party came third in last year’s general election, winning 14% of the vote and five MPs, including party leader Nigel Farage. Last week, Reform *** topped a YouGov opinion poll for the first time, edging in front of Labour on 24% and the Tories on 21%. An electoral pact is usually a deal between two or more parties to avoid splitting the vote and maximise their candidates’ chances. In 2019, the Brexit Party stood down many candidates ahead of that year’s general election, which resulted in a Conservative landslide and Boris Johnson becoming prime minister. Burghart, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said he believed his party could win the next general election under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership He told the BBC: “Reform’s stated ambition is to destroy the Conservative Party. “That’s a pretty difficult first date. If somebody says they’re out to destroy you, do you start thinking about marriage. “Whilst reform is talking about completely killing us, I don’t think there’s a conversation to be had here.” Speaking to the Express, Conservative peer Lord Craig Mackinlay and and former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg supported the idea of an electoral pact with Reform ***. And Conservative MP and former minister Esther McVey told the TaxPayers’ Alliance’s podcast this week she could support an electoral pact with Reform ***. She claimed Labour won the last general election “because basically the two parties on the right didn’t come to some sort of agreement”. “So I think electoral pact, maybe,” she said. When asked if he would rule out a Tory-Reform *** electoral pact, Burghart said: “I want the Conservative Party to get a majority at the next election. “We’re not going to do a deal with a party who wants to kill us.” Burghart also rejected the suggestion the Conservatives had been pushed into making a policy announcement on immigration by the party led by Farage, who has said he wanted to see a “freeze” on non-essential immigration. This week, the Conservatives unveiled plans to bar migrants who claim benefits from settling indefinitely in the ***, and make it more difficult to get British citizenship. Burghart said the focus was not Reform ***, but trying to insert the policy into Labour’s draft immigration law when it returns to Parliament. “Of course we take the challenge from Reform very seriously,” Burghart said. “But it’s very important that we hold this failing government to account on the mistakes it is making.” A Reform *** spokesperson said: “Reform intends to win the next election, repair the damage caused by Johnson, the Tories and Labour. “We will then return Britain to greatness.” Source link #Tory #shadow #minister #downplays #talk #Reform #pact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Gaza ceasefire averted famine but threat remains: UN Gaza ceasefire averted famine but threat remains: UN Famine has been mostly averted in Gaza as a surge of aid enters the territory during a fragile ceasefire, but the United Nations humanitarian chief warns the threat could return quickly if the truce collapses. Tom Fletcher spoke exclusively to The Associated Press after a two-day visit to Gaza, where hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived each day since the ceasefire began on January 19. “The threat of famine, I think, is largely averted,” Fletcher said in Cairo. “Those starvation levels are down from where they were before the ceasefire.” He spoke as concerns grow over whether the ceasefire can be extended and talks are meant to begin on its more difficult second phase. The six-week first phase is halfway through. As part of the agreement, Israel said it would allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day, a major increase after months of aid officials expressing frustration about delays and insecurity hampering both the entry and distribution of food, medicines and other badly needed items. The UN humanitarian office has said more than 12,600 aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. Fletcher urged both ******, which quickly reasserted its control of the territory in the hours after the ceasefire took effect and Israel to stick to the deal that has “saved so many lives.” “The conditions are still terrible, and people are still hungry,” he said. “If the ceasefire falls, if the ceasefire breaks, then very quickly those (famine-like) conditions will come back again.” The internationally recognised mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. For months before the current ceasefire, food security monitors, UN officials and others had been warning of possible famine in parts of devastated Gaza, especially the north, which had been largely isolated since the earliest weeks of the 16-month war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been able to return to the north under the ceasefire. “We can’t … sit by and just allow these people to starve to death,” Cindy McCain, the American head of the UN World Food Program, told CBS in December. The Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more aid deliveries and warned that failing to do so could trigger US restrictions on military support. Fletcher said more food and medical supplies are crucially needed for the territory of more than two million people, most of them displaced, and he expressed concerns about disease outbreaks due to the lack of basic health supplies. He also called for scaling up the delivery of tents and other shelters to those who have returned to their home areas, as winter continues. “We must get tens of thousands of tents very rapidly in, so that people who are moving back, particularly moving back into the north, are able to take shelter from those conditions,” he said. Fletcher entered the ************ territory through the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, where he said he drove through “bombed-out, flattened and pulverised” areas. He said he saw people trying to find where their homes had been and collecting the bodies of loved ones from the rubble. He saw dogs looking for corpses in the rubble, too. “It is a horror movie. It’s a horror show,” he said. “It breaks your heart again and again and again. You drive for miles and miles and miles, and this is all you see.” Fletcher acknowledged that some Palestinians have been angry at the international community over the war and its response. “There was despair and anger. And I can understand the anger at the world that this has happened to them,” he said. “But there was also a sense of defiance as well. People were saying, ‘We will go back to our homes. We will go back to the places that we have lived for generations, and we will rebuild.’ “ Source link #Gaza #ceasefire #averted #famine #threat #remains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Arizona to its drivers: We’d rather you just break the law Arizona to its drivers: We’d rather you just break the law Arizona Rep. Teresa Martinez espouses House Bill 2235, which would impose a $500 fine for driving at or below the speed limit in the left lane. This proposed bill is similar to California’s “impeding traffic” law: “No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.” Arizona has posted speed limits on all of its freeways and city streets. However, those upper speed limits are rarely enforced by Arizona state troopers or local city police. Why not? This proposed bill is ludicrous because it makes slower drivers, who may be traveling at the posted legal speed limit, to move to the right, so those drivers who want to break the law may go faster. This smacks of a “damned if I do” and “damned if I don’t” mentality regarding compliance with the law. It might be more prudent and profitable for troopers to pull over speeders rather than those obeying the speed limits in the left lane. It also might enhance public safety when the word gets around that speeders will be cited. ​​G. Scott Goins, Chandler Speed limit drivers are a hazard The left lane on most roadways has become the “slow lane.” Why this has happened is a bit of a mystery, but I have theories. Why are some drivers intentionally staying at or below the posted limit? I believe much of this is due to auto insurance rate plans that monitor a vehicle’s speed with the understanding that traveling above the posted limit comes with a penalty, in the form of higher premiums. I believe it’s actually safer for all vehicles on a roadway to be traveling at roughly the same speed, which is usually around 10 mph above the posted limit. So, one vehicle traveling 10 mph slower than everyone else not only stands out, but creates potential hazards as other drivers try to go around. But why do the slower drivers so often seek out the “fast lane?” My theory for this is the growing political trend of knowing what’s best for everyone else and trying to force them to comply. Greg Groh, Peoria Isaac’s school board must resign It’s heartbreaking to see what is happening in Isaac Elementary School District. This shouldn’t have been a surprise. As a former three-term member of their neighboring school district to the north, I was briefed regularly by district budget officials, spending my own time poring over Excel sheets and state audits so I could ensure that money was being spent wisely, with an eye toward protecting our precious community resources. This mess tells me that this current Isaac board is not doing their job. It shows that they have failed their community, their staff, Arizona taxpayers, and worst — the children of their district. More letters: Jail those who help the homeless? That’s just sick The superintendent had the integrity, or at least enough sense, to resign. It’s time to lose the school board, too. Every day they continue to serve means another day that their failure is protected, and Isaac students will be at risk. Adam Lopez Falk, Phoenix Our whole country is a ‘land grab’ Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen has the gall to call a new, designated national monument near the Grand Canyon an “unconstitutional land grab” when this whole country is nothing but land stolen from the Native people who already lived here? All so that uranium can be mined there. Which will, of course, contaminate the land and water of the Havasupai people. But I guess that because we are no longer allowed to teach the truth in our schools, Mr. Petersen must have missed that part of the lesson. Elena Samfilippo, Scottsdale Change how you see blindness As a person living with blindness, I have encountered thousands of microaggressions over the years. Some left a lasting impression, fueling my passion to change the perception of blindness. The first blow came on the day I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, when my retinal specialist said, “So, your dream job is to be in law enforcement — better find a new career.” I dropped out of college and flailed for years, bouncing from job to job, struggling to find my place. But over the last 20 years, I’ve also had the opportunity to develop a vast network, manage multiple business units, meet with elected officials and build a reputation as a bulldog. This is only possible because Arizona Industries for the Blind looked past the blindness, saw my leadership potential and provided the necessary tools for success. For doctors, employers or anyone else who perpetuates the belief that people with disabilities are less capable of performing at the highest level, my 39,000 peers working in the AbilityOne Program and I are here to prove you wrong. As we say around here, who really has lack of vision? David Steinmetz, Phoenix This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona should ticket speeders, not give them a pass | Letters Source link #Arizona #drivers #Wed #break #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** says Israeli military withdraws from Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor ****** says Israeli military withdraws from Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor Military vehicles operate in North Gaza, amid a ceasefire between Israel and ******, as seen from Israel on Feb. 9, 2025. Amir Cohen | Reuters The Israeli military has withdrawn from an area of Gaza known as the Netzarim corridor that bisects the enclave, ****** said on Sunday, a move that was expected under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the ************ militant group. An Israeli security source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the Israeli military was withdrawing from its positions in central Gaza. Israeli forces had already reduced their presence there. ****** celebrated the withdrawal as a victory and the ******-run police force deployed to the area to manage the flow Palestinians crossing through. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Reuters footage showed what appeared to be Israeli military vehicles moving away from the coast and towards the Israeli border. Since the early months of the war Israeli forces had occupied the roughly 4 mile-long (6km) corridor south of Gaza City that stretches from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. The corridor cut off Gaza’s northern communities, including its largest metropolitan area, from the south. Thousands of Palestinians have streamed through the corridor in recent weeks, returning to their homes in the north from southern Gaza where they had sought shelter from the war. Some who crossed over have described their shock after seeing the destruction of communities and discovering what they said were human remains in areas where Israeli forces had withdrawn. Much of northern Gaza has become a wasteland following Israel’s devastating campaign. After finding their homes destroyed, some Gazans have gone back to the south, while others have set up tents where their homes once stood. Belongings are scattered on the ground after Israeli forces withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor, amid a ceasefire between Israel and ******, near Gaza City, on Feb. 9, 2025. Dawoud Abu Alkas | Reuters Former American soldiers employed as private contractors have been deployed to inspect vehicles passing through the corridor in recent weeks following the ceasefire agreement that was implemented on Jan. 19 after more than 15 months of war. Crowds of people were seen traversing the corridor on Sunday as ****** announced the Israeli military had withdrawn, while a long line of cars waited to pass through. ****** military and police forces have increased their public presence since January’s ceasefire, in what analysts say is an intentional message that the group has not been defeated. Israel vowed to destroy ****** for its October 2023 attack in which 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. More than 48,000 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory assault, according to ************ health authorities, who say most of the dead are women and children. Ceasefire talks Indirect negotiations between Israel and ****** on the next stage of the ceasefire agreement that began on Jan. 19 are expected to soon start following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States last week. Washington has backed the negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt and the ceasefire deal has largely held since it started. However, Gazan medics said that four Palestinians, including an elderly woman, had been killed by Israeli gunfire in two separate incidents on Sunday near Khan Yunis and in Gaza City. The Israeli military said soldiers had fired warning shots at “several suspects” and that “several hits were identified,” when asked about the Gaza City incident where medics said three Palestinians had been killed and five wounded. The military was not aware of the incident where the woman was allegedly killed. In Qatar, ceasefire talks on the second stage of the phased deal are expected to start as soon as this week. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprise call for Palestinians to be displaced from Gaza and for the enclave to come under the ownership of the U.S., which would rebuild it. U.S. officials have since walked back some of Trump’s remarks, saying Palestinians could return to Gaza once it was cleared of unexploded ordnance and rebuilt. Still, Trump’s plan was widely panned with some critics saying it amounted to “ethnic cleansing”. Source link #****** #Israeli #military #withdraws #Gazas #Netzarim #Corridor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Second Term Requires a New Playbook for Equity Investors – Yahoo Finance Trump’s Second Term Requires a New Playbook for Equity Investors – Yahoo Finance Trump’s Second Term Requires a New Playbook for Equity Investors Yahoo FinanceView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Trumps #Term #Requires #Playbook #Equity #Investors #Yahoo #Finance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Argon One V5 Review: Not so sci-fi any more Argon One V5 Review: Not so sci-fi any more Argon 40 has a history of designing eye-catching cases for the Raspberry Pi. The Argon range has always reminded me of a prop from The Expanse (yes, I mention that show far too often). With cool aluminum and space grey colors merged with sci-fi design. But for its latest case, the Argon One V5, we get a ****** case, heck it reminded me of a VHS cassette, a futuristic cassette I add. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Argon One V5 comes as case only, for $35. Or you can get the case with a single M.2 NVMe breakout board for $48. Our review unit was based on this configuration, along with a $25 Argon Dataterm M.2 NVMe SSD and a $10 Argon One V5 Industria OLED module. So our review unit stands us at $83 all in. You will have noticed that I said “single M.2 NVMe breakout” this signifies that there is a dual version. We’ve not got that for review, but I have asked for a unit. Typically we need a PCIe packet switcher like the ASM1182e used in Pimoroni’s NVMe Base Duo. But this uses PCIe Gen 2 speeds, so we lose the benefit of PCIe Gen 3 in favor of more storage. I hope to provide an update on this in due course. So without further ado, let’s put the Argon One V5 on the bench and decide what sci-fi franchise it belongs to, oh and how it performs. Argon One V5 Technical Specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Case Cast aluminum Cooling Cast aluminum heatsink and 30mm PWM fan Ports Dual HDMI, 2 x Rear USB 2.0 via Pi, 2 x USB 3.0 via Pi, 2 x Front facing USB 2.0 ports, 3.5mm audio jack with DAC GPIO / Connectors Full access to GPIO, UART and RTC via JST, Camera (CSI) and Display (DSI) ports. Optional OLED display via GPIO Optional ZigBee header Optional M.2 PCIe Gen 3 board for NVMe SSD Dimensions 160 x 95 x 30mm Argon One V5 Design and Assembly Image 1 of 9 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Largely made from cast aluminum, the matte ****** case is a fingerprint magnet, but it feels solid and the rounded corners give it a “soft” look. At the front, we have two USB 2.0 ports (broken out from the Raspberry Pi 5’s USB Type C port) and an audio port. Next to that is the power button, a plastic nub that presses the Pi 5’s own power button. Lastly we have a cut out for the Pi 5’s micro SD card slot. This can be covered up with the included plastic cover. The entire base of the case is made from plastic, and features cutouts for air intake. Around the left and right side of the case we have air intakes, feeding air to the 30mm fan housed inside the case. Around the back is where all the ports are located. We have the full complement of Raspberry Pi 5 USB and Ethernet ports, two full size HDMI ports and a single USB Type C port used to power the setup. The keen eyed will spot two plastic domes on the left rear of the case. These are for external antennas, but not for Wi-Fi. Instead they are for an optional $25 Argon Industria V5 ZigBee module, used for home automation projects. Yeah, I didn’t see that coming! Image 1 of 10 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The top of the case is made from aluminum and sees a plastic logo in the bottom left corner. This can be replaced for the optional OLED display, which is what I did for this review. The OLED is a simple I2C breakout screen, used to display CPU, temperature, disk usage, IP address and of course, the date and time. But this screen has two buttons behind it. Pressing the screen will navigate the data displayed on the OLED. The OLED screen connects to the first eight (2×4) GPIO pins on the Raspberry Pi and this means that it certainly used I2C for communication. It also means that full GPIO access, for the best HATs and add-ons, is not available. You’ll need to remove the OLED screen in order to use a HAT. PersonallyI would use a GPIO header extension to raise the GPIO a little higher than the case. Some M2.5 standoffs would also add stability. Under the magnetically and ****** secured lid, is where we find the heart of the case’s cooling solution. To the right is an Argon Forty branded 30mm PWM fan (controllable via a custom config app) which blows air over a wave styled heatsink. This is similar to the Argon Neo 5 case; in fact I can see the design cues between the two. This section of cast aluminum has cutouts for fan and NVMe power, the full GPIO, UART, RTC, the camera and display ports and PCIe. Access to the camera and display ports is possible, but you will need the included plastic spudger to lift the plastic locks on the connectors. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Building everything was a cinch, because I followed the simple and clear instructions (for a change). The first step was to add the included thermal pads to the SoC, PMIC, RP1 and RAM. These make direct contact to the aluminum chassis and then we connect the combined USB 2, HDMI and audio board to the USB C and HDMI ports on the Raspberry Pi 5. Take care inserting, as the PCB is thin, but you also need to ensure the connections are solid. Mine wasn’t, and it caused a little head scratching as I traced why the front USB ports weren’t working. After securing the Pi 5 and the add-on board using the included screws, I then moved my attention to the Argon Dataterm NVMe SSD. Secured in the M.2 NVMe breakout board, the SSD connects to the bottom of the case using a thermal pad. A portion of the plastic case has an aluminum section used to keep the SSD cool. Note that you really need to ensure that the drive is securely fitted before closing the case. Even 1mm is enough to break the connections. Ask me how I know! After securing the case, I booted Raspberry Pi OS from the 128GB NVMe. I flashed the OS image using my Windows 10 PC, and using a bootloader utility firmware image found in Raspberry Pi Imager, I set the firmware to boot from NVMe. Overall, from pressing power to the desktop, the OS booted in 15.64 seconds. Argon One V5 Software Being an Argon 40 product, it has supporting software in the form of a terminal based application (made with Bash and Python) to control the fan speed and temperature trigger points, OLED output, system information and a tool to configure an optional Argon Industria UPS which is mentioned in the manual but there are no prices on the Argon 40 website. We have to assume that this is a battery backup for the Argon One V5. Installing the application requires us to use a Bash one liner. This downloads the install script and then pipes the script into a new Bash session to run. This isn’t ideal for a production environment, and I would urge you to read the contents of the file before running. In this case it is safe. The script handles all of the software installation, enabling the OLED display and showing data such as CPU temperature, disk and RAM usage, IP address and the all important date and time. One last step before you can consider the install complete is to add a line to /boot/firmware/config.txt to enable the front USB 2.0 ports and audio jack. Reboot and you are good to go! Cooling Performance of the Argon One V5 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) A huge slab of aluminum and a whisper quiet 30mm PWM fan will keep the Raspberry Pi 5 cool even under a heavy load. Idling at around 35.1 degrees Celsius, the aluminum chassis is keeping everything cool. Under stress, the top temperature was 54.3C, just under the 55C trigger point which kicks in the fan at 30%. If we did manage to get to 60C, the fan would ramp up to 55%, 65C would see the fan run at full power. The trigger temperatures can be configured to suit your requirements. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) At idle, the power draw was only 3.5 Watts, it did more than double to 7.86W when under stress. That’s understandable when all of the CPU cores are running. The thermal performance of the Argon One V5 is comparable to that of the 52Pi Ice Tower Plus Cooler but without the “hot rod” looks. I am confident that it will also cool an overclocked Raspberry Pi 5. This is a great cooler for your Raspberry Pi 5, and it keeps your desk clear. Argon One V5 GPIO and Connector Access Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Yes you have access to the GPIO, but unlike the earlier Argon One cases, the one is buried in the case. For use with jumper wires, you are good to go. For your favorite HAT, you will need to eschew from using the OLED screen, but a header extension and some M2.5 standoffs. Why? Well firstly you need extra height for the HAT to sit clear of the heatsink. Yes a board confirming to the HAT standard will just clear the chassis without a header extension, but it will be tight. Smaller pHAT (mini HATs) will work, but you will have to move the PCIe cable and that risks damage, so use the same extension header for the pins. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Camera and display port access is way better than the older Argon One cases (did I mention they look like a prop from The Expanse?) and it is clear that Argon 40 has learnt its lesson. That said, you need fingernails or the included spudger to lift and lock your FFC cables into place, just be careful! Argon One V5 Wi-Fi Performance When wrapping an SBC with a PCB antenna inside an aluminum chassis, we know that Wi-Fi performance is going to suffer. And yes, it does. My test setup sees me on the upper floor of the house, and the Wi-Fi router being on the ground floor. Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 – Cell 0 Wi-Fi Bandwidth (Mbits/sec) Row 0 – Cell 2 No Case 52.1 Row 1 – Cell 2 Argon One V5 Case 13.2 Row 2 – Cell 2 A Raspberry Pi 5 without a case achieves 52.1 Mbits per second. The Pi 5 inside the Argon One V5 manages just 13.2 Mbits per second. Just under a quarter of the bandwidth that the no case Pi 5 saw. We’re losing 75% of the signal due to the case. With that in mind, you’ll be reaching for Ethernet, or moving your office nearer to the Wi-Fi. Who is the Argon One V5 for? Take a good look at the case; this is an Arm desktop PC setup that just happens to use a Raspberry Pi 5. If you want a Raspberry Pi for your lab / workshop / hackspace / garage then this case will do you proud, and keep it cool and safe. For general hacks and projects, it’s a bit overkill. Bottom Line (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) I’ve got a soft spot for Argon 40’s cases. The Expanse jokes aside, Argon 40 makes good cases that will keep your Pi 5 cool and safe. The Argon One V5 is expensive, compounded by the additional OLED screen. But if you want a solid case with NVMe storage, this is a contender. But, the cheaper, and more “maker friendly” $38 Argon Neo 5 M.2 NVMe case gives you NVMe support, and better access to the GPIO. The downside to that case being camera and display port access is tricky. The price difference between the two is only $10, and the Argon One V5 provides additional USB 2.0 ports and the intriguing option to add ZigBee one day. The Argon One V5 is the case to buy if you want to build an Arm PC for your space, living room or office. Being a maker, I would gravitate towards the Neo 5 instead. But, I can appreciate that the Argon One V5 is a pleasing design and it cools damn well! The $48 price tag is right. You don’t really need the OLED display, and many of us have a plethora of NVMe drives in our bits box, so that saves a bit of cash. Source link #Argon #Review #scifi Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi was unaware wife and daughters killed by ****** Freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi was unaware wife and daughters killed by ****** Fiona Lamdin Social affairs correspondent Leigh Boobyer BBC News, Bristol EPA Eli Sharabi was freed by ****** on Saturday An Israeli hostage freed from Gaza did not know his wife and daughters were killed in the 7 October attack until after his release on Saturday, his British family said. Eli Sharabi was taken by ****** 16 months ago and released on Saturday in Deir al-Balah, in Gaza. His wife Lianne Sharabi, who was from Bristol, and daughters Noiya and Yahel were found murdered in their safe house “cuddled together” in 2023. Lianne’s parents Gill and Pete Brisley told the BBC on Sunday that an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldier told Mr Sharabi what happened to his family. His relatives had been unsure whether Mr Sharabi knew that Lianne, Noiya and Yahel were killed in the 7 October attack. He was one of three hostages handed to the Red Cross by ****** in a choreographed release on Saturday. Speaking on stage during his release, Mr Sharabi said he was “very happy today to return to… my wife and daughters”, adding to concerns that he was unaware of what happened to them. Mr and Mrs Brisley said Mr Sharabi was “lucid” and his “voice a bit husky” when they spoke later on a video call. Pete and Gill Brisley are due to travel to see Eli Sharabi soon “He got choked up a couple of times but managed a small smile for us. Such a brave man,” said the couple who are due to fly out to see him soon. Mr and Mrs Brisley, who live in Bridgend, south Wales, said they cried watching their son-in-law’s release on a livestream. They said Mr Sharabi’s face looked “gaunt”. Three Israeli hostages handed to Red Cross in Deir al-Balah Mr Brisley said it left them “a bit wobbly” and it was a “very emotional morning”. He said: “When we saw Eli it was to see the emaciated state that they’ve put him in. “Eli’s got quite a chubby face normally. You see the film of him with hollow eyes, sunken cheeks and his wrists were sticks.” Mrs Brisley said: “Seeing Eli come out now, it brought everything back. [We] sat and bawled our eyes out. “I was sitting there cuddling Lianne’s teddy bear. I think I made him wet actually. It reminded us of what we lost.” British-Israeli Lianne (centre), Noiya (right) and Yahel (left) were killed in the 7 October attack “The only thing that keeps us going is the fact we know Eli is back. At least there’s one member of our very close family that is still alive,” Mrs Brisley said. “[We’re] grateful to him for our two beautiful granddaughters, didn’t have them for long enough. We need now to concentrate on all of the happy times. “So we live in our memories, that’s all we can do. Think about them, talk about them, and make sure nobody forgets them.” Mr Brisley said: “We hope to be a part of getting him back to some sort of normal.” Lianne grew up in Staple Hill, on the outskirts of Bristol, and first moved to Israel as a volunteer on a kibbutz when she was 19, before relocating to the country permanently. After just three months in Israel, she met Eli. They had two daughters, Noiya and Yahel, who were 16 and 13 when they were killed. One of Eli’s brothers, Yossi, was also taken hostage on 7 October, but was later killed in captivity. ****** said his death was the result of an Israeli airstrike, which Israel said was likely. The release of the three hostages comes under the ceasefire deal between ****** and Israel, which came into effect on 19 January. Israel released 183 ************ prisoners on Saturday. The ceasefire deal will see a total of 33 hostages taken on 7 October released in weekly hand-overs in exchange for 1,900 Palestinians in Israeli prisons. So far, 21 hostages have been freed and 566 prisoners have been released since the ceasefire began. On 7 October ****** seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked Israel, triggering the war. At least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s ******-run health ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel’s attacks, the UN says. Source link #Freed #Israeli #hostage #Eli #Sharabi #unaware #wife #daughters #killed #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The 2025 renter’s market won’t last economists say The 2025 renter’s market won’t last economists say Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images Renters should reap the benefits of a lower-cost rental market while they can. It might not last, experts say. As of December, the median asking rent price in the U.S. was $1,695, down 0.5% — or $8 — from November, according to a report by Realtor.com. The latest rent price is 1.1% lower — or $18 — from a year before, and down 3.7% from peak highs in July 2022. Rent prices have come down because newly built apartments are increasing the supply of units available. With more inventory, some property managers must consider lowering their asking prices to attract tenants. “We’re calling it a renter’s market. We think that’s going to continue for the next year,” Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, recently told CNBC. Read more from Personal Finance: Tariffs are coming: How secondhand shopping is an option ‘Where’s my refund?’ How to check the status of your federal tax refund What the ‘mother of all trade wars’ can teach us about U.S. tariffs But this renter-friendly market is not forever. With construction activity of multifamily housing slowing down, the renter’s market might fizzle out after this year, experts say. “This construction ***** is probably going to be over and rents will probably start going up again,” Fairweather said. What’s slowing down supply “We’re seeing multifamily construction permitting slowing a bit,” said Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com. There are several reasons behind this. With rent prices coming down, it’s not “economically viable,” or profitable, at the moment to build multifamily housing, Berner said. There’s also a level of uncertainty about the current administration’s policies around tariffs and deportations, he said. This week, President Donald Trump imposed broad tariffs on imports from China. He paused the implementation of 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for at least 30 days. In part due to such policy changes, costs are increasing for builders, Berner said. Tariffs on lumber and other materials make prices go up while mass deportation plans are making the labor force “smaller and more expensive,” he said. Nearly a third, or 31%, of construction tradesmen in the U.S. in 2022 were immigrants, according to the National Association of Home Builders, which analyzed 2022 Census data. “Anything that threatens to disrupt the flow of immigrant labor will send shock waves to the labor market in home construction,” Jim Tobin, president and CEO of the NAHB, previously told CNBC. 3 key moves for renters If you’re in the rental market right now or plan to start looking this year, here are key steps you can take to maximize affordability while it’s still a renter’s market: 1. Ask for a multiyear lease to secure a lower cost If you’re in an area where prices have been coming down, you could tell your landlord or property manager you’re interested in signing a multiyear lease if they reduce the rent price, Berner said. In such negotiations, it can be helpful to have something to offer in return, like being flexible on the length of the lease, or paying a larger security deposit, he said. Tenant turnover can be expensive for landlords, especially if the property sits unoccupied for a few months. 2. If you plan to buy a home, start saving now “If you’re a renter who intends to become a homeowner, this is a good time to save on rent,” Berner said — and then bank the difference for your down payment. Builders are expected to pivot their priorities and build more homes in the for-***** market this year. Single-family housing starts are forecast to increase by 13.8% in 2025, totaling 1.1 million new homes, according to Realtor.com data. Many renters struggle to build wealth in the U.S., and financial obstacles like high rent can keep would-be buyers from coming up with enough money for a down payment. If you manage to lower your monthly rent costs, “stash away some cash for a down payment,” Berner said. “The larger your down payment can be, the better.” 3. Keep tabs on affordable markets elsewhere It can be tempting to look at more affordable housing markets as ideal places to move to, but experts don’t recommend uprooting your life and career just because rent prices are falling in one metro versus another. On the other hand, if you’re looking to move at some point, it can be helpful to stay updated on where affordability is improving the most. For example, Austin, Texas, is the top metro among Redfin’s “most affordable metros,” or places where renters typically earn more money than they need in order to afford the typical rental unit. The typical renter in the area makes $69,781 annually, which is 25.14% higher than the $55,760 the site estimates is required to afford a typical apartment there, Redfin found. “Pay attention to how things are changing market to market and where you know you can make your money go the furthest,” Berner said. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #renters #market #wont #economists Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

UN humanitarian chief says Gaza ceasefire has averted famine but any truce collapse brings danger UN humanitarian chief says Gaza ceasefire has averted famine but any truce collapse brings danger CAIRO (AP) — Famine has been mostly averted in Gaza as a surge of aid enters the territory during a fragile ceasefire, the United Nations humanitarian chief said Sunday. But he warned the threat could return quickly if the truce collapses. Tom Fletcher spoke exclusively to The Associated Press after a two-day visit to Gaza, where hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived each day since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19. “The threat of famine, I think, is largely averted,” Fletcher said in Cairo. “Those starvation levels are down from where they were before the ceasefire.” 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. He spoke as concerns grow over whether the ceasefire can be extended and talks are meant to begin on its more difficult second phase. The six-week first phase is halfway through. As part of the agreement, Israel said it would allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza each day, a major increase after months of aid officials expressing frustration about delays and insecurity hampering both the entry and distribution of food, medicines and other badly needed items. The U.N. humanitarian office has said more than 12,600 aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. Fletcher urged both ******, which quickly reasserted its control of the territory in the hours after the ceasefire took effect, and Israel to stick to the deal that has “saved so many lives.” “The conditions are still terrible, and people are still hungry,” he said. “If the ceasefire falls, if the ceasefire breaks, then very quickly those (famine-like) conditions will come back again.” The internationally recognized mortality threshold for famine is two or more deaths a day per 10,000 people. For months before the current ceasefire, food security monitors, U.N. officials and others had been warning of possible famine in parts of devastated Gaza, especially the north, which had been largely isolated since the earliest weeks of the 16-month war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been able to return to the north under the ceasefire. “We can’t … sit by and just allow these people to starve to death,” Cindy McCain, the American head of the U.N. World Food Program, told CBS in December. The Biden administration repeatedly urged Israel to allow more aid deliveries and warned that failing to do so could trigger U.S. restrictions on military support. Fletcher said more food and medical supplies are crucially needed for the territory of more than 2 million people, most of them displaced, and he expressed concerns about disease outbreaks due to the lack of basic health supplies. He also called for scaling up the delivery of tents and other shelters to those who have returned to their home areas, as winter continues. “We must get tens of thousands of tents very rapidly in, so that people who are moving back, particularly moving back into the north, are able to take shelter from those conditions,” he said. Fletcher entered the ************ territory through the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, where he said he drove through “bombed-out, flattened and pulverized” areas. “You can’t see the difference between a school or a hospital or a home,” he said of the north. He said he saw people trying to find where their homes had been and collecting the bodies of loved ones from the rubble. He saw dogs looking for corpses in the rubble, too. “It is a horror movie. It’s a horror show,” he said. “It breaks your heart again and again and again. You drive for miles and miles and miles, and this is all you see.” Fletcher acknowledged that some Palestinians have been angry at the international community over the war and its response. “There was despair and anger. And I can understand the anger at the world that this has happened to them,” he said. “But there was also a sense of defiance as well. People were saying, ‘We will go back to our homes. We will go back to the places that we have lived for generations, and we will rebuild.’” ___ Follow AP’s war coverage at Source link #humanitarian #chief #Gaza #ceasefire #averted #famine #truce #collapse #brings #danger Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

RTX 4090 liquid cooled with 12,000 BTU air conditioner, RTX 5090 up next — GPU runs at 20C RTX 4090 liquid cooled with 12,000 BTU air conditioner, RTX 5090 up next — GPU runs at 20C A ******** techtuber has designed a liquid-cooled PC system that hooks up to a household air conditioner unit instead of a PC-mounted radiator. The video creator, oddly named ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ (ESC), showcases a rather normal-looking PC tower – but next to it, there is a 12,000 BTU air conditioning unit to supercharge cooling. The result is that the GPU runs at just 20 degrees Celsius under stress testing. This project is ready to be the “perfect companion” (machine translation) for an upcoming Core i9-14900K with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 system, says ESC. However, as they are still waiting for a water block release for their graphics card these first tests have been completed using a Core i9-13900K PC system fitted with an RTX 4090. This isn’t ESC’s first work in integrating powerful household air conditioning units with personal computer systems. The video host shows an established ‘whole house’ liquid cooling system that appears to have five loops available for PCs. We have pictures of the inside and outside parts of this cooling setup in the gallery. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ on Bilibili) (Image credit: ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ on Bilibili) (Image credit: ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ on Bilibili) (Image credit: ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ on Bilibili) (Image credit: ‘Electrolytic sodium carbonate’ on Bilibili) Next up, the ESC video host talks about the increased TDP of the RTX 5090, which moves the power needle a not insignificant amount beyond the expected load of an RTX 4090. We are then introduced to the Xiaomi KFR-35GW air conditioner, which gets a nice bit of Nvidia – AMD – Intel branding, though we are not aware of any AMD components in the test system. This AC unit offers a quoted 12,000 BTU cooling power and typically consumes about 1.2kW. It measures 765 x 268 x 550mm, so is quite a lot ******* than the PC tower it is cooling, and a lot ******* than a 360mm PC cooling radiator. We are then guided through the modification of the Xiaomi KFR-35GW. Some welding and pipe management later, and we see the liquid cooler reservoir ready inside the AC unit. How well does this AC unit cool the test PC? After 40 minutes of “roasting” this PC by stress testing it with popular tools such as FurMark and the AIDA System Stability Test the system CPU cores are said to be only a couple of degrees hotter than when the test started. ESC then took the AC unit outdoors, where it would normally be installed, and noted that the GPU temperature was just 2 degrees Celsius, with a 12 degrees Celsius hotspot. Running stress tests again saw these GPU temperatures rise to 20 and 36 degrees Celsius, respectively. Sadly, the video doesn’t include charts for inside and outdoors, CPU and GPU, idle and load – those would have been very interesting. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. During the video the host says that they are happy with the capability of the air conditioner-cooled PC as demonstrated, and believe it is ready for both the 14900K and RTX 5090 components, which are waiting in the wings, and any upcoming RTX 6090. Source link #RTX #liquid #cooled #BTU #air #conditioner #RTX #GPU #runs #20C Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Map: 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes the Caribbean Sea Map: 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes the Caribbean Sea Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 4 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “light,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown. The New York Times A major, 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The temblor happened at 7:23 p.m. Atlantic time about 130 miles southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands, data from the agency shows. U.S.G.S. data earlier reported that the magnitude was 8. As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map. Aftershocks in the region An aftershock is usually a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same general area. Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake. Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Atlantic time. Shake data is as of Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:42 p.m. Atlantic time. Aftershocks data is as of Sunday, Feb. 9 at 10:24 a.m. Atlantic time. Source link #Map #7.6Magnitude #Earthquake #Strikes #Caribbean #Sea Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles review [SideQuesting] Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles review [SideQuesting] Well, what can I say about Star Wars Episode 1 Jedi Power Battles? The title says it all. I am completely conflicted. On one hand, it’s a game I played for 29 hours and managed to get the PlayStation Platinum which means for me it was pretty good. On the other hand, it is a broken mess of a game that had me wanting to tear my hair out at multiple points in the experience. Source link #Star #Wars #Episode #Jedi #Power #Battles #review #SideQuesting Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised – CBS News CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised – CBS News CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid “energetic” opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised CBS News1. Trump’s second term: Early ratings and expectations Pew Research CenterMap Reveals Donald Trump’s Favorability Rating by State NewsweekWhat the latest polls show about Trump early in his second term Detroit NewsTrump policies, Musk and Kennedy, federal agencies, the national mood, and flying: February 2-4, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll YouGov US Source link #CBS #News #poll #Trump #positive #approval #quotenergeticquot #opening #weeks #promised #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

PC Only Accounts For 8% of Take-Two's Overall Revenue PC Only Accounts For 8% of Take-Two's Overall Revenue Take-Two has shared its latest financial results, showing that the PC platform is still its smallest when taking revenue into account. Source link #Accounts #TakeTwo039s #Revenue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ViewSonic VX1654 portable monitor review: One trick pony ViewSonic VX1654 portable monitor review: One trick pony ViewSonic currently offers a portable monitor lineup consisting of 10 distinct products. These monitors cover a broad spectrum of usage cases, with models ranging from 60 Hz 15.6-inch 1080p IPS panels to 17.3-inch panels with a 144 Hz refresh rate. We even recently reviewed a ViewSonic OLED portable monitor that delivers stunning color. Fitting somewhere in the middle of ViewSonic’s vast portable monitor family is the VX1654, a gaming entry with 1080p resolution and a speedy (for a portable monitor) 144 Hz refresh rate. The VX1654 even supports AMD FreeSync technology to enhance your gaming experience further. With a street price of $150, the VX1654 is a relatively affordable option among the best portable monitors for those looking to expand their gaming horizons. Design of the ViewSonic VX1654 After being spoiled by the ultra-thin design of the VX1655-4K-OLED and the aluminum construction of sub-$100 budget entries into the 15.6-inch 1080p portable monitor segment, the VX1654 doesn’t give a good first impression. While the unit is lightweight (just 1.5 pounds), it feels incredibly cheap and hollow – almost like a toy you’d find at Dollar Tree. It feels so thin and cheap that I could tear the whole thing apart with just a slight twist of the frame. Compared to the aluminum construction of the $70 Arzopa A1, the $150 VX1654 is a major downgrade. Perhaps ViewSonic realized that durability would be a concern because it includes a thickly padded zipper carrying case for the VX1654 in the box. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The VX1654 has relatively thin bezels along the top and sides (around a ¼ of an inch), while the bottom bezel is much thicker at around one inch. While the VX1654 gets the short end of the stick regarding materials usage and construction, ViewSonic has at least provided an integrated kickstand for propping up the monitor at your desired viewing angle. One bonus with the kickstand is that its design supports the VX1654 in landscape or portrait orientation. All the VX1654’s ports are on the display’s left side. There, you’ll find two USB-C ports, a mini-HDMI port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. A 5-way joystick is mounted on the right rear of the chassis, allowing you to navigate the on-screen display (OSD). ViewSonic VX1654 Specifications Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight IPS / WLED Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 15.6 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution & Refresh Rate 1920 x 1080 @ 144 Hz (AMD FreeSync supported) Max Brightness 250 nits Contrast Ratio 800:1 Screen Coating Matte Ports 2x USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode), mini-HDMI 2.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack Speakers Yes (2x 0.8 watts) Weight 1.5 pounds Warranty 3 years On-Screen Display of the ViewSonic VX1654 All ViewSonic portable monitors share a similar OSD design; however, the feature set separates the various models. Whereas the VG1656N is more functionally stripped down (particularly with color mode options), the VX1654’s OSD is stocked with configuration options. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Like the VX1655-4K-OLED, you’ll find a handful of picture modes (Office, Movie, MAC, Mono, and Game) and the ability to tweak color temperature and adjust audio settings. Since the VX1654 is billed as a gaming monitor, you’ll also find a setting to turn AMD FreeSync support on or off. We confirmed that this feature works as advertised in Windows 11. The OSD is controlled via a five-way joystick mounted conveniently on the back of the VX1654. Pressing in on the joystick brings up the OSD and selects actionable items. You navigate the OSD menu by moving up, down, left, and right with the joystick. A directional arrow diagram appears within the OSD to tell you how to navigate with the joystick. Image Quality and Audio on the ViewSonic VX1654 The VX1654 features a 15.6-inch IPS display with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. However, increasing the maximum refresh rate from 60 Hz to 144 Hz sets it apart from other portable monitors. That refresh rate bump is complemented by support for AMD FreeSync, which minimizes frame tearing while gaming. FreeSync is off by default, but I enabled the setting within the OSD to test in Windows 11. I confirmed that the 144 Hz refresh rate and FreeSync were enabled for my gaming sessions, which included my tried-and-true favorites like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. I also dabbled a bit in an oldie but goodie: Marvel’s Avengers. The VX1654 had the demeanor of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in our instrumented testing. We post the default, out-of-the-box results for sRGB and DCI-P3 color results and brightness in our reviews. Even when portable monitors offer different picture modes that alter the color settings, we don’t typically see a massive variance in the results. However, the VX1654 showed huge swings from one extreme to the other. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Using the default factory settings, the VX1654 covered 27.8 percent of DCI-P3 and 39.2 percent of sRGB, which are dismal results, even for some of the more budget-oriented panels we tested. However, the “Display Mode Text” setting in the OSD bumped the DCI-P3 and sRGB figures to 62.8 percent and 44.5 percent, respectively. However, the maximum measured brightness dipped to 219.4 nits. The colors on the panel didn’t look off-hue, with reds skewing orange and blues that looked less saturated than competing panels. If your only concern is to score decent frame rates while gaming on the go, then the panel is adequate. But if you’re expecting more accurate colors, definitely look elsewhere. With a pair of 0.8-watt speakers onboard, the VX1654 also didn’t impress on the audio front. Sound quality was lacking, which seems to be a running theme with the VX1654 across many areas. Audio distortion increased with higher volume levels, while music sounded flat and lifeless. Bottom Line The VX1654 is billed as a gaming monitor first and foremost, and ViewSonic devoted most of its resources to achieving a 144 Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync support. Every other aspect of the product took a *********: the chassis is flimsy, the color support is lacking, and the speakers don’t sound good. If you can still find one from online retailers, the Arzopa G1 is a far better choice. It is also around the $150 mark. The company also offers the Z1RC gaming monitor for around $100. It has a 144 Hz refresh rate but lacks Adaptive-Sync support. Overall, the VX1654 is a low-effort product from ViewSonic designed to advertise a high refresh rate in a segment that lacks considerable options. However, there’s more to a product than a single bullet point on a spec sheet. Source link #ViewSonic #VX1654 #portable #monitor #review #trick #pony Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s ****-for-tat levies on US set to take effect China’s ****-for-tat levies on US set to take effect Peter Hoskins Business reporter Getty Images China has also imposed export controls on 25 rare metals China’s ****-for-tat import taxes on some American goods are set to come into effect on Monday as the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies escalates and US President Donald Trump threatens to hit more countries with tariffs. Beijing announced the plan on 4 February, minutes after new US levies of 10% on all ******** products came into effect. On Friday, Trump said he was planning “reciprocal tariffs” on other nations in the coming days as he aims to reshape the US’ global trade relationships. The president did not say which countries could be targeted but suggested it would a broad effort that may also help solve US budget problems. From 10 February, China will charge a 15% border tax on imports of US coal and liquefied natural gas products. There is also a 10% tariff on American crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars. Last week, ******** authorities launched an anti-monopoly probe into technology giant Google, while PVH, the US owner of designer brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, was added to Beijing’s so-called “unreliable entity” list. China has also imposed export controls on 25 rare metals, some of which are key components for many electrical products and military equipment. Speaking on Friday during a meeting at the White House with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on imports from more trading partners. “I’ll be announcing that, next week, reciprocal trade, so that we’re treated evenly with other countries,” Trump said. The move would fulfil an election campaign pledge to levy tariffs at the same rates that are imposed on US goods. He also said import taxes for vehicles remained on the table after reports that he was considering exemptions to universal tariffs. Trump has repeatedly complained that European Union (EU) tariffs on imports of American cars are much higher that US levies. Last week, Trump told the BBC that tariffs on EU goods could happen “pretty soon” – but suggested a deal could be “worked out” with the ***. The day after the latest US tariffs came into effect, Beijing accused Washington of making “unfounded and false allegations” about its role in the trade of the synthetic opioid fentanyl to justify the move. In a complaint lodged with the World Trade Organization (WTO), China said the US import taxes were “discriminatory and protectionist” and violated trade rules. But experts have warned that China is unlikely to secure a ruling in its favour as the WTO panel that settles disputes remains unable to function. Trump had been expected to speak to his ******** counterpart Xi Jinping in recent days but the US president has said he was in no hurry to hold talks. Some of the many measures brought in by Trump since he took office on 20 January have been been subject to change. On Friday, he suspended tariffs on small packages from China, which, along with the additional 10% tariffs, came into effect on 4 February. The suspension will stay in place until “adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue”. After the order ended duty-free treatment of shipments worth less than $800 (£645) the US Postal Service (USPS) and other agencies scrambled to comply. USPS temporarily stopped accepting packages from China, only to U-turn a day later. Last weekend, Trump said he was putting 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada but quickly paused those duties for a month while negotiations continue. Source link #Chinas #titfortat #levies #set #effect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Executive – Movie Industry Tycoon Review – Gamer Social Club The Executive – Movie Industry Tycoon Review – Gamer Social Club In the Executive you are the behind the scenes star, but is The Executive a blockbuster hit or a razzie deserving flop? Source link #Executive #Movie #Industry #Tycoon #Review #Gamer #Social #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Missing 15-year-old girl found safe, Orlando police say Missing 15-year-old girl found safe, Orlando police say Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways The Brief The Orlando Police Department has located 15-year-old Serenity Stanley, who was reported missing Saturday morning. Police said Serenity was last seen Friday afternoon in the area of Adventure Way and Hollywood Way, not far from Universal Orlando Resort. ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department has located 15-year-old Serenity Stanley, who was reported missing Saturday morning. Teen reported missing in Orlando The backstory Serenity was last seen around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, in the area of Adventure Way and Hollywood Way, which is near Universal Orlando Resort’s hotels, theme parks, and CityWalk area, according to Orlando police. She was last seen wearing a white sequined dress and may have had a bag or two with her, police said. She is described as being 5 feet, 2 inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. Police shared an undated photo of Stanley that appears to have been taken within a parking garage at Universal Orlando Resort. Police locate missing girl What they’re saying The Orlando Police Department posted an update on its social media accounts Saturday afternoon, announcing Serenity had been located. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Orlando Police Department. Source link #Missing #15yearold #girl #safe #Orlando #police Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised – CBS News CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised – CBS News CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid “energetic” opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised CBS News1. Trump’s second term: Early ratings and expectations Pew Research CenterMap Reveals Donald Trump’s Favorability Rating by State NewsweekWhat the latest polls show about Trump early in his second term Detroit NewsTrump policies, Musk and Kennedy, federal agencies, the national mood, and flying: February 2-4, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll YouGov US Source link #CBS #News #poll #Trump #positive #approval #quotenergeticquot #opening #weeks #promised #CBS #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]