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War-torn Lebanon forms its first government in over 2 years War-torn Lebanon forms its first government in over 2 years BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s new prime minister on Saturday formed the country’s first full-fledged government since 2022. President Joseph Aoun announced in a statement that he had accepted the resignation of the former caretaker government and signed a decree with new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam forming the new government. Salam’s cabinet of 24 ministers, split evenly between Christian and ******* sects, was formed less than a month after he was appointed, and comes at a time where Lebanon is scrambling to rebuild its battered southern region and maintain security along its southern border after a devastating war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal ended the war in November. 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. Lebanon is also still in the throes of a crippling economic crisis, now in its sixth year, which has battered its banks, destroyed its state electricity sector and left many in poverty unable to access their savings. Salam, a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice, has vowed to reform Lebanon’s judiciary and battered economy and bring about stability in the troubled country, which has faced numerous economic, political, and security crises for decades. Though Hezbollah did not endorse Salam as prime minister, the Lebanese group did engage in negotiations with the new prime minister over the Shiite ******* seats in government, as per Lebanon’s power-sharing system. Lebanon’s new authorities also mark a shift away from leaders that are close to Hezbollah, as Beirut hopes to continue improving ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations that have been concerned by Hezbollah’s growing political and military power over the past decade. In early January, former army chief Aoun was elected president, ending that position’s vacuum. He was also a candidate not endorsed by Hezbollah and key allies. Aoun has shared similar sentiments to Salam, also vowing to consolidate the state’s right to “monopolize the carrying of weapons,” in an apparent reference to the arms of Hezbollah. Source link #Wartorn #Lebanon #forms #government #years Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

U.S.A.I.D. Workers Brace for the Worst U.S.A.I.D. Workers Brace for the Worst The thousands of people who work for the U.S. government’s main agency for humanitarian aid and disaster relief have been on the front lines of efforts to fight famine, contain virulent infectious diseases like H.I.V. and Ebola, and rebuild infrastructure in impoverished and war-torn countries. On Friday evening, just hours before the vast majority of them were set to have been suspended with pay or laid off, a court issued a limited, temporary order against the Trump administration’s moves to shut down the agency. The order was a temporary reprieve to approximately 2,700 direct hires of the U.S. Agency for International Development who were on administrative leave or set to be placed on leave by midnight Friday. For the past two weeks, they and the contractors who work for the agency had been in the throes of a collective panic as the Trump administration began to lay off staff and signaled it planned to decimate the agency. But the U.S.A.I.D. work force, and the aid industry that relies in large part on the agency’s funding, is still acutely in limbo. On Saturday, U.S.A.I.D. informed employees affected by the order that employees already on administrative leave would be reinstated until the end Friday, Feb. 14, and that no one else would be suspended with pay during that *******, according to a copy of the notice viewed by The New York Times. But those employees could still have to wait for weeks, months, or potentially even longer, for a verdict. The case, which was brought on behalf of unions representing the workers, is expected to go to the Supreme Court, and it is unclear whether the jobs will ever exist again. The Trump administration’s announcement this week that U.S.A.I.D. would dismiss almost all of its contractors and that most Foreign Service officers and other direct hires would be put on indefinite administrative leave set off a panic around the globe, as Americans posted in missions abroad scrambled to dismantle and reassemble their lives. The announcement gave Foreign Service officers just 30 days to depart their posts and return to the United States if they wanted the U.S. government to pay for their relocation, forcing nearly the entire diplomatic staff to plan the sort of swift exit that normally only takes place during coups and wars. Many employees with children had to decide whether to pull them out of school immediately, or leave families behind until the end of the school year. Some with medical conditions, including late-stage and high-risk pregnancies, worried about the dangers traveling and the status of their health care. Several agonized over what to do about pets, because it was not possible to procure the paperwork necessary to enter the United States in just a few weeks. The reductions at U.S.A.I.D. appear to have been driven largely by Elon Musk, the tech magnate President Trump deputized to make budget cuts across the government, and Pete Marocco, the State Department’s director of foreign aid, whom Mr. Rubio appointed this week to run the day-to-day business of U.S.A.I.D. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has assumed overall authority of U.S.A.I.D., tried to tamp down the fears, encouraging people to apply for waivers to delay travel and arguing that the Trump administration was “not trying to be disruptive to people’s personal lives.” But as stop-work orders and reports of massive cuts at the agency rippled across the global aid industry, and scores of nongovernmental organizations and consulting firms that relied on the agency’s funding laid off staff, the agency’s workers braced for its potential end. One American posted to a U.S.A.I.D. mission in Africa said that he and his wife, a Foreign Service officer, had both been suspended. “Two weeks ago we were two gainfully employed people with onward assignments, and now we’ve seen the entire industry decimated and we’re returning to the U.S. without jobs,” he said. He, like many others, spoke on the condition of anonymity, as those still on the agency’s payroll have been instructed not to publicly discuss the changes underway. Employees fear that flouting the order could jeopardize whatever benefits they might still be eligible for, such as pensions and severance pay — though it was unclear if the Trump administration would honor such obligations. On Thursday, a subset of U.S.A.I.D. employees began receiving notices that they had been deemed “essential,” meaning they would not be suspended or laid off — for now. “This is your formal notification that you are expected to keep working, effective immediately, and until notified otherwise,” the emailed notification said, according to a copy reviewed by The New York Times. It was not immediately clear how many employees had been deemed essential. On Thursday afternoon, senior U.S.A.I.D. leaders were told that the Trump administration planned to reduce the agency’s staff to about 290, according to three people informed directly about the details of the call. By Friday morning, however, senior agency officials were being told that the number of retained employees was 611, according to two people familiar with the internal guidance. Some speculated that the number of people retained might climb slightly higher, as bureau and regional leaders fought to preserve as many positions as possible to continue the agency’s lifesaving work. Either way, the cuts to a work force of more than 10,000 promised to be drastic. “What is happening is devastating, it’s hard to put it into words, but it’s devastating,” said Maria Carrasco, who had worked for the aid agency or projects abroad it had funded for the last 25 years, she said, before being terminated with other contractors last week. “We are people who put our sweat and tears in to these organizations, because we believe in the ultimate goal of helping people. And now it’s been erased.” The moves against the U.S.A.I.D. work force began in earnest on Jan. 28, four days after the stop-work orders were issued. Samantha Cooper, a contractor whose employment was terminated, had been working in maternal and child health and nutrition at the aid agency, and was set to begin a new job this past Monday in the Office of H.I.V./AIDS. Within days, she went from being excited about an upcoming career milestone to straining to make ends meet. “I’m having to file for unemployment, which doesn’t even cover rent; food stamps, which — that’s fine, it at least gets me groceries,” she said in a telephone interview. Her medical coverage ran out on Friday last week. Ms. Cooper, who is based in Tulsa, Okla., said she felt luckier than most. “I have co-workers that are going through I.V.F., and they’ve lost all their benefits; people going through ******* treatments and with parents on hospice — and they were the breadwinners,” she said. “I feel privileged to say this is only what I’m struggling with. I know there are so many others having to deal with that, and it is literally going to break them.” That was the fear for one Foreign Service officer in Asia who discovered this week that an immediate family member needed to be evacuated for a life-threatening health condition, only to be told by superiors that amid the dissolution of U.S.A.I.D., there was no funding available for emergency medical travel. Their only option, the officer was told, would be to immediately return to the United States, where they have nowhere to live, and leave their belongings and pets behind. Another Foreign Service officer working at a mission in Africa wrestled with how to break the news to her two young children. She also worried that she and her spouse, who also works in development, would have to live off the savings they had hoped to put toward a house if they both soon found themselves out of work. “It just feels like the entire sector is sinking, and so how am I going to find a job?” she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, like others, for fear of retaliation. “All I know is development, all I know is public health — I’ve dedicated my life to this. What other skills do I have?” The decimation of U.S.A.I.D. has set off a domino effect, as contractors, nongovernmental organizations and consulting firms that rely on funding from the agency for their projects also are forced to make cuts. At least 10,000 American jobs in the sector have already disappeared, according to InterAction, which represents a number of organizations specializing in foreign aid. “It’s the evisceration of the sector,” Tom Hart, the president and chief executive officer of InterAction, said. Employees of nongovernmental organizations and companies that rely on U.S.A.I.D. funding said they had effectively been blocked from accessing any funding through the agency’s accounting system, and in some cases, had months of expenses with no guarantee that the federal government would reimburse them. Resonance, a development consulting firm that employed about 150 people around the world, is an example of a small company taking a big hit. The firm did about 75 percent of its business with U.S.A.I.D. before the contraction. It has bills going back to November that the agency has yet to cover, Steve Schmida, its co-founder, said in an interview. “We’re being forced to carry a huge amount of cost with no clarity if and when we will get paid or reimbursed,” Mr. Schmida said, adding that he had to lay off almost 90 percent of his U.S.-based staff. He is going without pay for three months to help free up funds to keep his business afloat, he said. But as news of the drastic staff reductions took hold, he was losing hope that the government would ever cover the funding his firm had been promised. “It’s just been a catastrophe,” he said of the U.S.A.I.D. cuts, adding: “I think it’s dawning on everyone that this is over.” Edward Wong contributed reporting from Bangkok and Chris Cameron from Washington. Source link #U.S.A.I.D #Workers #Brace #Worst Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump’s Gaza proposal strikes fear in his new Arab American supporters – The Washington Post Trump’s Gaza proposal strikes fear in his new Arab American supporters – The Washington Post Trump’s Gaza proposal strikes fear in his new Arab American supporters The Washington PostBill Maher doesn’t rule out Trump’s Gaza Strip plan, says war-torn territory ‘could be something else’ Fox NewsTrump says Gaza will be given to US by Israel The HillOpinion | Trump’s Gaza Deal: War Crimes in Exchange for Beachfront Property The New York TimesGaza isn’t part of your country – China blasts Donald Trump over ‘clear out” threat Vanguard Source link #Trumps #Gaza #proposal #strikes #fear #Arab #American #supporters #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Hundreds march for stabbed schoolboy Hundreds march for stabbed schoolboy Grace Wood and Adam Laver BBC News, Yorkshire PA Media Hundreds marched through Sheffield in tribute to Harvey Willgoose Hundreds of people are taking part in an anti-knife crime march following the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose at a school in Sheffield. Family and friends were joined by football fans and others affected by the teenager’s death to walk from the city’s Town Hall to Bramall Lane football stadium. Many in the crowd wore red and white clothing or carried balloons in the same colours in tribute to the teenage Sheffield United fan. Harvey died after being stabbed in the chest at All Saints Catholic High School in Granville Road on Monday. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with *******. Flowers and tributes have been laid at Bramall Lane in memory of Sheffield United fan Harvey Willgoose The march, organised by Sheffield United fans and charities Always an Alternative and Mums United, started at 13:00 GMT ahead of the match between Sheffield United and Portsmouth. Speaking at the event, his mum Caroline Willgoose said the turnout had been “amazing”. “I just know that everyone is feeling for us,” she said “That’s what’s getting me through it.” She said fans of Sheffield United’s rivals Sheffield Wednesday had been heard “shouting his name” on trams in the city during the day, while a number of Portsmouth fans also joined the march. There was also minute’s applause at 15-minute mark of the match between West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday earlier. Mrs Willgoose said her son “would love it” to see supporters of different clubs singing his name. PA Media There was a minute’s applause at The Hawthorns in the match between West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday The march follows a mass at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Handsworth. Ahead of the service Mark McManus, the parish priest at St Joseph’s, said: “Harvey was a former pupil of St Joseph’s Academy and, along with the members of our community who attend All Saints High School, many will have been affected by his death – some very closely. “Our mass will be offered for Harvey and his family, and friends, for the two school communities and for all who have been marked or touched by this terrible tragedy.” A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday charged with *******, possession of a bladed article and affray. A provisional trial date has been set for 30 June. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Source link #Hundreds #march #stabbed #schoolboy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BopQuiz is a new music trivia app that lets you flaunt your melodious knowledge BopQuiz is a new music trivia app that lets you flaunt your melodious knowledge Pick from thousands of playlists and guess the correct artist or title Single Player, Local Multiplayer, and Duel modes available Free-to-play with limited access Indie developer Malte Schoppe has just announced that BopQuiz, a new music trivia app, is now available on the App Store, offering a fresh way to test your musical knowledge. Whether you’re competing for leaderboard rankings, challenging a friend to a duel, or gathering for a local match, all you need is an Apple Music subscription to get started. In BopQuix, you can pick from thousands of playlists or use your own, then guess the correct song title or artist as fast as possible. In Single Player mode, each correct answer earns points, and speed matters if you want to climb the international leaderboards. You get one attempt per playlist mode per day, but there’s also a casual mode if you just want to play for fun. For a more social experience, Local Multiplayer mode lets you and your friends compete in the same room. Once a song starts playing, whoever thinks they know the answer hits the buzzer. You only have five seconds to answer and getting it wrong will cost you points. The first to reach the goal wins, unless someone gives up first. If you prefer a challenge without a timer, Duel mode lets you take turns selecting playlists and playing rounds. Each duel consists of five playlists with seven songs each, and once both players have completed their turns, a winner is declared, until the next round. Why not take a look at this list of the best games to play on mobile right now before you read on? BopQuiz is more than just trivia. With Apple Music integration, you can listen to full songs, add them to your library, or open them in the Apple Music app. If you come across something you like, you don’t have to leave the app to save it. You can play BopQuiz for free with a limited number of tickets, which refresh daily. For unlimited access, there are one-time purchase options for Single Player, Multiplayer, or an All Access Pass, no subscriptions required. Source link #BopQuiz #music #trivia #app #lets #flaunt #melodious #knowledge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MediaTek is conducting impact simulations to prepare for U.S. tariffs MediaTek is conducting impact simulations to prepare for U.S. tariffs Leading Taiwanese chip maker MediaTek is reportedly conducting simulations to assess the potential impact of U.S. tariffs. The move comes amid growing tensions and trade policy shifts that could reshape the global semiconductor industry. According to Reuters, MediaTek’s CEO, Rick Tsai, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the possible tariffs, emphasizing that while the situation remains fluid, the company is preparing for the worst. “We are making our own assumptions, doing some simulations,” Tsai stated to Reuters, refraining from providing specific details about the scenarios the company is analyzing. He expressed confidence that any potential impact in 2025 would be “manageable” but noted the situation’s complexity, making precise estimates difficult. If the U.S. imposes new tariffs, MediaTek could face increased costs when exporting its chips to American markets, potentially affecting pricing, supply chains, and profitability. The company relies heavily on manufacturing partnerships in Taiwan and China, which could expose it to trade restrictions depending on how the U.S. structures the tariffs. MediaTek will likely explore alternative supply chain adjustments and pricing strategies to mitigate risks. Beyond trade concerns, the semiconductor industry is also navigating new competitive pressures. The emergence of DeepSeek, the ******** startup offering efficient and cost-effective artificial intelligence solutions, recently caused a global dip in tech stocks. This development has raised questions about the long-term investment strategies of chipmakers and data centers. However, Tsai remains optimistic about AI’s future growth. “With the recent DeepSeek phenomenon, we actually are getting more optimistic,” he said. “The trend is democratizing AI. It will spread more for average users.” MediaTek’s proactive approach underscores a broader industry effort to adapt to changing economic conditions. The company aims to anticipate potential disruptions and maintain stability in a highly competitive global market by running impact simulations. While the implications of future U.S. tariffs remain uncertain, MediaTek’s strategic planning highlights the importance of flexibility and resilience in the semiconductor sector. Similarly, TSMC is considering significant price increases of up to 15% for its chip production to offset potential losses in response to recent U.S. tariffs on ******** imports. The move is expected to lead to higher costs for consumer electronics, as companies like Samsung, which rely on TSMC’s chips, may pass these expenses onto consumers. TSMC is exploring shifting production to U.S. facilities currently under construction to mitigate tariff impacts. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #MediaTek #conducting #impact #simulations #prepare #U.S #tariffs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

50 Extremely Rare And Fascinating Pictures Of People Throughout History I Can Pretty Much Guarantee You’ve Never Heard Of 50 Extremely Rare And Fascinating Pictures Of People Throughout History I Can Pretty Much Guarantee You’ve Never Heard Of 1.The very first iteration of Ronald McDonald was created by Willard Scott in 1963: And it was so, so terrifying. Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo 2.The two people depicted in Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” actually exist. This is what they looked like: And, actually, they’re not a couple. It’s the artist’s sister and his dentist. / Alamy Stock Photo 3.This is Margaret Gorman, the woman who won the very first Miss America competition in 1921: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 4.This is Stephan Bibrowski, otherwise known as Lionel the Lion-faced Man. Stephan had a condition known as hypertrichosis that caused hair to grow up to eight inches long all over his body including, obviously, his face: He performed for years with Barnum & Bailey and spoke five languages. Chronicle / Alamy Stock Photo 5.This is George Hackenschmidt, the man credited with inventing the bench press: Swole folks all over the world, light a candle for Georgy boy. Pa Images Archive / PA Images via Getty Images 6.This is Conrad Veidt, the man whose performance in the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs inspired the look of the iconic villain the Joker: 7.This is Daniel Lambert, a British man who was known as the world’s heaviest person in the 18th century: He weighed over 700 pounds. Legend has it he once fought off a bear single-handedly. I’m serious. Robert Alexander / Getty Images 8.This is Maud Wagner, who is widely believed to be the first female professional tattoo artist in the US: 9.This is Selma Burke, the woman who designed the portrait of Franklin Roosevelt that’s still on the dime to this day: Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo 10.This is John Smith, a Chippewa man who was reported to be 137 years old at the time of his death: There’s controversy about whether that’s actually true, of course, but I choose to believe in my man John. Alamy Stock Photo 11.This is Ralph Lincoln, the 11th-generation cousin of Abraham Lincoln: Specifically, his third cousin many, many, many times removed. The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images 12.This is Franz Reichelt sporting a homemade parachute suit that he was confident would save him if he jumped off the Eiffel Tower: On Feb. 4, 1912, he gave it a go. It did not deploy. Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild via Getty Images 13.This is Jacques Plante, who in 1959 became the first goalie to ever wear a protective face mask: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 14.In 1964, ****** Gardner, pictured here, set the world record for the longest time without sleeping after staying awake 264 hours: Those items next to him are objects he would identify throughout the experiment to show he was still lucid. Don Cravens / Getty Images 15.This is Maurice Tillet, a wrestler who some say the beloved character Shrek was based on: Tillet, known as the French Angel, apparently went undefeated for 18 months in the early 1940s. AP Photo 16.This man, Gay Jewel, was declared the “world’s heaviest man” in 1899: According to the Strand Magazine, he loved to play the violin and make others laugh. Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group via Getty Images 17.In 1907, world-class swimmer Annette Kellerman was arrested for indecency after she wore a bathing suit like this one to Revere Beach in Massachusetts: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division 18.This is Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest woman: She stands just over 7 feet tall. Anadolu Agency / Getty Images 19.This is Valentine Tapley, a man who, in 1860, vowed never to cut his beard again if Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Here’s him in 1896: He won fifth place at a world’s longest beard competition that year. Print Collector / Getty Images 20.This is Albert Woolson, the last surviving Civil War veteran: Albert fought for the Union army and died in 1956 at the age of 106. Star Tribune Via Getty Images / Star Tribune via Getty Images 21.This is Ham the chimpanzee, the first ape launched into space: He was sent up to test cognitive function in space as well as the safety of the rocket and capsule being sent up. Ham’s mission was successful, and he returned to Earth unharmed and a true American hero. Mct / Tribune News Service via Getty Images 22.This is Charlotte and Marjorie Collyer, a mother and daughter who survived the wreck of the Titanic in 1912: Charlotte’s husband and Marjorie’s dad Harvey Collyer died in the wreck. Also lost in the tragedy was the family’s life savings of £5,000 cash. ThePhotoMender.com / Alamy Stock Photo 23.In 1903, Edward Llewellen (left) made history by breaking the world record and catching the biggest sea bass ever caught off the coast of Catalina Island: Niday Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo 24.Here’s Hannes de Jong, the 1970 Pole Sitting World Champion, well, sitting on a pole: Yes, the World Pole Sitting Championship was a real thing. In fact, the 1972 winner sat on a pole for 92 hours straight. Penta Springs / Alamy Stock Photo 25.This is Chandra Bahadur, the shortest man in recorded history: He stood just 21.5 inches tall. Anadolu Agency / Getty Images 26.This is Ahmet Ali Çelikten, a man who is generally considered to be one of the first ****** pilots — and perhaps the very first: He first flew for the Ottoman Empire in World War I. His contemporaries included Eugene Bullard, the first ****** military pilot from the United States. Aclosund Historic / Alamy Stock Photo 27.This is a wax sculpture of Thomas Wedders, the man whose 7.5-inch nose was apparently the largest nose in history: 28.This is Emma Lilian Todd, the first woman to design an airplane: That is some contraption. Science History Images / Alamy Stock Photo 29.This is Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to survive going over Niagara Falls while inside a barrel: She was 62 years old at the time. People going over waterfalls in a barrel fell off real hard. We should bring it back. Pictorial Press Ltd. / Alamy Stock Photo 30.This is William Hutchings, one of the last surviving American Revolutionary War veterans: He was 100 in this picture. Shoutout Bill. FAY 2018 / Alamy Stock Photo 31.This is Apo Whang-Od, a 106-year-old woman who is quite possibly the oldest tattoo artist on the planet: Apo Whang-Od specializes in batok, an ancient form of tattoo artistry from the Philippines. Read more about her here. Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images 32.This is Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker, enjoying his invention: Thomas S England / Getty Images 33.This is Mary Ann Bevan, a widow who was given the title of “World’s Ugliest Woman” in 1920: After the death of her husband and being diagnosed with a rare disease, Mary Ann joined circus sideshows to support her several children. You can read more about her incredible story here. A. R. Coster / Getty Images 34.This is 455 pound Piet van der Zwaard AKA the “fattest man in Europe” in 1955: Arie Van Vliet / Getty Images 35.This man, Paul Karason, had his skin turn permanently blue after spending years ingesting colloidal silver: He claimed that it cured many of his health problems, including arthritis and acid reflux. NBC Newswire / NBC Newswire / NBCUniversal via Getty Images 36.This is Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived: Before he died, he measured 8’11” tall. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 37.This is Charles Ponzi, the infamous scammer ponzi schemes got their name from: Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 38.This picture, taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839, is generally accepted as the first “selfie”: Basically, he probably took the first self-portrait ever. Bob had to sit for 15 minutes to get this picture. Robert Cornelius / Getty Images 39.In 1909, pigs finally flew. Icarus the pig (right) went on a short flight with John Moore-Brabazon and finally did the impossible: You’ll notice Icarus emanating nothing but positive vibes. / Alamy Stock Photo 40.This is Civil War veteran Jacob Miller, a man who was shot right between the eyes and lived for 17 more years: 41.This is Herman the Cat, a cat who was given the title of expert mouser aboard a US Coast Guard ship during World War II: Herman, in addition to other cats aboard ships, was there to catch pests. It was a thing. Folks, do we stan Herman the Cat? Sherman Grinberg Library 42.This is Jack the baboon, a South African baboon who worked as a signalman at a railway station in the 1800s. During his almost decade of railway work, Jack never made a single mistake: He was paid “20 cents a day and half a bottle of beer weekly.” RIP, Jack. Getty 43.This is a picture of 107-year-old Civil War veteran Bill Lundy posing with a fighter jet in 1955: To be fair, there’s some debate over Lundy’s service in the Army, but, wow, he must have seen a whole lot in life. 914 collection / Alamy Stock Photo 44.This is what a French beach looked like in 1925: Imagine getting home from the beach and finding sand in your dang suit lapels. What a time. Vintage_Space / Alamy Stock Photo 45.This is the Dynasphere, a giant wheel vehicle invented by Dr. J. A. Purves that could go as a fast as 30 MPH: Bring back the Dynasphere, I say. I wanna ride the wheel. Fox Photos / Getty Images 46.This is Anna M. Jarvis, the inventor of Mother’s Day: She would later regret creating the holiday, citing rapant “commercialization” that was ruining the once special day. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive 47.This is the Peel P50, designed by Cyril Cannell, the smallest car ever produced: It measured “54 inches long, 41 inches wide, and 47 inches tall.” Central Press / Getty Images 48.This is astronaut Joseph P. Allen IV doing maintenance on a satellite in the middle of the cold, dark void of space: 49.This is a picture of a meeting of the New York chapter of the “**** Men’s Club” circa 1930: According to the photo’s caption, pictured here are “A Rockwitz (312lbs), comedian Eddie Carvey (250lbs), David Burns (475lbs) and F C Kupper (351lbs).” Members had to be at least 200 pounds to join. Love my big boys. General Photographic Agency / Getty Images 50.This is beautician Max Factor with his invention, the beauty calibrator, a device designed to show which parts of a woman’s face needed more or less make-up: Camerique / Getty Images Source link #Extremely #Rare #Fascinating #Pictures #People #History #Pretty #Guarantee #Youve #Heard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro Review: A great-sounding keyboard that won’t break the bank Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro Review: A great-sounding keyboard that won’t break the bank If you’re looking for a keyboard that feels and sounds amazing — even if you don’t really know what “feels and sounds amazing” means in a keyboard, Wobkey’s Rainy 75 Pro is a pretty solid bet. While it’s not the absolute best keyboard on the market, it’s definitely one of the best mechanical keyboards you can get today. The Rainy 75 Pro is a great-sounding (and feeling) keyboard for a surprisingly budget-friendly price of just $139 — and that’s for the Pro version. You can also pick up the Rainy 75 in a Lite version, for $99, and a Standard version ($109). The Pro version has a ******* battery, a heftier build, and a FR4 switch plate, as well as different switches (Kailh Cocoa linear switches vs. HMX Violet linear switches). Design and Construction of the Rainy 75 Pro The Rainy 75 Pro is a pre-built gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard with a 75-percent layout. It has 81 keys, including a full function row, arrow keys, and five control keys (Delete, Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn). The keyboard comes in three variations — Lite (wired connectivity only), Standard (wireless with a 3,500 mAh battery), and Pro (wireless with a 7,000 mAh battery). Each variation comes in multiple colors, including ******, silver, and white, as well as blue, pink, purple, yellow, and red (all colors are not available in all variations). For this review, we’re looking at the Rainy 75 Pro in Electro Purple with Kailh Cocoa switches. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The Rainy 75 Pro is a well-built keyboard with a hefty aluminum case — our review unit weighed in at 4.37 pounds (1980.5g), which is just a little heavier than the 4.28-pound (1941.5g) Meletrix Boog75. Both the top and bottom case are aluminum with a smooth, matte finish. The keyboard comes with durable, non-shinethrough double-shot PBT keycaps with accent keys in matching colors. They have a smooth, matte finish, neatly-printed legends, and a Cherry profile — lower profile than traditional OEM keycaps, with very lightly curved tops and sculpted rows. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The Rainy 75 has a 75-percent layout, which is a more compact version of the popular TKL size, with a single column of navigation keys instead of the TKL’s 3 x 2 cluster. It’s a fairly compact keyboard, measuring 12.5 inches (317.5mm) wide by 5.5 inches (139.7mm) deep, and is 1.48 inches (37.6mm) high at its thickest point, not including the keycaps (around 1.73 inches / 44mm with keycaps). The Rainy 75 Pro has five keys from the navigation cluster — Delete, Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn — rather than four, because it doesn’t have a rotary knob (or other type of media/non-keyboard control). It’s a compact 75-percent layout but the keys are still well laid-out — the function row is separated into groups of four and the arrow keys are offset from the alphanumeric keys. There’s also a small raincloud engraving above the right arrow key, which is a nice touch. (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The back of the keyboard features four small rubber strips and a decorative aluminum keyboard weight in a textured finish. It also features an eponymous raincloud engraving (because why not). The back of the keyboard is beautiful, but it’s also the back; keep that in mind when you’re shopping around. The non-pro version of the keyboard comes with mirrored keyboard weights (in gradient and non-gradient finishes). (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The Rainy 75 Pro comes with a handful of accessories in the box: A 6-foot (1.8m) rubber USB-A to USB-C cable, a 2.4-GHz wireless USB-A dongle, a combination keycap/switch puller, and three extra switches. Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Size 75% Number of keys 81 Switches Cocoa Linear Backlighting Yes Onboard Storage Yes / No Dedicated Media Keys No Game Mode No Additional Ports 0 Connectivity 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, wired (USB-C) Cable 6 ft / 1.8 m USB-C to USB-A Keycaps Double-shot PBT Construction Plastic chassis Anodized aluminum top plate Software QMK / VIA Dimensions (LxWxH) 14.5 x 5.9 x 1 inches / 320 x 140 x 40 mm Weight 4.37 pounds / 1,980.5g MSRP / Price at Time of Review $139 / $139 Release Date Jan. 2024 Typing and Gaming Experience on the Rainy 75 Pro The Rainy 75 comes in several iterations; we tested the Rainy 75 Pro in Electro Purple with Kailh Cocoa linear switches, which will set you back $139 as configured. The Cocoa switches are linear, factory-lubed switches with an operating force of 45g and a total travel distance of 3.6mm. You can also get the keyboard with Jwick WOB switches (linear, 40g, 3.5mm) or HMX Violet switches (linear, 45g, 3.5mm). The keyboard has a hot-swappable PCB, so you can also swap in your own switches if you don’t like any of these linear options. The Cocoa linear switches are very smooth linear switches, with no tactile bump or audible click. While I’m not the biggest fan of linear switches in general, these switches do sound and feel quite good — they’re smooth and consistent-feeling thanks to the factory lube, and they have a deeper, creamier sound than some of the more mainstream linear switches. I did experience an issue with the keys double-typing certain letters. Swapping out the switches for the keys that were double-typing did seem to clear up the issue — Wobkey includes a few extra switches in the box — but this is the first keyboard I’ve had an issue with out of the box, and more than one switch needed to be swapped out. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) Typing on the Rainy 75 Pro is a fantastic experience, in both feel and sound. This is one of the best-sounding pre-built keyboards I’ve heard in years, and the sublime sound is even more impressive when you consider the keyboard’s price point. The Rainy 75 Pro features five layers of sound-dampening foam and case padding, and this extra attention to deadening case ping is definitely noticeable. Bottoming out with the keyboard’s thicker double-shot PBT keycaps makes a satisfyingly stable but lightweight ‘thock’ — the company claims the keyboard sounds like raindrops when you’re typing (hence the name), and I can see it (albeit, very large, heavy raindrops). I did notice a little stabilizer rattle in the larger keys — especially the space bar — but the rest of the keyboard sounded so good that this was hardly a significant drawback. The keyboard has a gasket mount design and a flexible FR4 PCB, which makes for a comfortable typing experience. The keycaps have a Cherry profile — lower than standard OEM keycaps with sculpted rows and flat tops with a light dip. Thanks to the sound, this is one of the best typing experiences I’ve had on a linear switch keyboard in a long time, and I didn’t have any of the usual issues with accuracy or speed in my typing tests. This keyboard isn’t built for gaming — it has a polling rate of 500 Hz (2ms latency) in wired mode, which will still work for games that don’t require top speeds. Wobkey also sells the Rainy 75 HE, which is a magnetic Hall Effect switch version of the Rainy 75. It’s pricier, at $179 – $199, but it’s built for gaming with magnetic switches and up to an 8,000 Hz polling rate. Features and Software of the Rainy 75 Pro Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The Rainy 75 Pro is configurable with QMK / VIA, and features different profiles for wired and wireless modes. QMK / VIA is an open source firmware package used for customizing and programming custom keyboards, and is fairly easy to use (you’ll need the json files from Wobkey for the Rainy 75 Pro to upload to the VIA design tab). You can use the web-based VIA to remap keys — up to four layers deep — with various functions, shortcuts, and macros, which you can record in the software. You can also tweak the keyboard’s RGB lighting, but you’ll get the same options you have on the keyboard (you can’t customize the lighting per-key, for example). Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) (Image credit: Tom’s Future) The keyboard features bright RGB backlighting and comes with eighteen pre-set lighting modes that you can cycle through on the keyboard by pressing Fn + \. You can also adjust the lighting brightness (Fn + up/down arrow keys), speed (Fn + left/right arrow keys) and color (Fn + Enter) on the keyboard, and you can turn the lighting on and off by pressing Fn + Backspace. The lighting is nice and bright and looks great despite the lack of shinethrough on the keycaps. Wireless Experience and Battery Life on the Rainy 75 Pro Though it doesn’t really look like it, the Rainy 75 Pro is a wireless keyboard, with both 2.4-GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. The Pro version has a 7000mAh battery, which is rated for around 900 hours of battery life, presumably with the lighting turned off (the standard wireless version comes with a 3500mAh battery, which is rated for around 450 hours). To connect wirelessly, you’ll first need to turn the keyboard’s wireless connection on — the switch is located under the Caps Lock key, so you’ll need to take that key off to turn it on (or off). Then you can press Ctrl + Tab to switch between connections (cycles through wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless, if plugged in; or through Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless if not). The keyboard can connect to up to three Bluetooth devices at a time, which you can cycle through once you’re in Bluetooth mode by pressing Ctrl + F1, F2, or F3. (Image credit: Tom’s Future) Needless to say, this isn’t the most convenient way to toggle the keyboard’s wireless connectivity. This might not be a major issue if you plan to leave the keyboard’s wireless turned on while it’s on your desk, but it’s definitely a problem if you’re moving the keyboard around (e.g. I kept swapping keyboards, and while I was able to leave the wireless turned on without worrying too much about battery life, I did accidentally hit the keys… constantly) and/or if you just want to be able to switch wireless on and off more often than never. The Bottom Line The Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro sounds and feels fantastic, and it’s a pretty great buy at $139 for the Pro model. But our review model did have some switch inconsistencies, and the hidden wireless switch was more inconvenient than I anticipated it being, so it’s certainly not perfect. It comes with smooth linear switches but you’ll need to swap them out if you’re looking for a different feel. And while it will work okay for gaming, it’s not really a gaming keyboard — the magnetic switch version is about $50 pricier, which puts it on par with some very good competitors, such as the $175 Arbiter Studio Polar 75 Pro. Still, if you’re looking for a fantastic typing experience in a relatively budget-friendly package, this is the keyboard for you. Source link #Wobkey #Rainy #Pro #Review #greatsounding #keyboard #wont #break #bank Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Cozy Farm Simulator Sugardew Island Launches March 7th Cozy Farm Simulator Sugardew Island Launches March 7th The upcoming cozy farm simulator Sugardew Island will be coming to consoles and PC on March 7th, 2025. Source link #Cozy #Farm #Simulator #Sugardew #Island #Launches #March #7th Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy offers Trump mineral partnership, seeking security Ukraine’s Zelenskyy offers Trump mineral partnership, seeking security Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Feb. 7, 2025. Valentyn Ogirenko | Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pored over a once-classified map of vast deposits of rare earths and other critical minerals during an interview with Reuters on Friday, part of a push to appeal to Donald Trump’s penchant for a deal. The U.S. president, whose administration is pressing for a rapid end to Ukraine’s war with Russia, said on Monday he wanted Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earths and other minerals in return for financially supporting its war effort. “If we are talking about a deal, then let’s do a deal, we are only for it,” Zelenskyy said, emphasising Ukraine’s need for security guarantees from its allies as part of any settlement. Ukraine floated the idea of opening its critical minerals to investment by allies last autumn, as it presented a “victory plan” that sought to put it in the strongest position for talks and force Moscow to the table. Zelenskyy said less than 20% of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including about half its rare earth deposits, were under Russian occupation. Rare earths are important in the manufacture of high-performance magnets, electric motors and consumer electronics; Zelenskyy said Moscow could open those resources to its allies North Korea and Iran, both sworn U.S. enemies. “We need to stop Putin and protect what we have – a very rich Dnipro region, central Ukraine,” he said. Russian troops have been gaining ground in the east for months, throwing huge resources into an unrelenting offensive while Kyiv’s much smaller army grapples with a shortage of soldiers and frets over future weapons supplies from abroad. Zelenskyy unfurled a map on a table in the heavily-defended president’s office in Kyiv, showing numerous mineral deposits, including a broad strip of land in the east marked as containing rare earths. Around half of it looked to be on Russia’s side of the current frontlines. He said Ukraine had Europe’s largest reserves of titanium, essential for the aviation and space industry, and uranium, used for nuclear energy and weapons. Many of the titanium deposits were marked in northwestern Ukraine, far from the fighting. Ukraine has rapidly retuned its foreign policy approach to align with the transactional world view set out by the new occupant of the White House, Ukraine’s most important ally. But Zelenskyy emphasised that Kyiv was not proposing “giving away” its resources, but offering a mutually beneficial partnership to develop them jointly: “The Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most. And they should have this priority, and they will. I would also like to talk about this with President Trump.” He said Russia knew in detail where Ukraine’s critical resources were from Soviet-era geological surveys that had been taken back to Moscow when Kyiv gained independence in 1991. In addition, Zelenskyy said Kyiv and the White House were discussing the idea of using Ukraine’s vast underground gas storage sites to store U.S. liquefied natural gas. “I know that the Trump administration is very interested in it … We’re ready and willing to have contracts for LNG supplies to Ukraine. And of course, we will be a hub for the whole of Europe,” he said. Zelenskyy wants meeting The interview comes days before the February 14-16 Munich Security Conference, where officials from dozens of Western countries will converge at an unpredictable juncture in the nearly three-year-old war. Zelenskyy said he planned to attend the forum, where Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, is also expected. The Ukrainian leader said it was essential that he met Trump in person before the U.S. president meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, “otherwise it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine”. Trump said on Friday that he expected to talk to Zelenskyy next week. Zelenskyy said his own priority would be raising Ukraine’s need for security guarantees as part of any deal, to prevent Russia launching another In general though, it was vital the West determined a broad strategy before entering into talks with Moscow. He said there were already regular contacts between his team and Kellogg and Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz. “Every day we have contacts, we talk about general things, but the specifics will come a little later,” he said. Trump’s peace push comes as advancing Russian forces threaten the major Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk. On the battlefield, Zelenskyy confirmed for the first time that his troops had launched a new offensive on Thursday, advancing 2.5 km (1.5 miles) further into Russia’s Kursk region. Russia had reported a Ukrainian attack in the area that day, but said it was repelled. Zelenskyy said thousands of North Korean troops fighting on Russia’s side had now returned to active combat against Kyiv’s forces in Kursk after a pause of several weeks. Next week, the government intends to launch lucrative recruitment contracts to entice young men aged 18-24 – below draft age – into the armed forces to help ease a manpower shortage. Zelenskyy declined to say how many men were expected to sign up. Source link #Ukraines #Zelenskyy #offers #Trump #mineral #partnership #seeking #security Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

****** releases 3 more Israeli hostages for 183 ************ prisoners – National ****** releases 3 more Israeli hostages for 183 ************ prisoners – National ******-led militants released three gaunt, frail-looking Israeli civilian men they held for the past 16 months on Saturday, and Israel was freeing dozens of ************ prisoners as part of a fragile agreement that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip. Before a crowd of hundreds, armed ****** fighters led Eli Sharabi, 52, Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, onto a stage, where they were forced to make a public statement before being handed over to the Red Cross. The three were among about 250 people abducted during the ******-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. They appeared to be in much poorer physical condition than any of the 18 other hostages released so far during the ceasefire that began Jan. 19. Hostages’ condition sparks concern The hostages’ emaciated condition and the stage-managed ceremony — a departure from previous hostage releases where the captives were not made to speak — sparked outrage in Israel. Story continues below advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said “we will not accept the shocking scenes” that played out. The statement did not lay out punitive measures. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the “difficult scenes” were reason to extend the truce with ****** and bring home the dozens of remaining hostages. 2:00 Deadline for more Israel-****** ceasefire talks on Monday In an apparent response to concerns over the released hostages’ health, ******’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed it had “made efforts to preserve their lives despite the (Israeli) bombardment.” Many Palestinians released from Israeli jails during the ceasefire have also appeared gaunt and pale, and have alleged abuses and mistreatment in Israeli custody. The current phase of the truce, which runs until early March, does not appear to have been affected by U.S. President Donald Trump’s stunning proposal to transfer the ************ population out of Gaza, welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by the Palestinians and most of the international community. Story continues below advertisement But it could complicate talks over the second and more difficult phase, when ****** is to release dozens more hostages in return for a lasting ceasefire. ****** may be reluctant to free more captives — and lose its main bargaining chip — if it believes the U.S. and Israel are serious about depopulating the territory, which rights groups say would violate international law. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. This was the fifth swap of hostages for prisoners during the ceasefire. Before Saturday, 18 hostages and more than 550 ************ prisoners had been freed. The gaunt appearance of the three hostages “evoke the horrifying pictures from the liberation of the camps in 1945, the darkest chapter of our history,” said the Hostages Families Forum, a group representing relatives of most of the captives. “We have to get all of the hostages out of hell. There can be no more delays.” 2:00 ****** frees 3 more hostages, Israel releases Palestinians as part of ceasefire deal The first phase of the ceasefire calls for the release of 33 hostages and nearly 2,000 prisoners, the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid to the devastated territory. Last week, wounded Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza for Egypt for the first time since May. Story continues below advertisement Who was released on Saturday? Sharabi and Ben Ami were both captured from Kibbutz Beeri, one of the hardest-hit farming communities, during the ******-led attack. Levy was abducted from the Nova music festival, where he was taking shelter in a safe room when the militants arrived. Sharabi’s wife and two teenage daughters were killed in the attack. His brother Yossi was also abducted and died in captivity. Levy’s wife was killed during the attack and his now 3-year-old son has been cared for by relatives. It is unclear whether either man knows about what happened to their families. More on World More videos Ben Ami, a father of three, was kidnapped with his wife, Raz, who was released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Relatives of the hostages cheered, clapped and cried as they watched live footage of their loved ones being released. Levy’s brother, Michael, said his brother’s young son, Almog, was already told his father was on his way. “Mogi, we found daddy,” Michael Levy said he told the boy, using his nickname, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12. “We haven’t seen happiness like that in him for a long time.” Trending Now ‘Deep sadness and shock’: ********* child dies at resort in Jamaica Woman arrested after Super Bowl reporter found dead in Louisiana hotel room The 183 ************ prisoners being released by Israel on Saturday include 18 people serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, 54 serving long-term sentences and 111 Palestinians from Gaza who were detained after the Oct. 7 attack but not tried for any crime. All are men are aged between 20 and 61. Story continues below advertisement Virtually every ************ has a friend, relative or acquaintance who has been imprisoned. More than 100 hostages were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. More than 70 are still in Gaza, and Israel has said 34 of those are believed to be dead. Israel says ****** has confirmed eight of the 33 to be released during the first phase of the truce are dead. Ceasefire’s next phase is uncertain It is not clear whether Israel and ****** have begun negotiating a second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached. Israel says it is still committed to destroying ******, even after the militant group reasserted its rule over Gaza within hours of the ceasefire. A key far-right partner in Netanyahu’s coalition is calling for the war to resume after the ceasefire’s first phase. ****** says it won’t release remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In the Oct. 7 attack, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory air and ground war, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants. Story continues below advertisement The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence. It blames civilian deaths on ****** because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods. Senior militants among ************ prisoners set for release Of the 72 prisoners being released Saturday, five are from east Jerusalem, 14 from the Gaza Strip and the remaining 53 from the occupied West Bank. Seven are to be transferred to Egypt ahead of further deportation. A total of 47 prisoners were being freed Saturday from Ofer prison in the West Bank, and transferred to ************ custody near Ramallah where scores of relatives, friends and supporters welcomed some of them cheering and clapping. One extremely frail-looking prisoner was loaded directly from a bus into an ambulance for emergency treatment. The ************ security prisoners were detained over offenses ranging from bomb attacks to involvement in militant organizations, in some cases dating back decades. They include Iyad Abu Shakhdam, 49, who has been locked up for nearly 21 years over his involvement in ****** attacks in crowded civilian areas that killed dozens of Israelis during the ************ uprising of the early 2000s. That included a notorious 2004 suicide bus bombing in Israel’s southern desert city of Beersheba that killed 16 people, including a 4-year-old. Another is Jamal al-Tawil, a prominent ****** politician in the occupied West Bank and former mayor of the village of al-Bireh, abutting Ramallah. Story continues below advertisement He has spent nearly two decades in and out of Israeli jail, with the military reporting his last arrest in 2021 over his alleged participation in violent riots and efforts to entrench ******’ leadership in the West Bank. He was transferred to administrative detention, a repeatedly renewable six-month ******* in which suspects are held without charge or trial. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 ******** war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. Source link #****** #releases #Israeli #hostages #************ #prisoners #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Uncharted Waters Origin is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a new Relationship Chronicle Uncharted Waters Origin is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a new Relationship Chronicle The new Relationship Chronicle features Alamat Ni Urduja New Growth System and Mates introduced Valentine’s event runs from February 12th to 26th Line Games has just released an exciting new update for Uncharted Waters Origin, expanding the seafaring sandbox RPG with a wave of new content. This season, you can expect to see the addition of a new Relationship Chronicle, growth system, and a Valentine’s special event. If you’re looking for more action, a new assault stage joins the game as well. Uncharted Waters Origin’s latest update introduces Alamat Ni Urduja, an S-grade Mate known as the Warrior Princess. She is part of the new Relationship Chronicle, and her storyline follows her on a quest as she tries to find a worthy challenger. To unlock her tale and earn rewards, you’ll need to own her as a Mate and complete the full Relationship Chronicle. Moving on, a new growth system, called Company Research, is now available. This novel mechanism is a great way to strengthen your Adventure, Trade, and Combat capabilities. By collecting Research Points from Admiral Chronicles and other content, you can complete research projects that provide various benefits. Additional updates include new Mates, Aleshia Sereti and Shi Yang, as well as two new inn employees, Indumathi and Anand, who can be recruited once their Friendship Level reaches the maximum. A new Assault stage, Aydin Leis, has also been added, along with Salvage points in the Arctic Sea, giving you more opportunities to secure valuable rewards. Finally, the Valentine’s Day event runs from February 12th to 26th, bringing event currency and exclusive items. Logging in over 14 days will earn you Love Letters, which can be exchanged for various rewards, including Blue Gems. Before you go on, check out this list of the top sandbox games to play on mobile! Completing daily event scenarios will also grant event currency that can be traded for Chocolate Boxes containing random rewards, Limited Event Gear, and even a Grade 20 or 21 Ship for new captains. Download Uncharted Waters Origin now for free. Visit the official website for more information. Source link #Uncharted #Waters #Origin #celebrating #Valentines #Day #Relationship #Chronicle Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

HeyGears Reflex RS Review: Commercial Resin for your Desktop HeyGears Reflex RS Review: Commercial Resin for your Desktop Resin printing isn’t exactly my favorite 3D printing activity, so I tend to dislike any machine that makes the gooey process more difficult. HeyGears has been getting rave reviews across the internet for its outstanding quality – and when it comes to quality, the results are impossible to ignore. But it’s also annoying to use. The truth is, making a good-looking resin print is pretty easy these days. Where manufacturers need to focus is within the realm of user experience. I knew immediately that the Reflex RS was trying to copycat Formlabs, judging both by its looks and the locked down ecosystem. I appreciate the effort – the idea of a walled garden is that by limiting the user to proprietary resins, you eliminate user error. Everything is precalculated for you, and HeyGears does that, right down to how long the wash unit shakes your parts. Again, I appreciate this. But I couldn’t get over the software. The printer doesn’t just have a slicer. It has Blueprint, a cloud-based project management system. Nothing is intuitive, and I constantly search for the right button to move the files through the process. When you start a new job, you have to tell it which machine you’re running and what extras you have installed. I find this annoying, as the software greets me by name – if it can remember my profile information, surely it could remember my machine as well? Then you have to select the resin you are going to use, which have charming names like PARP10, PAP10, and PAWW10. I’m pretty sure I had poured in PAP10 and accidentally sliced it as PAWW10 and neither of us seemed to know. The poor UX carries over to the machine’s interface and even how you pour in the resin. We can get into that further within the review. The bottom line is that the HeyGears Reflex RS has good hardware but annoying software. If you only use this one machine, you’ll probably get used to its quirks. I couldn’t, and for that, I’m not recommending it as one of the Best 3D printers. Specifications: HeyGears Reflex RS Swipe to scroll horizontally Build Volume 222 x 122 x 230mm (8.7 x 4.8 x 9 inches) Light Source LED X/Y Axis Resolution 29.7 µm Normal Exposure Time NA Interface 7-inch color touchscreen Connectivity USB, Wi-Fi, LAN Machine Footprint 380 x 360 x 584 mm (14.9 × 14.1 × 22.9 inches) Machine Weight 20 KG (44 lbs) Included in the Box: HeyGears Reflex RS (Image credit: HeyGears) The HeyGears Reflex RS includes everything you need to get started as soon as you unbox the printer. We were sent a Combo for testing, which included a matching wash and cure machines with ample room for the Reflex RS print volume. Printing Safety with HeyGears Reflex RS (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The HeyGears Reflex RS requires the same safety precautions as other resin printers. Uncured resin is dangerous, and the solvents used to clean your prints can be irritating to the skin. Use gloves and safety glasses when pouring resin and handling uncured prints. Make sure the room you use your resin printer in is well-ventilated to avoid inhaling fumes. Spilled or dripped resin should be immediately cleaned with 99% isopropyl alcohol. After printing, make sure to wipe down your printer and bottles to remove smudges of uncured resin. Always keep your resin tightly sealed and safely stored out of reach of pets and children. Assembling the HeyGears Reflex RS The printer comes fully assembled. You only need to unpack the printer, peel the protective film, then put the build platform in place. Calibrating the Build Plate on the HeyGears Reflex RS HeyGears Reflex RS ships with the build plate factory-leveled. It has an internal sensor to make sure the machine itself is level so it can accurately read the liquid contents of the vat. If the machine as a whole is not leveled, it will alert you and walk you through the necessary adjustments. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Design of the HeyGears Reflex RS (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The HeyGears Reflex RS is a solidly built machine that follows the general style of a Formlabs 3D printer at a fraction of the cost. It has a flip-top lid with a recessed handle, which is easy to use. The vat has screws that remain attached, so there’s no worry you’ll misplace them. The glass surface over the light processing unit comes with a preinstalled clear protection sheet, and the vat has raised circles in the corner to prevent suction from forming. HeyGears resin comes in special cartridges with a standard bottle cap and a spring-loaded seal. A peg on the vat pushes open the seal, allowing the resin to pour freely. This is a purely mechanical system controlled by gravity. The 900mL vat will hold 9/10th of a resin bottle, with very little to keep in reserve. If you try to switch resin before using it up, you have to deal with an incredibly awkward, very large pan of resin to attempt to pour back into the bottle. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The machine can detect the bottle’s presence – and will not operate without a bottle in place. I found that I could cheat the system by pouring a small amount of resin in, capping the bottle, and putting the now closed bottle in the chamber. Unfortunately, I couldn’t open the lid because the bottle stuck out the top. When the Reflex RS finishes printing, it will only raise up a few inches. This prevents the resin on the build plate from splashing on the UV cover, which is great. However, you only get once chance to raise the build plate higher. If you’re not reading the screen carefully and pass over the option, the build plate is locked into place, making it difficult to remove without bumping your prints on the edge of the vat. There is no control on the printer interface to raise the build plate on your own. Or perhaps there is, and I couldn’t find it. The machine’s control panel is arranged in a nonsensical manner, with setting optimized for first time use. Sure, it’s great that entering your Wi-Fi password is easy to find, but this setting is only needed once. Something you may need more often, like cleaning the vat, is pushed way down the list. This is also a good time to talk about file naming. The machine is run by a complex program called “Blueprint” and when you’re done slicing a file the default name is a 32 digit string of numbers which seems to contain the date twice. You do have the option to rename the file, but without clear prompts to change the name, you miss the opportunity. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The build plate is a lightly etched, completely flat plate, which collected a great deal of resin on top that needs to be scrapped off before removal. I didn’t have any trouble getting prints off the plate with the scraper and a light tap of my hammer. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) You have the option of sending files by LAN, Cloud, or USB stick. Cloud files can send settings to both the wash and cure units, but these take a significant amount of time. Again, the program, with all its complexity, didn’t have a “send all” button to send the files to the three units: printer, wash, and cure. Instead, you have to send the file to the cloud, then send it to the printer, then send it to the wash, then send it to the curing oven. This is tedious, to say the least. The wash station – optional – uses an ingenious two-tank system. These plastic tanks have locking lids with a spring-loaded port on the top and bottom. Rinse fluid, most likely isopropyl alcohol, and pour it into one container. The model is placed in the container. The container is placed into a cradle on top of the wash mechanism, and a time can be manually dialed in or beamed over from the slicing software via the cloud. You can’t move the wash & cure data by USB or LAN, so I assume the calculating is done on the server side. The mechanism then shakes the container for the allotted time. Once done, you place the full tank on top of the empty with the ports lined up and then turn the valve to open. Liquid drains into the empty container. You must be sure to close the value when done, or else you’ll make quite a mess the next time. Ask me how I know. Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) I can see the value in this method, as this keeps the liquid away from the shaker’s mechanical bits. I used to have a traditional wash unit from another company, but that rusted to bits after using it to store alcohol for a couple of years. I do prefer to use a two stage rinse method, so I still dipped the dirty resin parts into a pre-bath of alcohol first. This keeps the liquid in the official wash tank cleaner for longer. The curing station is very roomy, with lights on the sides and roof and reflective walls on every side but the door. There’s no light on the bottom, but reflected light seems to do the job. The station is also an oven that can reach 80 degrees to aid curing. It comes with a turn table and a ceiling rack on which you can hang parts. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Slicers Compatible with the HeyGears Reflex RS (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Reflex RS only works with its custom software, Blueprint. The software is a free download for both Mac and Windows. There is also a companion app for Android and iOS if you’re into that. The software runs the entire system and optimizes the print jobs based on the materials you say are in the printer. It can also calculate how much time is needed for the wash and cure machines, and that information can be sent via Cloud. Though I did have problems with the way the non-slicer part of Blueprint is laid out, the slicer itself is actually very easy to use. Blueprint handles all the math, so there’s no need to calculate exposure times, or how long to cure the finished print. The presets are locked in and there’s no way to change them. The automatic supports are also very good and easy to remove. I would suggest you rotate the print yourself, so that supports are not placed on the face. I don’t suggest using “one click slice” on any model with a face or surface area that can not risk scaring from supports. Washing and Curing Your Prints Models by Wekster (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Before you can admire your prints, you’ll need to wash them with isopropyl alcohol and cure with UV light. Completely dry the print with a hair dryer on cool – IPA left on the print will turn white. You can also let the print air dry in a place away from sunlight. Supports are easier to remove before curing because they are softer. Clip the supports off with side cutters and use tweezers to remove stubborn supports. Remember to always wear gloves while handling uncured prints. Your IPA should never be flushed down the drain, especially after being contaminated with uncured resin. Instead, keep using the resin until it’s too dirty, then leave the container open to evaporate. The remaining sludge can be cured with UV light or the sun before being thrown away. Supports should also be cured before being thrown away. Sample Prints on the HeyGears Reflex RS Basic HeyGears Resin is only a little more expensive than consumer resin, with prices starting at $32 a KG. Specialized resins get more pricey, with ABS like resin costing $65, compared to $38 for 3rd party Siraya Tech ABS-Like resin. I first tested the printer with the AmeraLabs resin test print using PAP10 Ash Grey resin that was provided for the review. The print looked perfect, with extremely crisp details. The print took 62 minutes to complete using a 30 µm layer height and default settings. I also tested out a fidget spinner (not a great idea) using PARP10 Rapid Prototyping Resin – it was listed as “pale purple” and I got excited that I had some not-boring-grey resin. Sadly, it’s just cool grey. The spinner was printed using a 50 µm layer height and took 1 hour and 24 minutes to print using whatever settings HeyGears decided to use. The model printed with the most perfectly crisp edges I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it to stay open to fully cure. AmeraLabs Town test print and Tinkercad spinner (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Of course, I had to run the Rocket Bust by Wekster, which I’ve been using as a larger comparison test for resin printers. This printed in 8 hours and 28 minutes, using a 30 µm layer height with default settings with the grey PAP10 resin. The details are super fine, revealing the vines on Baby Groot, each individual tooth in Rocket’s mouth and bits of texture in the jacket fabric. Rocket Bust by Wekster (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The Reflex RS really brings out the details. This model looks like an original sculpt, with super clean lines and noticeable texture in the hide that a lesser printer will blur. This is printed at 50µm in PAP10 Precise Detail Resin in 10 hours and 57 minutes using HeyGears defaults. Unicorn of Light by Loubie (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) I pulled out a miniature I made in HeroForge and printed it in PAP10 Precise Detail Resin in 3 hours and 17 minutes with a 50µm layer height. The levels of highly refined details are amazing. For comparison is the same model, also with a 50µm layer height, but printed on a Mars 5 Ultra with a cheap “rapid resin” in just one hour and 44 minutes. The “fast” mini looks like putty, showing that matching a quality resin to a dialed in 3d printer is definitely worth it. Custom HeroForge (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Bottom Line (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) The HeyGears Reflex RS is a good machine saddled with both firmware and software that’s difficult to navigate. The printer is locked into a cloud based software ecosystem, which is annoying if you don’t have a strong Wi-Fi signal in your workshop. You can send files via USB, and they recently added an offline mode, but this doesn’t have the full functionality of the cloud based system. Despite my difficulties navigating the project management software, the slicer itself is very good, highly automated and easy to use. The models I printed had very clear, impressively fine, details. Though print quality is excellent on this machine, but it’s not unique to HeyGears – many consumer grade machines can produce crispy prints when paired with a high resolution resin. The walled garden is both a blessing and a curse – it’s great if you want to leave the math and chemistry to the experts, bad if you want to buy your favorite resin from Amazon. You would have a hard time using Prusa’s color mixing resin kit, or Elegoo’s translucent red on this machine, as there are no presets for it and no way to access that part of the slicer. It’s $999 starting price tag is a bit expensive for the consumer market, but not unheard of for a large machine with a good quality build like the Reflex RS. The combo kit with a matching wash and cure brings the costs $2107. They are not required to run the Reflex RS, but having matching equipment that all talks to the slicer is pretty nice. If I were buying this for a maker space, educational setting or a business, I would definitely recommend getting the combo system. If you’re looking for a resin printer that delivers the same quality with a similar build volume but lets you pick your own resin and settings, I’d suggest the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra which is currently on ***** for $399. MORE: Best 3D Printers MORE: Best Budget 3D Printers MORE: Best Resin 3D Printers Source link #HeyGears #Reflex #Review #Commercial #Resin #Desktop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump says he’s firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman Trump says he’s firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman President Donald Trump says he is firing members of the board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and naming himself chairman. He also indicated that he would be dictating programming at one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions, specifically declaring that he would end events featuring performers in drag. Trump’s announcement Friday came as the Republican president has bulldozed his way across official Washington during the first weeks of his second term, trying to shutter federal agencies, freeze spending and ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the government. “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump wrote on his social media website. “We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” In a statement later on its website, the Kennedy Center said it was aware of Trump’s post. “We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees,” the statement said. “We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration.” The statement continued: “Per the Center’s governance established by Congress in 1958, the chair of the board of trustees is appointed by the Center’s board members. There is nothing in the Center’s statute that would prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would be the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center’s board.” Drag artists accused Trump of targeting them because of who they are in a country where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution. “This is about who gets to exist in public spaces and whose stories get to be told on America’s stage,” said Blaq Dinamyte, president of Qommittee, a national network of drag artists and allies. “Banning an entire art form is censorship, plain and simple. Americans don’t have to agree on everything, but we should be able to speak our minds and perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation.” Unlike Democratic President Joe Biden and other presidents through the decades, Trump did not attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies during his first term. Shortly after Trump’s post, the Kennedy Center website began experiencing technical difficulties. Visitors got a message reading “We are experiencing high traffic” and were redirected to a “waiting room” that listed how many hundreds of people were trying to access the site ahead of them. Trump suggested in his post that he would be implementing some changes to the center’s performance schedule, noting that last year “the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.” According to its website, the center in July hosted a preshow titled “A Drag Salute to Divas” and a November “Drag Brunch.” In his post, Trump did not clarify which board of trustee members he would terminate besides the current chairman, philanthropist David Rubenstein. The board often features political powerbrokers and major donors, and is currently made up of members from both sides of the aisle. Rubenstein was first elected to the post in 2010 and reelected each year since that time. He was originally appointed to the Kennedy Center board by Republican President George W. Bush and subsequently reappointed by Democratic President Barack Obama and Biden. The current board features Biden’s White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, as well as Mike Donilon, Biden’s longtime ally, and Stephanie Cutter, a former Obama adviser. The treasurer of the center’s board of trustees is television producer Shonda Rhimes, who hosted fundraisers for Biden before he abandoned his reelection bid last summer. But the current board also features Trump allies, including Pam Bondi, his recently confirmed attorney general, and Lee Greenwood, whose song “God Bless the USA,” was the unofficial anthem of Trump’s presidential campaigns. During his first term in 2019, Trump announced that he was tapping actor Jon Voight, a longtime supporter, to the board, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is Trump’s second-term pick to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Source link #Trump #hes #firing #Kennedy #Center #board #trustees #members #naming #chairman Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bill Gates on quantum computing’s future Bill Gates on quantum computing’s future Arguments around the pacing for quantum computing are at the forefront of tech news these days, and now Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates has weighed in. On a recent episode of Opening Bid with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi, Gates considered Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang’s prediction that the technology might take 15 to 30 years to become truly impactful. While Gates agreed that building a quantum computer and developing the right software is a complex undertaking, he also suggested that breakthroughs such as AI could happen in just three to five years. “And Microsoft is a competitor in that space. And I regularly review that work and I’m quite impressed with it,” Gates explained, hinting that the race for quantum supremacy could be heating up sooner than expected. For full episodes of Opening Bid, listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on our website. This post was written by Rachael Lewis-Krisky, producer for Opening Bid. Source link #Bill #Gates #quantum #computings #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Narendra Modi’s BJP wins in Delhi polls for first time in almost 3 decades – Financial Times Narendra Modi’s BJP wins in Delhi polls for first time in almost 3 decades – Financial Times Narendra Modi’s BJP wins in Delhi polls for first time in almost 3 decades Financial TimesKumar Vishwas’ Wife Cried When Manish Sisodia Lost. It Was Not Out Of Empathy NDTVVoter message to AAP in 2025 elections: Solve our problems or make way The Indian ExpressIndian PM Modi’s party set to win election in capital after 27 years out of power Reuters IndiaModi’s BJP Leads in Elections in Delhi Region The New York Times Source link #Narendra #Modis #BJP #wins #Delhi #polls #time #decades #Financial #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Three Israeli hostages freed by ****** as ceasefire continues Three Israeli hostages freed by ****** as ceasefire continues ****** freed three more Israeli hostages today as part of the ceasefire deal in Gaza. The civilian men were held captive for 16 months after the ******-led attack on Israel in October 2023. ************ prisoners held in Israel will be released later today, marking the fifth such exchange since the ceasefire began last month. Source link #Israeli #hostages #freed #****** #ceasefire #continues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Where has the bird flu spread across the US? See map as virus continues to wreak havoc Where has the bird flu spread across the US? See map as virus continues to wreak havoc Bird flu continues to devastate poultry farms in the U.S., forcing poultry market closures and, more dead dead birds and higher egg prices. On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the closure of live poultry markets in New York City and three counties. “Over the last week, inspectors have detected seven cases of bird flu in poultry during a routine visit to live bird markers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens,” Hochul said during a virtual public health briefing. Bird flu has also caused egg prices to skyrocket, and an outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicting egg prices will increase about 20% within the year, compared with a predicted 2.2% increase for overall food prices. More than 156 million chickens, ducks, turkeys and other fowl have been slaughtered across the United States since the outbreak began in January 2022. As for humans, 67 people have been infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Maps of bird flu cases show the spread of the virus across the United States. Where has bird flu been seen in humans?How have people become infected by bird flu?What are the symptoms of bird flu? Most people infected with bird flu in the U.S. have had mild symptoms. Symptoms of H5N1 birth flu infection in humans may include pink eye, fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose and shortness of breath, according to the Cleveland Clinic While data is limited, experts from the College of American Pathologists said that farmworkers might have different symptoms than others infected either because of different strains of the virus or because they were infected in different ways. Farmworkers, for instance, may have rubbed their eyes after touching a cow that was contaminated with the virus and then developed red eyes, which is the most common of their symptoms. Someone who came into contact with a backyard chicken or wild bird may have inhaled the virus and therefore became sicker. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at *****@*****.tld and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bird flu map: Where are cases located as virus continues to spreak Source link #bird #flu #spread #map #virus #continues #wreak #havoc Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Saturday, February 8 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Saturday, February 8 Table of Contents Table of Contents How to play Strands Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s Strand answers Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “Westminster assembly” Here’s a hint that might help you: puppy show. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers SPORTING TOYS HERDING HOUNDS TERRIERS WORKING Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Saturday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google’s AI Super Bowl Ad Fiasco Somehow Gets Worse – Gizmodo Google’s AI Super Bowl Ad Fiasco Somehow Gets Worse – Gizmodo Google’s AI Super Bowl Ad Fiasco Somehow Gets Worse Gizmodo50 states, 50 stories: Highlighting small businesses at the big game The KeywordGoogle’s AI Super Bowl ad is wrong about cheese The VergeSearsport business featured in Google AD for Super Bowl Sunday WABI Source link #Googles #Super #Bowl #Fiasco #Worse #Gizmodo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Saturday, February 8 NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Saturday, February 8 Love crossword puzzles but don’t have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? That’s what The Mini is for! A bite-sized version of the New York Times’ well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isn’t always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt. Just like our Wordle hints and Connections hints, we’re here to help with The Mini today if you’re stuck and need a little help. Please enable Javascript to view this content Below are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today. NYT Mini Crossword answers today New York Times Across Beer foam – HEAD Dance that it takes “two” to do – TANGO Annoying thing to forget on a trip – CHARGER Color associated with Barbie – HOTPINK “For all ___ and purposes …” – INTENTS Maryland governor Wes – MOORE Cons’ counterparts – PROS Down Oldest monthly magazine in the U.S., launched in 1850 – HARPERS Front car of a train – ENGINE Athlete’s representative – AGENT Nerds – DORKS Body image? – TATTOO Bonobo relative – CHIMP Pay tribute to – HONOR Source link #NYT #Mini #Crossword #today #puzzle #answers #Saturday #February Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Iran leader Khamenei meets top ****** leaders in Tehran, state TV says Iran leader Khamenei meets top ****** leaders in Tehran, state TV says (Reuters) -Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with acting ****** leader Khalil al-Hayya and two other leaders of the ************ group in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian state TV reported. “You defeated the Zionist regime [Israel], which was in fact America’s defeat,” Khamenei, whose country supports ****** in its war with Israel, told the ************ delegation. “You did not allow them to achieve any of their goals.” Iranian TV said the ************ leaders were in Tehran to congratulate Khamenei on the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution. They expressed gratitude for Iran’s continued support. 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. The delegation, which also included Mohammad Darwish, head of ******’ leadership council, and top ****** official Nizar Awadallah, presented Khamenei a report on the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and “the victories and successes that were achieved”. “We come to meet with you today with pride,” the TV quoted al-Hayya as telling Khamenei. Khamenei said U.S. threats against Iran “have no effect on the mindset of our nation,” the Iranian media said. (*****@*****.tld. Editing by Mark Potter and David Evans) Source link #Iran #leader #Khamenei #meets #top #****** #leaders #Tehran #state Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Real Time’: Bill Maher Thinks Kanye West Is “Angling For A Cabinet Position” After Coming Out As Nazi – Deadline ‘Real Time’: Bill Maher Thinks Kanye West Is “Angling For A Cabinet Position” After Coming Out As Nazi – Deadline ‘Real Time’: Bill Maher Thinks Kanye West Is “Angling For A Cabinet Position” After Coming Out As Nazi DeadlineYe Takes Back Apology and Calls Himself a Nazi in Social Media Rant The New York TimesKanye West Goes On Antisemitic Rant Online, Says Hitler Was ‘So Fresh’ ForbesKanye West praises Hitler, calls himself a Nazi in fresh antisemitic X rant The Times of Israel Source link #Real #Time #Bill #Maher #Thinks #Kanye #West #Angling #Cabinet #Position #Coming #Nazi #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former top NOAA scientist under Trump issues a “Sharpie-gate” warning Former top NOAA scientist under Trump issues a “Sharpie-gate” warning The former top government scientist during President Trump’s first term in office has a cautionary tale to tell about the politicization of science. It involves Neil Jacobs, Mr. Trump’s nominee to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Jacobs, who led the agency on an acting basis during Mr. Trump’s first term, was reprimanded for ethics violations in what became known as “Sharpie-gate” — when the president held up a hurricane forecast map with ****** marker appearing to extend the storm’s potential path into Alabama. Craig McLean served during Mr. Trump’s first term as acting chief scientist of NOAA, which monitors the health of the oceans and the warming of the climate, and runs the National Weather Service, which issues weather warnings. In his first interview, McLean told CBS News many scientists “are worried about President Donald Trump’s return to office — after he undermined science in his first term.” “Folks realize that they may be in for a storm,” said McLean. McLean said he feels that way partly because of what happened in early September 2019. The National Weather Service said a storm, Hurricane Dorian, would move up the Atlantic coast. Mr. Trump tweeted that Alabama was in the storm’s path. It wasn’t. Twenty minutes later, the National Weather Service in Alabama accurately tweeted, “Alabama will NOT see any impacts from #Dorian.” Three days later in front of cameras, Mr. Trump held up a week-old map that was altered with a ****** marker to portray the hurricane’s path as if it had initially been headed for Alabama, as he tweeted. “That was the original chart,” Mr. Trump said. “It was going to hit not only Georgia but Florida. It was going toward the Gulf.” The controversy became known as “Sharpie-gate.” President Trump shows an outdated NOAA forecast map, marked with ****** pen to include Alabama, during a briefing on Hurricane Dorian in the Oval Office on Sept. 4, 2019. Evan Vucci/AP Two days later, without McLean’s knowledge, the leadership at NOAA released a statement backing Mr. Trump and criticizing the work of the weather forecasters. “To have a political process unplug the public’s trust, that got me stirred,” McLean said. “That gave me a sense of rage.” McLean demanded investigations. According to a report by a panel of the National Academy of Public Administration for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General report about the incident, the investigations concluded that the statement backing Mr. Trump was “driven by external political pressure,” through a “request from the White House then-Acting Chief of Staff,” and that Jacobs, the head of NOAA who has been nominated again, “violated the Code of Ethics for Science Supervision and Management set forth in Section 7.01 of NOAA’s Scientific Integrity Policy when they failed to engage the Birmingham WFO in the development of the September 6 Statement.” The National Academy report said: “Further, the Panel finds that they engaged in misconduct intentionally, knowingly, or in reckless disregard of the Code of Scientific Conduct or Code of Ethics for Science Supervision and Management in NOAA’s Scientific Integrity Policy.” According to the inspector general report, Jacobs felt pressured. “In Dr. Jacobs’s view, he could make the statement more accurate, but the Department would issue, or would cause NOAA to issue, a statement one way or another,” the report said. “If he resigned or were fired, he reasoned, the final statement likely would have been worse and more inflammatory.” CBS News reached out to Jacobs for comment, but has not yet received a response. A spokesperson for NOAA said it does not comment on nominations and has no contact with nominees until they are confirmed. McLean requested NOAA’s top leaders acknowledge the investigative findings. Shortly after, he was relieved of his position. McLean stayed on with NOAA, in another position, and eventually retired. McLean has a stark message about hurricane warnings. “People’s lives are on the line,” McLean said. But NOAA’s science is about more than hurricane warnings. It underpins how corporations and insurance companies predict the ever-growing risks of climate disasters and helps farmers choose the best time to plant as weather patterns shift. Project 2025, which has served as a roadmap for the new administration, calls on Mr. Trump to “break up NOAA.” The White House did not reply to questions sent by CBS News. During nomination hearings for Howard Lutnick, Mr. Trump’s pick to lead the Commerce Department — which oversees NOAA, Lutnick said he does not support breaking up NOAA. Project 2025 claims NOAA is “one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry.” McLean said there’s cause for alarm. “We’re required by law to give the full picture, and if there’s a reason to not be alarmist, what is that,” McLean said. “What we’re seeing is alarming, is very alarming.” David Schechter David Schechter is a national environmental correspondent and the host of “On the Dot with David Schechter,” a guided journey to explore how we’re changing the earth and earth is changing us. Source link #top #NOAA #scientist #Trump #issues #Sharpiegate #warning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US judge blocks Musk from accessing payment systems US judge blocks Musk from accessing payment systems A US judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration panel led by billionaire Elon Musk from accessing government systems used to process trillions of dollars in payments, citing a risk that sensitive and confidential information could be improperly disclosed. US District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan issued the order after a coalition of 19 mostly Democratic-led US states filed a lawsuit late Friday arguing Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has no legal power to access the US Department of Treasury systems. The lawsuit said Musk and his team could disrupt federal funding for health clinics, preschools, climate initiatives, and other programs, and that Republican President Donald Trump could use the information to further his political agenda. DOGE’s access to the system also “poses huge cybersecurity risks that put vast amounts of funding for the states and their residents in peril,” the state attorneys general said. They sought a temporary restraining order blocking DOGE’s access. The judge, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, said the states’ claims were “particularly strong” and warranted him acting on their request for emergency relief pending a further hearing before another judge on February 14. “That is both because of the risk that the new policy presents of the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking,” Engelmayer wrote. His order bars access from being granted to Treasury Department payment and data systems by political appointees, special government employees and government employees detailed from an agency outside the Treasury Department. The White House and Treasury Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat whose office is leading the case, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump charged Musk with leading DOGE a panel set up to identify fraud and waste in the government. Musk’s efforts have alarmed Democrats and advocacy groups who say he is overstepping his authority by seeking to dismantle agencies responsible for critical government programs and fire federal workers en masse. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Trump appointee, said this week that the department’s payment system will not be touched by Musk and that any decisions to stop payments would be made by other agencies. Source link #judge #blocks #Musk #accessing #payment #systems Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]