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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Launch Deals – Save 15% On PC, Steelbook For PS5, And More Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Launch Deals – Save 15% On PC, Steelbook For PS5, And More Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 launched today, February 4, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The long-awaited sequel has earned great reviews, including a 9/10 review from GameSpot. If you didn’t preorder a copy ahead of time and want to pick it up on launch day, you still have time to get a nice deal on the PC version or a free collectible with a physical copy for PlayStation 5. Walmart has an exclusive Steelbook Edition for PS5 that’s available for the same price as the standard edition. PC players can take advantage of a great launch deal at Fanatical (a GameSpot sister site). If you use promo code FANATICAL15 at checkout, you’ll only pay $51 for the standard edition or $68 for the Gold Edition. The Gold Edition comes bundled with the Expansion Pass, which includes three post-launch DLCs. The PC version is already $10 cheaper by default, which makes this discount even more enticing for those who aren’t sure whether to play on PC or console. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PC Launch Deal Use promo code FANATICAL15 at checkout. Console players can get a physical version of the Gold Edition for $90. Meanwhile, the GameStop-exclusive Collector’s Edition for PS5 and Xbox Series X remains in stock on launch day. $69 | Available on launch day Just weeks before launch, Walmart quietly opened preorders for an exclusive Steelbook Edition of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for PS5. The Steelbook Edition costs the same price as the standard edition of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Walmart’s exclusive editions of big games tend to sell out pretty fast, so we’d recommend grabbing it while it’s still in stock. $200 | Available on Launch Day Exclusive to GameStop, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s Collector’s Edition is loaded with physical collectibles. Along with your preorder bonuses and the gold edition of the game, here’s what you’ll find inside this massive bundle: Henry and Pebbles Statue: A 12-inch statue of Henry and his horse Letter of Hope: A replica of the letter carried by Sir Hans Capon Alleys of Kuttenberg Cloth Map: Full-color, hand-cut cloth map of Kuttenberg Coats of Valor Enamel Pin Set: Depicts key faction shields from the game and include a display base The King’s Rebels Collectible Cards: A six-card set featuring heroes from the game GameStop has both the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the Collector’s Edition in stock as of February 4. In our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review, critic Richard Wakeling praised the sequel’s deftly designed choice-based progression, improved combat, the writing, and the mission design, among other things. Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. Source link #Kingdom #Deliverance #Launch #Deals #Save #Steelbook #PS5 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Multiple people killed in attack at Swedish school for adults Multiple people killed in attack at Swedish school for adults Members of the emergengy services work at the scene of the Risbergska School in Orebro, Sweden, on Feb. 4, 2025, following reports of a serious violent crime. Jonathan Nackstrand | AFP | Getty Images Around 10 people have been killed in a shooting at an adult education centter, Swedish police said, the deadliest attack to take place in Sweden on what the prime minister said was a “painful day” for the country. The gunman is believed to be among those killed and a search is continuing at the school for other possible victims, the local police chief told a press conference. The perpetrator’s motive was not immediately known. “We know that 10 or so people have been killed here today. The reason that we can’t be more exact currently is that the extent of the incident is so large,” local police chief Roberto Eid Forest told reporters. Forest said police believed the gunman had acted alone and that they did not currently suspect terrorism as a motive, though he cautioned that much remained unknown. “When it comes to saying anything more about the perpetrator, it is still very early. The operation is ongoing and that will undoubtedly become clearer. But we are working very intensively right now,” Forest said. Police said they had opened an investigation into *******, arson and an aggravated weapons offence. The shooting took place in Orebro, some 200 km (125 miles) west of Stockholm, at the Risbergska school for adults who did not complete their formal education or failed to get the grades to continue to higher education. It is located on a campus that also houses schools for children. “It is a very painful day for the whole of Sweden,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X. “My thoughts are (also) with all of those whose normal school day was turned into fear. Being locked up in a classroom fearing for your life is a nightmare no one should have to experience.” ‘We started running’ Maria Pegado, 54, a teacher at the school, said someone threw open the door to her classroom just after lunch break and shouted to everyone to get out. “I took all my 15 students out into the hallway and we started running,” she told Reuters by phone. “Then I heard two shots but we made it out. We were close to the school entrance.” “I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realised it was very serious,” she said. A hospital spokesperson told Reuters that out of five patients admitted at the Orebro University Hospital, one had light injuries while four were operated on. Two of the latter were out of surgery and stable while one had serious injuries. Police said students had been kept indoors at the school that was targeted and at other schools nearby for their safety. Police later began evacuating those who had taken shelter. Sweden has been struggling with a wave of shootings and bombings caused by an endemic gang crime problem, though fatal attacks at schools are still rare. Ten people were killed in seven incidents of deadly violence at schools between 2010 and 2022 according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. In one of the highest-profile such crimes in the past decade, a 21-year-old masked assailant driven by racist motives killed a teaching assistant and a boy while wounding two others in 2015. Source link #Multiple #people #killed #attack #Swedish #school #adults Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chelsea sign Amougou after Felix moves to Milan on loan Chelsea sign Amougou after Felix moves to Milan on loan AC Milan have signed Portuguese forward Joao Felix from Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, while the English Premier League club have brought in French midfielder Mathis Amougou from Saint-Etienne on an eight-year contract. British media reports said Amougou, 19, had joined Chelsea for a fee of about $24 million (£12 million). Felix joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in August on a seven-year deal for a reported fee of $92 million (£46 million), but the 25-year-old had struggled for game time in his second spell with the Premier League club. Since his arrival at Chelsea, Felix has started just three league games despite scoring on his club debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, his only league goal this season. At Milan, Felix will work with Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao. France Under-19 international Amougou, who joined Saint-Etienne as a youth player in 2021, has made 17 league appearances for newly-promoted side this season. “It’s an honour for me to sign for such a big club like Chelsea. They believe in young players and the process they have in place to develop us is fantastic,” Amougou said in a statement. Milan, who drew 1-1 with Inter Milan in Sunday’s derby, are eighth in the Serie A and play Roma in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday. Chelsea, fourth in the Premier League, visit Brighton for an FA Cup tie on Saturday. Source link #Chelsea #sign #Amougou #Felix #moves #Milan #loan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tips for Stealth in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 – Top Guide Tips for Stealth in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 – Top Guide In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, you’ll often need to go unnoticed, sneaking around in places you shouldn’t be. It can be a tough task in some missions, with guards actively seeking to ruin your explorative activities by plunging a sword through you. With that in mind, I’ve assembled a quickfire guide full of tips for stealth and sneaking in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. Before long, you’ll be a shadow, moving around the maps of Trosky and Kuttenberg without being seen by any guard, regardless of the sharpness of their eyes and ears. Best Tips for Sneaking in KCD2 As someone who has played around 100 hours of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, here are my top tips for stealth in the game. Wait Until Nighttime It might sound obvious, but waiting until nighttime to do something stealthy is always the better option. At night, towns and settlements are silent, everyone is sleeping, there are fewer guards, and you are less likely to be spotted moving around, even in the open. Dress Appropriately In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, what you wear determines how successful you are at sneaking. Every outfit has a ‘Conspicuousness’ and ‘Noise’ rating, and the higher these numbers are, the more likely you are to be heard or seen. For instance, if you try sneaking around in heavy plate armour, you’ll be rattling like nobody’s business and you’ll be heard a mile off. With that in mind, always carry an outfit that you can ‘quick-switch’ to at the press of a button. You’ll want something light, loose, and dark – ****** clothing is best. Make sure you’re wearing soft shoes and that you have as little armour as possible before trying to sneak around. Get a Dagger Without a dagger, you can’t perform stealth kills in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. You can get a dagger from many of the game’s traders, blacksmiths, or on the bodies of bandits. Having a dagger is always of the utmost importance in this game, as many forced stealth sequences require you to swiftly eliminate sleeping or unaware enemies. Talking of daggers, you’ll need one to eliminate the guards at Canker’s Camp in a later mission… Use the Rocks When you’re sneaking, you can throw a small rock to distract enemies. It’s not the most elegant solution and you need to throw the rocks quite close to the enemy for it to work, but you can surely lead someone away from a door or a staircase by doing this. If you need to get somewhere blocked by an enemy, just toss a rock and lure them away. Level Up Your Charisma By levelling up your charisma and speech-related skills and perks, you can talk your way out of trouble if you’re caught sneaking around. If a guard catches you in a private area, you’ll be able to use the gift of the gab to talk them down. Even if you’re caught lockpicking, Henry will often have a swift excuse planned and ready to go – provided you have enough charisma to convince the guard. Drink Potions Some potions will help you with sneaking and stealth in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. For instance, there’s Padfoot, which increases your stealth abilities (lockpicking, sneaking, pickpocketing, etc). Also, you can down a bottle of Nighthawk for better night vision, which will allow you to see enemies long before they see you. In Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, stealth is inevitable, but with these top tips, you’ll be sneaking around like nobody’s business in no time at all. For more Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 guides, check out how to complete For Whom the Bell Tolls SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Tips #Stealth #Kingdom #Deliverance #Top #Guide Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple launches app for party invitations in recurring revenue push Apple launches app for party invitations in recurring revenue push Apple CEO Tim Cook gestures as he poses on the red carpet during arrivals for the screening of the mini-series “Disclaimer”, out of competition, at the 81st Venice Film Festival, in Venice, Italy August 29, 2024. Louisa Gouliamaki | Reuters Apple on Tuesday released a new app for creating invitations and sending them to contacts. The app is called Apple Invites. Users can create events, such as birthdays, graduations and housewarming parties, and manage RSVPs and guest lists through the app. Apple Invites is also available on the web. While users won’t need an iPhone to RSVP to events, they will need a paid iCloud+ subscription to send invites. The launch is the latest example of Apple’s services strategy, whe company introduces new paid subscriptions that are marketed to its installed base of 2.35 billion active devices. Apple’s Services division has become the company’s second largest business behind the iPhone, reporting $25 billion in sales in the December quarter. Services has also become a big source of Apple’s profit, with a gross margin of 74%. The growth of Apple’s services division is helping Apple’s overall margins expand in recent quarters after years of staying flat. Apple’s services business also includes its search deal with Google, Apple Pay payments and device warranties. With Invites, Apple is taking on Partiful, a startup founded in 2020 that allows users to make and send event invites. Partiful did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An iCloud+ subscription starts at $1 per month for 50GB of storage, and it’s included in Apple’s other subscription bundles, ranging up to a $38-per-month subscription that also includes the company’s TV service, Apple Music and access to games, fitness classes and news. Invites also includes Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of artificial intelligence software. Apple Intelligence can generate images for invites and help write the invitation with the company’s Writing Tools. Apple Intelligence also has the ability to share a photo album or playlist with an event’s guest list. While Apple doesn’t charge individually for many of its iCloud+ services, it now has a host of paid features intended to get users to upgrade from free storage. That subscription service offers a VPN-style relay service for private browsing, custom email domains for iCloud, local security camera storage and the ability to generate burner emails. Apple doesn’t disclose how many iCloud+ subscribers it has. The company last week said that it has 1 billion subscribers, but that figure includes subscriptions to apps through the App Store in addition to its direct iCloud subscriptions. WATCH: Tariff impact on Apple: Here’s what to know Source link #Apple #launches #app #party #invitations #recurring #revenue #push Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Doctors And Nurses Are Sharing Their Wildest Hospital Stories, And These Are Truly Shocking Doctors And Nurses Are Sharing Their Wildest Hospital Stories, And These Are Truly Shocking Recently, we wrote about wild things that happened at hospitals that rival scenes from Grey’s Anatomy, and now we’re back for more. Here are more doctors and nurses who are willing to share their shocking experiences, sourced from the BuzzFeed Community, and questions like “What’s the craziest thing you have seen at a hospital?” on Quora. NOTE: This post contains descriptions of violence and gore. 1.”In the first year of my Medical Oncology training, I was responsible for a very nice 70-something-year-old lady who was on palliative care for her really advanced *******. Our team was trying to alleviate her symptoms so she could enjoy her last days. She knew her death was imminent. One day, she introduced me to her fiancé, a middle-aged man probably 30 years younger than her, and asked me if I could write a statement of lucidity, so they would be able to get married and he would be her heir when she died.” “Since she had her mental status in perfect condition, I wrote that statement. However, the day they would be getting married, her dyspnea (shortness of breath) started to worsen, so we had to start a continuous morphine IV drip. Not alleviating enough of her dyspnea, we discussed it, and she agreed to have palliative sedation. Now, she would not be woken up to sign the papers. After a few days, she died, asleep and peacefully, without dyspnea. A couple of months later, I had already forgotten almost everything about that specific patient; I received a phone call from a nurse: ‘Dr, do not leave your room. Ms. __’s fiancé is here with a gun.’ I didn’t remember who Ms. __ was, so I had to check her medical records to inform the nurse what was possibly happening. Luckily, he didn’t find me before he was caught by the security guards (who later described him as drunk). I wasn’t his only target; he was also searching for the nurses who were caring for Ms. __ when she died. He also was targeting the social worker who was involved with the case. No one in the hospital was hurt. It seems he was upset because he did not become her heir, and because of that, he was in a very bad financial crisis.” —Gustavo M., Quora 2.”When I worked in the ER years ago, a patient came in with a snake bite. They thought a rattlesnake had bitten them but weren’t sure, so the friends went and got the snake and brought it to the hospital alive in a barrel.” “Luckily, they had not gotten bit, and yes, it was a rattlesnake.” —fabprincess48 3.”I was working one night, and it was near the end of the shift, so we nurses were at the nursing station giving reports to the oncoming shift. In the patient room next to the nurse’s station was an older man whose bed was near the window. The other patient was a young guy who was admitted for gunshot wounds. Well, someone climbed in the window and shot him in the head. We heard the gunfire and were scared beyond anything; we ran and hid in the bathroom and under desks. He was never caught by the police. FBI was everywhere, and it turned out that he apparently had a hit on him and was a known drug dealer; thank God that the older man survived.” —Minnie, Quora 4.”One man deliberately amputated his left arm and partially amputated his left leg with a small chainsaw, which he said he did ‘for Jesus.’ He came flying through the ER door waving his stump of a left arm — literally spewing his blood around the ER like his arm was a fire hose. Some very fine emergency work saved his life.” —Gregory G., Quora CBC 5.”As a triage nurse, we ask a lot of questions, including, ‘Any thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself?’ And if so, ‘Do you have a plan?’ Same for if the patient has any thoughts of wanting to hurt someone else: ‘Do you have a plan?’ One night, when I was so alone, tumbleweeds were rolling down the hallway. I called a gentleman to my triage booth. He looked obviously distressed. We get to the aforementioned questions. He denies SI, Suicidal Ideation. He endorses HI, Homicidal Ideation. When I asked if he had a plan, that was when he began unzipping his backpack.” “I snatched his backpack out of his hands, throwing it behind me, desperately hoping that there wasn’t a bomb in it. Then I began screaming at my top volume while blocking the sole point of exit and as the only obstacle between him and his backpack. While I am six feet tall, when compared to an actively homicidal gentleman who had at least an extra four inches and 200 pounds of muscle on me, I knew I would lose if it came to hand-to-hand combat. Thankfully, right about then, security showed up, quickly followed by the charge nurse, and the patient received some injections to calm him down. Once the patient was secured in a safe room and subdued with some potent pharmaceuticals, security opened the backpack. He had a gun with several magazines of ammunition. He also had six knives and four hypodermic needles…the patient was ****＋. I shudder to think the kind of carnage he could have inflicted on my work family and friends as well as the other patients in the department with those bullets. And the lasting impacts had he been able to stab anyone with those contaminated needles.” —Paige M., Quora 6.”At a major city’s public hospital in 1974, a construction worker from nearby came into the ER waiting room to use the pay phone. The worker was wearing bib overalls. He dropped a coin on the floor. When he bent over to pick it up, a small .25 cal automatic pistol fell out of the bib pocket. When the junker pistol hit the concrete floor, it discharged…and the bullet hit the worker. So in effect, he shot himself, and the bad news wasn’t over. After the ER patched him up, the police arrested him on a gun charge and took him to jail.” —Lewis M, Quora 7.”I once had a patient who came in weekly for chronic pain, and only one medication worked, according to her. She was known to be a local sex worker, but we’d developed something of a rapport, seeing her so often. One evening, I found her ‘working’ in her hospital room. In no uncertain terms, I sent her customer out of the building. About an hour later, I heard her screaming my name and looked up to see a man dragging her down the corridor, quite literally by the hair of her head. Keep in mind that she was a young girl with addiction issues. She weighed in at about 95 pounds. I’m built more like a bull and weigh quite a lot more than that. Without thinking, I jumped across the nurse’s station, pushed off the counter like a diver, and body-tackled him outside of the elevator. By the time security arrived, he was flattened like a pancake, lying spread-eagled and dazed with a nurse in the middle of his chest.” —T.D. A, Quora 8.”It was past midnight, and I was in the ER area fixing a malfunctioning machine. There was one drunk patient who came in by ambulance. He had been hacked by a jungle bolo. His entire nose was folded and hanging on his chin, and his mouth was open almost ear to ear. His head (forehead and crown area) was also open, with portions of his brain visible. His back had three deep wounds, and you could see the yellowish **** on each one, as if Wolverine had attacked him from behind. His left arm was cut and dangling on his side — only the skin was holding it — while the other arm had deep cuts in the forearm area. He also had a deep wound on his right thigh, but it was nothing compared to his upper body. The blood was all over his face, arms, leg, and back.” “The victim was lucky since the attacker was also too drunk to finish him. The incident happened because the victim commented on the attacker’s wife. Anyway, I thought this man would die, but two weeks later, he visited the Finance section by himself, looking for someone who could help him with monetary assistance so he could be discharged. Some of us apologized for laughing because he really looked like a cross between Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Joker due to stitches on his face and head. He even laughed with us and said it was his fault for telling his drinking buddy that he had an ugly wife. I noticed his left arm was not amputated (maybe the nerves and blood supply were fine). He was discharged two days later with the help and assistance of the media.” —Cyrpus L, Quora Warner Bros. Pictures 9.”The police brought this patient in for medical clearance before going to jail. He was lying on an ER bed with one arm handcuffed to the bed frame. There were two cops on the far side of the bed; that meant there was something concerning about my patient. He was lying there absolutely calm and still. He didn’t appear injured in any way. I noticed his feet were covered with dried blood. I asked the patient why he was there, and he just ignored me. So, I turned to the cops. ‘Well,’ one of them began, ‘he attacked his mother with a samurai sword. When we got there, he crouched on the front porch and placed his sword down in front of him, and we just cuffed him.’ I asked them why they brought him in, and they said it was because he wouldn’t talk.” “I tried talking to him, but he wouldn’t respond. He just kept looking straight ahead. I asked the cops about the Mom, and they told me she was taken to the trauma center, but she was pretty hurt. I then turned to the patient and asked him, ‘What made you attack your mother with a sword?’ He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘She was not bushido.’ I asked ‘what is bushido?’ ‘The warrior way,’ he replied. I thought for a moment and asked him, ‘So, is it bushido to attack an unarmed and weak opponent with a sword?’ At this point, the guy leaped cleanly out of the bed and, in one smooth motion, somehow had me pinned against the wall, where he began to deliver a series of knee strikes to my hip and abdomen area. He grabbed me with his free hand. I grabbed his hand and fell purposely to the ground, pulling his cuffed arm over the bed rail and dislocating his shoulder. The bed turned over. The cops were now on top of all of this, but we were tangled on the floor, and he was seriously trying to kill me. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it felt like forever. Another doctor and a nurse came into the room, and we had to paralyze the guy with medication to get him under control. Then, we had a medical emergency on our hands. He was ultimately placed on a ventilator, restrained, ed, and put in the ICU. He was released in a day or so, and he went to prison. His mother lived. In addition to charges concerning her assault, he was also charged with assault on me and the two officers. Never underestimate someone’s capacity for violence. I also never placed myself in a treatment room where I could get trapped like that again.” —Robert F., Quora 10.”I was working for a hospital police department (yes, some hospitals have their own police). It had been a very busy evening, and I was headed to the ER to check the ER ramp and parking. We had received a gunshot victim about 10 minutes earlier. As I turned the corner, I met a woman holding a revolver in her hand, about two feet from me. Without conscious thought, I grabbed the revolver over the top, rotated it, peeling it out of her hand- and then things got interesting. After we got her in handcuffs, it developed that she was the girlfriend of our shooting victim — who had shot him for dallying with another lady and who had decided she was not finished shooting him — and showed up at our ER intending to shoot him some more.” —Curtis C, Quora 11.”I was doing my residency in Gujarat approximately 11 years back. A polytrauma patient came in from a traffic accident. I instructed the nurse to measure his BP and vitals along with ruling out head injury, starting IV access, sending blood for blood grouping and crossmatching, controlling the bleeding from the wound, applying traction over the lower limb to stabilize the femur, and splinting the upper limb for the upper limb fractures. The patient was hemodynamically stable when I finished. I then realized that there were too many relatives in the room where I was working and told them to leave, which they did, except for one who looked like his father. He thanked me and politely told me that I did a good job and that any mistake from my side would have been my last. I laughed initially but then realized he was serious, and he actually showed me that he had a pistol gun in his pocket.” “I was shaking, and the room was spinning. I did not know what to do or say. I just said, ‘Now that he is stable, he will need surgery, for which my superiors will talk to you.’ I left in a hurry, sweating in the December cold. I knew he was not kidding. I still sometimes get nightmares of that day. Later, I found out that all of the relatives were armed; they were involved in some gang-related violence when the accident occurred. This guy was the only son of the local gangster and politician, and they were forced to bring him to a government hospital for a police case. After that, they took LAMA (leave against medical advice) and took him to a corporate hospital. And we did not miss him one bit.” —Altaf B., Quora 12.”Once, I had to face an angry man with a gun. He was a retired police officer and was permitted to conceal carry his service revolver, which he kept in his briefcase. He went pretty ballistic in the middle of our lab recovery room over the care another physician had given to his father. That physician had told him his father should not have surgery for his heart. The son was livid about this. He began threatening staff members; he had lost it. As the Lab Director, I had to take over. I managed to coax him into my office — out of the way of patients and MD staff — to talk over his father’s care. However, in my office, he pulled his weapon out: a typical snub nose .38 revolver. He held the gun on me until I managed to talk him down from his anger. I basically made the point that shooting me was not going to solve his father’s problems. He became more rational after being heard.” “I managed to convince him that everything would be done and well — we would call our cardiac surgeon and get his father taken care of properly. I won his confidence, and he put his gun away. I did what I said I would do for his father. He was not an unhinged criminal; he just wanted to be respected. I could read his emotions easily, and I guess I was lucky I was right. I broke hospital policy, which was to sound a major alarm, but that would have highly escalated a situation, endangering lives. Fortunately, I found an easier solution: give respect.” —Gregory G., Quora Netflix 13.”It happened on a holiday weekend that was already hectic because of firecracker injuries, ATV accidents, near-drownings, and a host of other nice-weather disasters. It was very late, almost at the end of my 3–11 shift, when a raucous crowd piled in the ambulatory doors. They were tanned, barely dressed, and sloppy drunk. One of them grabbed a transport wheelchair and strolled out to the parking lot, returning with a very drunk man, one leg elevated. They were loud, vulgar, and acted as if it were spring break in the waiting area.” “With great effort, we got the story. A party was in full swing when a frisbee landed on the roof. The gentleman (loosely speaking) in the wheelchair decided to climb a window AC unit to retrieve it. As he was literally fall-down drunk, his balance failed him, and down he went. He believed he had a sprained ankle. Or the fifteen people trying to shout the story to the triage nurse believed he had a sprained ankle. It was getting difficult to handle the party that had moved from the backyard to the ER; they were everywhere, like a mass of tentacles that reeked of coconut rum and randomly shouted obscenities. The biggest problem was the amorous lady who plastered herself to the patient. She was half-naked, straddling his lap in the wheelchair and making out with the guy like there was no tomorrow. We couldn’t even stop them long enough to get a history. Eventually, security had to get involved, and most partygoers were ejected. But the woman continued to prowl the waiting room. She repeatedly requested to see the patient, but she was denied. When another patient’s family member emerged from the locked ER doors, she saw her chance. Security was dealing with the partygoers now in the parking lot, and no one was at the desk. She ducked inside. A few moments later, we heard a startled screech from the nurse who had this guy’s room. ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?’ Of course, they were having sex in the exam room. On the gurney. Without having bothered even to draw the curtain.” —Amorette K, Quora 14.”A woman on drugs was found wandering naked in the street outside the ER, bloody from the waist down. She was brought into one of our rooms and was pacing back and forth, still naked and bloody. Suddenly, she ran full speed towards the nursing station and dove headlong over the counter at one of our administrative guys. She took out his computer and the medical records bin on the way over, and he was struggling to contain her on the floor. We suddenly realized we were all shouting encouraging things to him, but nobody was going over there to help. I guess that’s the effect naked, bloody women have on your allies. His knee was injured as a result, and he was unable to work for several weeks.” —William B, Quora 15.”The most amazing thing I witnessed while working in a hospital was an earthquake! I had an office on the top floor of an older building. It was warm, so I opened my window to let in a little breeze. I heard what seemed like a convoy of trucks going down the street, just rattling and rattling. I stopped what I was doing and looked out the window, but I couldn’t see any trucks. The sound got louder, and then it seemed as if a train were going to run through the building.” “I’d never heard anything like this. I then heard metal hitting metal. I turned around to see my metal file cabinets hitting against one another as they moved and swayed. Finally, I knew what was happening! I wanted to run out of the office and down two levels of stairs, yet I felt it was more dangerous to run downstairs than stay where I was. I ended up gripping the sides of the doorway and praying that if the building began to collapse, the door frame would afford me some protection. The strenuous shaking stopped in a minute or two, and the rumbling faded. I was still shaking myself! For the rest of the day, everyone was emailing and calling one another to ask, ‘Where were you?’ or ‘Did anyone get hurt?’ It was such a strange event in my town to have an earthquake that everyone was excited. It turned out the quake’s epicenter was nearly 120 miles away and affected Washington D.C. (the Washington Monument was damaged).” —Judith S., Quora 16.”I am a Physician Assistant who specializes in Psychiatry. One night, I was sitting in a locked-down unit of a psychiatric ward when we admitted a man who had literally kicked out the rear door of a police cruiser. He had schizophrenia, had refused his meds, and was also wound up on some other substance. He was in his late 50s, but at 6’3″, he was built like an ox. We had no choice but to isolate him in a padded room in four-point restraints.” “Allow me to paint a picture. It was 1 a.m. on the third floor of a psychiatric wing of a giant, urban hospital. The only way on or off the Unit was by one of two elevators that needed keys (we had emergency stairs, but they also needed keys). He was halfway down a locked hallway. The Isolation Room was also keyed; he was lying on a metal bed, with ankles and wrists tied down by leather cuffs and straps. He was in ‘skivvies’ with no other clothing, on a bare, single mattress with NO linens. No other furniture. The walls had pads. One plain window had bars covering them inside and out. We had administered Thorazine, which is a potent intramuscular tranquilizer given to sedate and counteract the delusions. About 30 minutes after the dosing, we were sitting at the Nurse’s station, waiting for him to sedate before we removed the restraints. He was yelling constantly. Suddenly, his screams stopped. It got our attention. But, within a moment, he started screaming with the most blood-curdling, terrified shrieking we had ever heard. It took us less than a minute to get down his empty hallway and into the isolation room, and I will never forget what we witnessed. The room was filled with smoke, and his mattress was on fire! Flames and everything. We had access to an extinguisher, and the poor victim only sustained second-degree burns on about 10% of his right side. I say ‘only’ because it looked like he was engulfed in flames! The entire situation was investigated over the next days and weeks. I was so thankful that I was sitting with a Nurse and a Security Guard to corroborate with me about what we witnessed. We never found any reasonable explanation as to how this happened. To this date, after 45 years as a PA-C, I can honestly say that this was the most terrifying…only because there is no explanation that I can understand and accept.” —Alec S., Quora The CW 17.”It was Halloween. Some staff got permission to wear silly costumes, as long as certain regulations were held up (no one wants a doctor dressed up as a killer clown to treat them). I was checking on patients waiting in the ER, trying to ensure they had their insurance cards, water, and some medicine if needed. There were many people wearing costumes as well. Then I noticed a man sitting alone by himself. He looked like he was wearing your average butcher accident costume: white apron with fake blood sprayed all over, messy hair, and the obligatory big plastic butcher knife in the head.” “I asked who he was with or what he was waiting on, and he replied. ‘I’m waiting for this to be removed.’ He pointed to the prop sitting on top of his head. Some of my associates giggled. I smiled, ‘Yeah, we will get that removed,’ I said as I checked his skull. Then, it slowly dawned on me: it was not plastic. The knife was pure metal, and that was real blood that was on the side of his head. The knife was indeed lodged in the top of his skull. I reported this to the head nurse, who came to use a metal detector wand, and sure enough, it was real. He was pushed up to the next in line and treated. The blade cut into his skull but not entirely; a millimeter more, and it would have been in the cranium.” —Matthew R, Quora 18.”I was working my way through nursing school as the evening shift telephone operator at UF Health Shands Hospital in the early 1980s. The telephone was in the Admissions office, directly across from the front door. The Emergency Room was right down the back hallway from us. The security guard (yes, THE security guard; in those days, there were only 1 or 2 on duty in the evening) stopped by to tell us that there had been a shooting in the Emergency Room. We all freaked out and started to close the sliding wooden shutters that cut off access to our front counter.” “Except a woman came running up, sobbing, and asked to use our phone. She proceeded to call the family of the woman who had been shot in the ER, crying and saying ‘My brother just killed your daughter!” It was pretty horrifying.” —Kathleen M, Quora 19.”A nurse and I entered the room of a male amputee in his sixties. We didn’t knock and then enter; we barged in like we were selling religion because we had an agenda. I immediately knew he didn’t appreciate us intruding on him. He reached down, grabbed his prosthetic leg, and began swinging it round and round over his head while sitting upright in bed, hoping to connect it with us. Of course, he got me good in the back with that large leg. Note to self: always knock on a closed door first and wait.” —u/Katie S 20.”The wildest thing I witnessed was a man on a neuro floor being very combative after brain surgery. He was yanking at his IVs and oxygen. Nurses were fighting to keep them in. The final hard yank was his Foley catheter. He yanked it clear out! If you don’t know, a Foley catheter is inserted into the bladder and then has a sort of bladder that is filled so it stays. Well, that man experienced childbirth. They had to have urology try and put him back together.” “I didn’t see up close. The scene of blood splatter and the sounds of his screaming were plenty. Never saw him again on the floor.” —Nostalgics, Quora Amazon Prime 21.”A boy was admitted to the medical ward with a very large bowl of frog spawn. Suddenly, he collapsed, and we needed to put equipment on the bedside tabletop where the frog spawn was, so I, being an ******, took the bowl to the nearest place out of reach of toddlers. The child recovered eventually. But l forgot all about the frogspawn. I’d put it on a shelf in the laundry and storage area in the basement: a room full of racks of clothes, pajamas, and dressing gowns full of lovely, comfortable big pockets just the right size for the big frogs that had been eating their siblings. Do you know how many frogs can grow from one large two-gallon bowl of frogspawn? They kept jumping out everywhere, croaking, and we had to catch every single one of them, and l swear that as soon as we released them into the wild, they kept coming back.” “And that was not the end. We also found two large snakes, and fortunately, l was able to get the porter to remove them. I often wonder if we had left them all alone, would the snakes have eaten those damn frogs? Some child had undoubtedly smuggled in their baby **** snakes a long time ago. Warning: If you don’t want strange hospital experiences, never work in a sick children’s hospital unless you know that absolutely every child wants only a computer and that the hospital is brand new with nothing slithering around in the shadows! Even then, kids will always keep you on your toes!” —Sally H, Quora 22.”One Sunday morning, I was interrupted in triage by a receptionist. She looked upset and said there was a fight in the waiting room. As I opened the door to the waiting room, I saw the room filled with people, many of them sick patients, pressed against the walls with terrified expressions. Others were standing on chairs for safety, wide-eyed with fear and shock. Before me were two grown women dressed in designer outfits and shoes that screamed affluence. They looked perfectly healthy to me except for their fury. They had ahold of each other’s hair and were pulling each other around in a perpetually circular motion. This knocked anyone over who dared be in their way. As I quickly glanced around the room to make sure these idiots hadn’t seriously injured anyone, I made eye contact with a man holding his crying daughter. The second this man’s eyes locked onto me, he screamed out: ‘My wife and mom, please help.'” “The two women spilled onto a frightened older man. I had to act. I decided to use a move I learned in my karate training on the woman closest to me. With one swift jerk from behind, I was able to twist the older woman off her furious daughter-in-law. It then took another few seconds for me to get this woman far enough away so she could no longer kick the younger woman. It took every ounce of strength I had to keep what felt like a wild animal from breaking free as she fought against me fiercely. Thankfully, very quickly, security came and held the daughter-in-law back as well, and the two were finally separated. There was one arrest (with possibly a second occurring later) and two banishments for life from our hospital. Interestingly, it turned out that one of those women was an attorney. Good thing, too, as she was in need of a good attorney after what happened.” —Cheryl B, Quora 23.”Back in the day, we had a drip device where a pregnant patient would receive an inhaled anesthesia by the nurse who dripped the liquid drug into a mask device. The woman would inhale the vapor and have a decrease in sensorium, thus making the delivery less painful. A lady came in with a precipitous delivery, meaning there was no time for a doctor to arrive; the child would be delivered by the delivery RN. She screamed for help, and my buddy and I were sent in. The lady was howling and screaming something awful, and the nurse instructed us to break out the mask device and drip a given number of drops. But nothing happened! We were told to keep dripping the medicine. My friend and I got really woozy with blurred vision. We thought it was the situation and that we were panicking with our lack of experience.” “On and on the lady screamed. Finally, the baby was born, and we got the mask off and prepared to clean it…ONLY TO DISCOVER A VALVE. Apparently, after dripping the anesthesia in the device, one was supposed to flip the valve, allowing the patient to inhale the vapors. WE’D DONE NOTHING MORE THAN GAS OURSELVES! Each time the lady exhaled or screamed, the medication was propelled into the surrounding atmosphere…where my friend and I were. I couldn’t drive home right after duty and had to nap before heading out. My buddy barely made it to the dorm before she crashed…and thus we learned a great lesson: DON’T WORK MATERNITY ANYMORE.” —Anne T, Quora 24.”Now and then, I do rotations back into A+E (or the ER, for those on the other side of the Atlantic). It was about 2.30 a.m. on a Saturday. We had the usual post-copious-quantities-of-alcohol crowd in. Suddenly, a group of about five guys came barging in. One has lacerations across his stomach, clearly made with a small blade or Stanley knife. One has a broken nose. It’s pretty clear they’ve all been in a fight. Five minutes later, three Gardai (Irish police) show up. One has a ****** gash across his forearm. I see the guys from the fight put their heads down, trying not to make eye contact with the Gardai. About two minutes later, another group of guys, tattered and bloody, walks in off the street. I’m looking at them, the Gardai and the first group, and my immediate thought is that these are all linked and involved in the same event. I pick up the phone to request more security. And at that precise moment, it all kicks off.” “Within about 10 seconds, there’s a brawl right in the middle of the waiting room. Punches are thrown. A barrage of kicks go in. The Gardai and our security guard are diving in. Everyone else has shifted to the walls, getting out of the way as the two groups of lads get stuck. Then Nurse McCabe (not her real name) wanders into the scene. McCabe is in her late fifties. A rotund, short woman and the kind of experienced nurse who remembers no-nonsense ward sisters and has seen it all. She strolls over, inserts herself into the melee, and starts barking orders. ‘You, stop. You, get your **** over there. Don’t take that tone with me, you little *****. You’re in my house now, so you’ll feckin do what you’re told.’ She’s grabbing guys by the collar and hauling them off to one side. The whole place is silent, and the fighting stops instantly. It was like watching your mother intervene with bickering siblings. In about 30 seconds, she has the two groups apart. Nurse McCabe comes strolling back to the station, stopping now and then to glance back at the chastened lads. Looking at me, she rolls her eyes as if it’s no big deal and sits there next to me, watching them. She retired a few years later. She was an absolute force of nature.” —Liz O, Quora NBC 25.”A man in his thirties was suddenly at the door. He was crunched over like he was having severe abdominal pain. He was scared, and getting any details about what had happened was hard. We examined him, and he had a padlock locked onto his testicles. The man said his girlfriend applied the lock. The time was 3 a.m., and it was a weekend.” “The tools at this small rural hospital were not working to help remove the lock. Soap did not help. Lotion was the same. We tried getting info on where the key was. The man’s testicles were about the size of a grapefruit and ******. He was obviously in a lot of pain. He clearly did not want others to know or was embarrassed — perhaps he did not want to get the person who applied the lock into trouble. We found out he had been in this situation for three days, and he was hoping the girlfriend would come back. I did not believe his story but wanted to help relieve pain and remove the lock as he could lose his fertility or get an infection. Lots could happen, so he got some pain medication via IV while we tried to figure out if any locksmiths were willing to help. Well, we were denied by four. They were to be paid by voucher, and it was the middle of the night. To a nonhealthcare worker, this story was nearly unbelievable. I was surprised we had no tool to pick that master lock; a ring cutter did not work. The fifth locksmith (they must have needed cash) did agree, and with a bit of time and some more pain meds, the lock was removed. We transported the patient to the Urology unit at a large public hospital in Seattle, WA. The man actually recovered.” —Linda T., Quora 26.”The police brought in a man whose girlfriend had found him hiding in the corner of his attic chanting something to himself. She tried to get him to stand up, and he got physically violent every time she wanted to get him to move. When the police got there, they had to get a medic to sedate the heck out of him to get him in the ambulance. When he got to the ER, he woke up and started screaming and swinging his fists at everyone who tried to go near him, including those who were trying to at least get him covered up. He ended up punching a nurse and knocking her unconscious in the process while just saying things that didn’t make sense and sounded downright creepy.” “The ER staff ended up restraining his hands and feet, but he was still so aggressive he almost flipped the whole bed over. It was literally as if he was possessed. A friend of his ended up anonymously calling and saying that he did bath salts. As a last resort for the patient’s protection, we ended up getting an IV in and putting him in a drug-induced coma for a few days to let the drugs wear off…it was very weird.” —Mandy R, Quora 27.”There’s a long history of people putting things into their *******, then the object moving up where the patient can no longer retrieve it. In this case, the patient had a chopstick in his *******. I don’t know how, but half of it had passed partially into the curve of the sigmoid colon. There was a Gastroenterologist who unsuccessfully tried to remove it by a colonoscopy. He then asked a general surgeon to remove it, and the surgery did so successfully.” “These two physicians were competitors. Both served on the elected hospital board of the district hospital and weren’t on good terms with each other. The surgeon put the chopstick in a biohazard bag, and after opening the front of the patient’s chart, there was the biohazard with the chopstick with a doctor’s order: ‘Don’t remove the bag; it’s only to be seen and removed by the Gastroenterology MD.’ I was there when the Gastrointestinal MD showed up, and he was beyond upset.” —David H, Quora 28.”I have seen many strange things in the ER, but I think the strangest I ever say was a man who came into the department clad in a tight ****** rubber suit — including Wellington boots. I don’t fully know how he did it, and I don’t want to know, but he had broken his ******. Although in considerable pain, the man refused to tell me anything, demanding to see a male doctor. How glad I was to be able to refer this strange case to my male urological colleague. Maybe he, being a man, was able to get to the bottom of things. I have to admit that I was baffled.” —Julia M, Quora FX 29.A businessperson came in dressed like he was in an issue of GQ. He lived about 50 miles from the hospital. He probably didn’t want to go to a local hospital, but no one could understand how he sat down to drive there. He had a 12oz. glass bottle (intact) and two dead gerbils…inside him.” —Patty M, Quora 30.”Once, a prisoner was brought into the ER in metal handcuffs and a particularly filthy orange prison jumpsuit. He had been hiding in a sewer for four days, having escaped from a local lockup. He spent his ‘free time’ in a six-foot radius water drainage pipe, surviving on rainwater and eating crawdads, fish, frogs, and snakes. To put it politely, he smelled like a fish market on a hot day. I recalled that some surgeons would use orange oil on the inside of their surgical masks when dealing with particularly smelly tropical wounds, so I availed myself of some of this. He had a very small wound on his lip that had bled profusely but required only a single stitch to close.” “After finishing the repair, a slender, dark, six-inch snake slithered out from under his beard. Because it was so slender, it was able to disappear in a flash down the drain in the emergency room. I believe the patient was then showered (I know I did) and sent back to prison. Most likely, the food was better, or at least easier to catch.” —Raphael B, Quora 31.”It was a busy night on the Labor and Delivery ward. We had a bunch of babies and moms to admit over to postpartum and nursery, and I assisted with getting everybody transferred and settled in. As I ran back and forth, I glanced into one of the delivery rooms. The cleaning lady was on a stool, scrubbing the ceiling (starting at the highest part of the room and working down). The room was trashed way beyond normal. (Bringing a human into the world is always a dynamic event.) It looked like a bomb had gone off. All the walls, equipment, and ceiling were dripping with ‘juice.’ All the shiny things, the mirrors, everything was covered with a pink ooze. I stopped, made eye contact with her, she smiled, shrugged, and went back to scrubbing. Births are normally a messy process, but something abnormal must’ve happened there. It was beyond gory.” “I guess everybody was okay. Nobody talked about what happened in that room, but I guess everybody was healthy. I have a lot of horrible stories, but that snapshot of the smiling cleaning lady on the stool in a delivery room, surrounded by dripping amniotic fluid that was still raining and puddling on the floor, is burned in my brain as something surreal.” —Matthew W, Quora 32.”Forty years ago, I was a resident and moonlighting in a psychiatric emergency room. A husband and wife were both brought in by police on 510s (involuntary holds) due to mutual domestic violence and out-of-control behavior. He said she was suicidal, while she said he was paranoid and physically abusive. They were in adjoining rooms in the ER, so I began interviewing one at a time. She denied suicidality, and he denied ever becoming physical with his wife, though he did believe she was having an affair, which she vehemently denied. Since they did not appear to need psychiatric hospitalization, I gave them both outpatient referrals and suggested that one of them could stay with a friend or family member. With the husband, I mistakenly used the phrase ‘temporary separation.’ Not good. As soon as those words were out of my mouth, he said, ‘What are you doing alone in there with my wife? Are you having an affair with her?'” “Before I could reply, he lept up off of his chair and caught me with a hard left hook right to my ear and temple, knocking me off of my chair and almost unconscious. Still dazed, I found him on top of me, choking me and ******** my head against the floor. I instinctually felt I had to fight for my life. I actually momentarily believed I had to kill him or be killed. I was able to get him — a larger, more muscular guy — off of me and get on top of him. The next thing I experienced was a psych tech pulling me off of him while I was ******** his head on the floor. Adrenaline is an amazing chemical. Later, I went to see him while he was in restraints to finish my assessment and to deal with the attack and my response. The only thing he said was, ‘It’s really unethical for a doctor to curse like that.’ I had no recollection of cursing. It turned out that he had been using ******** extensively for the past year. Both he and his wife neglected to mention this for fear of criminal charges and because he had ‘stopped’ several weeks before the incident. His diagnosis was amphetamine psychosis, which I learned can last for weeks even after the cessation of drug use.” —Edward O, Quora Phoenix Pictures/Columbia Pictures 33.”I was in the Emergency Room lobby, in the area where patients who have not come in by ambulance check in with a Greet Nurse. Usually, the people who check in there have minor illnesses or less severe injuries. I saw a man walk in wearing an unbuttoned flannel shirt. He walks up to the Greet Nurse and nonchalantly states that he needs to be seen because he has been stabbed in the back. The man proceeds to drop his shirt off of his shoulders, revealing a flap of muscle hanging open from his spine to his shoulder blade.” “I could have easily reached all of my fingers and part of the palm of my hand into this wound! It was deep. And here, this guy is just standing there as though he has a hangnail! I ran for a wheelchair as the Nurse calmly told him to lean on the counter so that he would not fall. I pulled the wheelchair up behind him and helped him sit down. Seconds later, rushing to the Trauma Suites, I heard a Trauma Alert in the ER Lobby go out over the PA. We got him into the Suites, and I moved out of the way so the ER staff could do their thing. I saw that same patient walk out of the ER with discharge papers eight hours later.” —Rick M, Quora 34.”I worked in a rural hospital with a large meth-using and unhoused population nearby. Here are the scenarios I dealt with in that time: three bomb threats that were just angry people, a couple of people found living in a wall in our old hospital, an unhoused woman discharged after warming up just to die at the bus shelter several hours later (that one caused legal issues and policy changes), a kid shoving another kid out of his car by the front door (locked down) who had been shot, plenty of fentanyl-using patients who were insanely violent and strong, and plenty of items stuck up the butt.” “Fun fact: anything that has to be surgically removed has to go to the lab for examination, and it didn’t take long to lose the shock factor in my field when dildos and Christmas decorations appear in the lab.” —karan 35.I worked in the ER as a tech for close to 10 years. One story that stands out the most is that of a 6’8,”‘ 300lbs, 16-year-old high school football player who did angel dust. We had the state police, sheriff’s office, and town police there, as well as every male in our hospital. There were close to 20 people in all trying to coral this young man. They had him in like 6-point restraints. For unknown reasons, the only restraints were his hands. This kid stood up, the stretcher strapped to his back like it was nothing, and rammed the window and door many times. Needless to say, he was back in full restraints. He must have done a lot of angel dust because he was transferred to a psych hospital.” —Nicole Laffman 36.And finally…”In a foreign hospital, I watched a man and a woman bring a fully grown jaguar jungle cat into the emergency room. The doctors and nurses helped them deliver four brand new baby jaguar cubs into the world.” —Denny B, Quora If you’ve ever worked in a hospital setting, what’s the wildest thing you experienced or saw on the job? Let us know in the comments below or via this anonymous form. Submissions have been edited for length/clarity. Source link #Doctors #Nurses #Sharing #Wildest #Hospital #Stories #Shocking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

How to make money early in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 How to make money early in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Your journey as Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is fraught with danger. Naturally, you need to arm yourself to be ready for potential threats. That’s easier said than done as you’re strapped for cash at the start of the campaign, your reputation is down in the dumps, and most merchants don’t want anything to do with you. Thankfully, we’ve got a few tips to help you make more money early in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Troskowitz: The first town where you can make some money Deep Silver Troskowitz is the first village that you can explore once you start the campaign proper. While it only has a few establishment, it will nonetheless become your main hub for most of the game’s first half. Now, if you do want to make money in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you need to head to the carpenter’s house, which is directly across the street from the tavern. The reasons for this are because (a) the main door is sometimes left open, and (b) you could still clamber up the log piles to enter the second-floor bedroom window. Here’s what you need to do: While standing at the main street, use the “Wait” action and fast-forward the in-game time until it’s around 10:00 p.m. This is when most villagers are asleep. Make sure you equip your torch so guards don’t accost you for sneaking around while it’s dark. At the same time, you need to head to the carpenter’s yard without getting spotted by guards. Otherwise, they’d find your behavior suspicious. Crouch to enter stealth mode and enter the main door if it’s been left open. Alternatively, climb atop the log piles and enter the second-floor bedroom window. How to steal from the carpenter and his father Deep Silver Once inside the carpenter’s home, stay crouched and approach the carpenter’s father, who should be asleep. Now, you should be able to steal from the NPCs in this building: Press and hold the “Rob” button. The number here determines how many seconds you’ll have for the pickpocketing minigame. Watch out if the interface turns red, since this means you might get detected. Let go of the “Rob” button when this happens to begin the pickpocketing minigame. The wheel interface for the minigame shows blocked-off circles, which represent items that you can loot. There’s also a gauge or timer that slowly winds down. The goal is to click on the loot circles to grab items, and then click on the door icon to “escape” the minigame before the timer expires. You can keep trying several times until you obtain all items–the most important ones are the keys–just be sure you’re able to “escape” via the door icon. Failure to do so will cause the victim to wake up and shout for the guards. Once you have the keys, use them to unlock the chest that’s next to the carpenter’s father and steal all the items. Next, head downstairs and do the same for the carpenter; he should also be asleep and he has another chest that’s right next to his bed. Before you leave, you can rummage through the containers and baskets to grab some food as well. Last but not least, you should not be seen by guards as you exit the yard. If they spot you, you will likely get accused of theft come morning. Where to sell your stolen items Deep Silver Your tactical thievery should net you several items, including weapons like the Hunting Sword, Billhook, Glaive, and Dogwood Village Bow, as well as various tunics, sketches, materials, and even unique dice for the Farkle minigame. You can sell all of these at the Troskowitz trader to make money in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. However, be reminded that the trader will lower his prices because these goods are stolen. If you want to have more cash, you could either travel north to Tachov or west to Zhelejov to sell your wares. The “stolen” tag shouldn’t apply in these areas since the merchants won’t know where you got your items. The only downside is that these locations are quite far and you could get waylaid by bandits whenever you fast travel. You’ll probably need food and lodgings while you’re at it Deep Silver At best, you could just redo the process of stealing from the carpenter’s home and selling at the trader, even with the reduced prices. It takes a few in-game days for the chests in the carpenter NPCs’ home to get restocked, as well as for the trader’s Groschen (i.e. gold) to return to its default value. If you prefer this method, you could opt to do the following: The food that you’ve stolen from the barrels and crates should be more than enough to keep Henry feel nourished whenever he’s hungry. The tavern lady won’t let you stay at her establishment as she’s still angry. However, you can sleep Roman’s house, which is right next to the tailor’s shop. You can climb up the ladder to the opening on the second floor. The bed here allows you to rest and recuperate, though you won’t be able to save your game. You could use the “Save & Quit” option instead so you don’t waste your precious Savior Schnapps. That does it for our guide on how to make money in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. As you continue your journey, you should have more than enough Groschen to spare for any type of expense. For other tips, you can check our beginner’s guide, reputation guide, and stolen/damaged items guide. Source link #money #early #Kingdom #Deliverance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Apple announces event-planning ‘Apple Invites’ app – The Verge Apple announces event-planning ‘Apple Invites’ app – The Verge Apple announces event-planning ‘Apple Invites’ app The VergeIntroducing Apple Invites, a new app that brings people together for life’s special moments Apple NewsroomApple Debuts Invites App, AppleCare Changes in Subscription Push (AAPL) BloombergYour iPhone Is About To Get An Unexpected New Feature, Report Says ForbesApple could launch something completely new this week Yahoo! Voices Source link #Apple #announces #eventplanning #Apple #Invites #app #Verge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Switch 2 Joy-**** Rumored Mouse Feature Is “Definitely Intriguing,” Civ Dev Says Switch 2 Joy-**** Rumored Mouse Feature Is “Definitely Intriguing,” Civ Dev Says During the Switch 2 reveal event in January, Nintendo showed off the console’s updated Joy-**** controllers and seemingly teased mouse-like functionality. Such a feature would be “intriguing,” according to Civilization VII executive producer Dennis Shirk. Shirk told IGN, “It’s definitely intriguing.” A control setup like that could in theory help games like Civilization be embraced on console, but it’s too soon to say if the mouse-like controls for Switch 2 are real or if Civilization VII could come to the Switch 2 (the game is only confirmed for the original Switch right now). Shirk said it “would be cool” for the Switch 2 to offer some kind of mouse-like control functionality. “You always do some trade-offs when you have to deal with pure console controls. And the [Switch 2] announcement has some great stuff in it. I love what they’re doing with the controllers. It’s all very cool. That’s about all I can say about it in terms of an opinion. I think it looks awesome and they’re not wrong, so it would be cool for something like that.” While Civilization VII is not a confirmed title for Switch 2, the system supports backwards compatibility, so it’s possible it could play on the system. In related news, former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida also discussed the Switch 2’s Joy-**** controllers and the apparent mouse-like controls. Yoshida said he hopes Nintendo uses the mouse controls, if they’re real, for “some more weird, amazing way” that people won’t see coming, as opposed to the control setup being used to play a game like Call of Duty on Switch 2. Nintendo will share more information about the Switch 2 in April during a Nintendo Direct event dedicated to the console, at which time the company is expected to reveal lots more on the system. Source link #Switch #JoyCon #Rumored #Mouse #Feature #Intriguing #Civ #Dev Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Federal layoffs ‘likely’ if too few employees choose to quit, memo says – The Washington Post Federal layoffs ‘likely’ if too few employees choose to quit, memo says – The Washington Post Federal layoffs ‘likely’ if too few employees choose to quit, memo says The Washington PostScoop: 20,000 federal workers take “buyout” so far, official says AxiosOPM, implementing Musk’s DOGE plans, sends federal workers 2nd ‘Fork in the Road’ email ABC News Source link #Federal #layoffs #employees #choose #quit #memo #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to increase reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 How to increase reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 The vast lands of Bohemia await you in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. As you head out on another adventure as Henry of Skalitz, you’ll face off against bandits, haggle with merchants, and interact with the nobility. Eventually, people will hear of your exploits and, naturally, of your misdeeds as well. As such, you might be wondering how to stay in everyone’s good graces. Here’s our guide on how to increase reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Skills and info that affect reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Deep Silver You can find everything related to reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 by checking the Player tab in the menu. The Reputation page shows all the towns you’ve visited, as well as the types of folks that you’ve met–i.e. the nobility, civilians, and men-at-arms in specific large settlements, or the shepherds, fishermen, and hermits in the wilderness. A yellow smiley face icon means that you have positive relations with these people, while a red angry face means that you’ve really ticked everyone off. As for skills, some of the most impactful ones can be found in the Stats: Main Level section. These include “Charming Man,” which increases reputation gains by 10%, and “Good-Natured,” where you’re given a bonus to niceties through the Persuasion, Impression, and Presence dialogue skill checks. There’s also the “Memorable” perk, where news of your deeds spreads far and wide, though this also applies to your notorious actions. Dialogue skill checks Deep Silver Speaking of dialogue skill checks, these heavily influence your Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 reputation. The system itself is not only derived from the numerical values (i.e. levels) that you see, but also from a combination of factors including the disposition of the NPCs that you’re talking to and Henry’s own standing. For example, the Impression option might be viable if people think highly of you due to your Charisma, whereas the Presence option would work more effectively if your gear pieces are in good condition and of high quality. In most cases, passing a successful skill check increases your reputation. Conversely, failing these skill checks causes a decrease in reputation, as Henry is made to look like a bumbling fool. Regular dialogue conversations Deep Silver As you progress through the campaign, you get to chat with all manner of NPCs. When tackling quests or talking to folks, there are dialogue options that aren’t tied to any particular Speech skill check. Instead, these are primarily to add flavor and flair to the conversation itself. For example, if a character is a scholar, you can ask them about their studies. If someone has explored a far-flung location, you can show your interest in their travels. Giving something extra to merchants Deep Silver Haggling is a given when you interact with merchants, and it’s also one of the best ways to increase reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Here’s how it works: You earn reputation whenever you pick the Sell option to trade your wares with a merchant. You can hold the Sell button to switch to the Haggle interface instead. In the Haggle interface, increase the value by a small amount–i.e. you’re buying at a slightly higher price or you’re selling at a slightly lower price. This is considered as a tip given to the merchant, netting you additional reputation gains. Assisting people in need Deep Silver While fast traveling, you might trigger random encounters where hapless civilians are getting harassed by bandits. Help out these individuals by eliminating the hostiles. If the civilian is still alive after the bout, talk to them to gain a boost to your reputation. Paying indulgences for your sins or going on a pilgrimage Deep Silver Assuming you’ve done harm to other folks, you can still boost your reputation by talking to a priest: You could be asked to go on a pilgrimage and a shrine will be marked on the world map. Travel there and pray to gain absolution. Alternatively, you could put money in an indulgences box to ask for forgiveness. What negatively impacts reputation and what are the consequences? Deep Silver Since we’re on the subject of increasing your Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 reputation, we feel that it’s a good idea to discuss factors that can negatively impact your standing: Poor dialogue responses – This concerns failed skill checks, crass or rude replies, and “evil” reactions. For example, if you threaten a defenseless peasant using the Intimidation option, that’s likely to cause a slight reputation drop. Dishonesty – In certain situations, NPCs might ask you to repay a favor or commit to a deal. If you renege on these or backstab them later on, such an action would show that you can’t be trusted. Evil and cruel acts – There are also parts of the campaign where you can decide to do heinous and unspeakable acts, such as torturing a prisoner. While you might get the information you need, this, too, will cause a reputation loss. Merchant woes – If you’re trying to lower the amount you have to pay, the merchant will tend to reject it at first. If you keep at it, the merchant will be angered. This causes a reputation drop and the merchant will refuse to haggle with you for a time. Committing crimes – Crimes include killing innocent people, stealing goods, trespassing in restricted areas, and poaching animals (except for wolves and hares). Getting caught usually leads to a reputation drop. Likewise, guards will ask you to pay a fine or accept a type of punishment, unless you’re able to convince them otherwise. However, if you commit crimes without anyone’s knowledge, then you might be able to get away scot-free. Major drops in reputation will cause NPCs to avoid you, unless you go on a pilgrimage or pay indulgences for your sins. Furthermore, if you keep committing crimes, guards may send you to the pillory (light offenses), tie you up and cane you (moderate offenses), or brand you (serious offenses). If you’re already a branded criminal and you continue to engage in acts of violence, well, then Henry could end up on the execution block. He’ll really get a one-way ticket to kingdom come… That does it for our guide on how to increase reputation in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. If you’re looking for additional help, feel free to read our beginner’s guide, moneymaking guide, and stolen/damaged items guide. Source link #increase #reputation #Kingdom #Deliverance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Apple’s new Invites app gives iCloud+ subscribers an easier way to organize parties – and Android fans are invited too Apple’s new Invites app gives iCloud+ subscribers an easier way to organize parties – and Android fans are invited too Apple just dropped an app that’s all about creating event invites It includes Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground and Writing Tools You can easily create a shared photo library with all guests Apple’s been slowly but surely making enhancements to its Calendar app across platforms – iOS, iPadOS, and macOS – but if you were hoping for an easier way to plan events within the ecosystem, your wish is being granted. In fact, it’s in the form of a whole new app – dubbed Apple Invites – and it’s all about event planning. It’s designed to be a one-stop shop for creating the event invite – maybe even using Apple Intelligence’s Image Playground to create the image – from setting a description to building a guest list and sending invites. The app itself will be for creating, sending, and receiving invites. Like Partiful or Evites, it will allow invited folks to RSVP and see all event details while the host can curate the experience on the backend. iCloud+ is a central part of this, as you need it to send invites and create an event. However, the onboarding for Apple Invites does note that anyone can receive the invites. Hence, why there is also a web interface for Apple Invites and that means folks with an Android phone can join in on the party going. (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The advantages of Apple Invites likely lie within the ecosystem, though. For one, when you create an event within the iOS app, you’ll start with a name and a description. With either of these fields, you can use ‘Writing Tools’ to spice up your writing. Then, considering an event needs a photo or graphic, you can choose a preset from three themes – Emoji, Photographic, or Colors – snap a photo with the camera, select one from your library, or jump right into Image Playground to make one with Apple Intelligence. Maybe the most handy, though, is that you can create a shared album through iCloud Photos when you create the event. This way, you can potentially solve the problem of having all your guests send and share photos after the event. This can solve a major pain point, and could be plenty handy for a birthday or graduation party as well as a baby shower or a housewarming event. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Furthermore, if it’s a costume party or has a big, bold theme like the 80’s – disco time, right? – you can also set the mood and share some photos before the deadline. Though, truly, the win here might be after the fact (Image credit: Future) Similar to a shared photo library, you can also create an Apple Music Playlist that is helpful for setting the scene but also one that invited guests can use to add their favorites to the DJ mix for the night. Like Partiful and other apps that make it easy to find the spot, Apple Invites will automatically help guests get directions once you add a location. Based on the time and location, it will also give a preview of the expected weather. Now, in terms of sending the invites, you can select guests from your contacts or create a public invite link. With the latter, anyone who gets the link could RSVP, but you can turn on an “Approve RSVPs” setting to go over the guest list manually. That way, you don’t have any party crashers … at least super organized ones. If you’re inviting someone without an iPhone, the web experience is designed to be pretty on par with the iPhone app. And that’s the case if you have an Android device – you still get full access to the collaborative aspects like the shared playlist and photos, assuming you have or make an Apple account. How much does it cost? Apple Invites splash screen on iCloud.com (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) The only requirement is to be an iCloud+ subscriber, which starts at $0.99 in the United States, £0.99 in the United Kingdom, or $1.49 in Australia. Apple Invites is the latest addition to iCloud Plus, which also provides cloud storage (starting at 50GB), HomeKit Secure Video, Private Relay, and the ability to hide your iCloud email when creating other accounts. Apple Invites does have some benefits over, say, Partiful or other event-planning apps. It likely seems like a good option – one that we’ll need to test – for those in the Apple ecosystem who have friends with or without an iPhone. The fact that you can still collaborate with the shared photo library, even with an Android phone, is a good step for Apple and might encourage eventual iMessage sharing. Still, the fact that iCloud Plus is required shows that services is still of the utmost importance to Apple. I, for one, am happy that this might make it easier to share photos, which is a struggle. Similar to services, Apple Intelligence is critically important for the company, and Invites seems to be making the case that two of the standout features can be useful here. Writing Tools is being pitched as a way to spice up event descriptions, and Image Playground hopes you’ll use generative AI to create event images. You might also like Source link #Apples #Invites #app #iCloud #subscribers #easier #organize #parties #Android #fans #invited Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood says the most underappreciated application of AI is health care Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood says the most underappreciated application of AI is health care Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood thinks an under-the-radar investing opportunity in the artificial intelligence ***** is health care, and one of her high-conviction bets is up nearly 10% in the new year already. “We’ve got 37 trillion cells in our body, and they’re going to be sequenced as we’re looking for cures,” Wood said Tuesday on CNBC’s ” Squawk Box .” “I think the most underappreciated application of AI is health care. I think health care is responsible for an incredible amount of storage out there right now. Data is the name of the game.” The innovation investor thinks health care could see the most profound AI application in the long term, whereas in the next five to 10 years, robotaxis might be the biggest application with the top enabler being her No.1 bet Tesla . Wood said she’s particularly bullish on Recursion Pharmaceuticals , which she said has seen a ten-fold increase in the average number of hypotheses per researcher thanks to AI. Wood owns almost 19 million shares of Recursion in her flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK) , worth roughly $140 million. In October, Recursion received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin phase 1 trials of AI-discovered ******* treatment. The company said it was able to use its AI-enabled drug discovery platform to identify an area of biology to target for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphoma, match it with a drug candidate and move all the way to gaining regulatory approval to begin studies in less than 18 months. Recursion shares have gained more than 9% in 2025 after a 31% sell-off last year. Other health-care stocks in ARKK include Crispr Therapeutics , Tempus AI , Twist Bioscience and Beam Therapeutics. Palantir bull Overall in the AI investing story, Wood said she’s moving away from hardware and infrastructure and doubling down on software. One of her top picks in the software space is Palantir, which just reported stronger-than-expected results. “Palantir is a very expensive stock, but there’s nothing like it in the software space,” Wood said. “It is, we believe, going to dominate the biggest part of the tech stack when it comes to AI. And that’s the platform as a service part of the stack.” Shares of Palantir surged 24% to a record high on Tuesday after the firm reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and guidance driven by AI. Co-founder and CEO Alex Karp called the momentum within its commercial and government segments “unlike anything that has come before.” Source link #Ark #Invests #Cathie #Wood #underappreciated #application #health #care Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Estee Lauder to cut thousands of jobs, warning of tariff impact Estee Lauder to cut thousands of jobs, warning of tariff impact Faarea Masud BBC Business reporter Getty Images Beauty firm Estee Lauder, owner of cosmetics brands Clinique, MAC, and Jo Malone, is shedding twice the number of jobs than planned, pointing to uncertainty around US president Trump’s tariffs as cause for concern. The American multinational was already restructuring the business to tackle its flagging performance, but now says job losses could reach 7,000. The outlook for firms that trade globally has got tougher in recent days, as US president Donald Trump, launched his promised programme of import taxes. However, tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico were suspended at the last minute. The firm, which also owns Bobbi Brown, Aveda and Tom Ford, said it needed to save around $1bn (£805m) as it managed “the risk of recession… including the imposition of tariffs and sanctions”. “We are significantly transforming our operating model to be leaner, faster, and more agile,” said chief executive Stéphane de La Faverie. The firm said rising inflation had driven up costs. Estee Lauder employs around 62,000 people worldwide, and said the final figure of jobs losses would be between 5,800 and 7,000, with some staff redeployed in new roles. The company did not say where the jobs would be lost. It employs around 4,400 staff in the *** and Ireland. The cost-cutting measure was revealed as it also said in its results that it had made a loss of $590m (£474m) in the three months to December as people spent less in China and Korea. Estee Lauder is the latest company to warn of the impact a ****-for-tat tariff war could have on their fortunes. Drinks giant, Diageo, which makes Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys and Smirnoff warned on Tuesday that tariffs on Mexico and Canada – if they go ahead – “could very well” impact its business. Diageo’s chief executive, Debra Crew, said the business was taking “a number of actions to mitigate the impact and disruption to our business that tariffs may cause”. Other industries from car makers to avocado growers, are expected to be significantly affected. Some other consumer brands are more directly affected by the tariffs. China has added PVH, the American company that owns designer brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, to its “unreliable entity” list, saying they had taken “discriminatory measures against ******** enterprises”. That will make it harder for those brands to do business in China. They may face sanctions, including fines, and having the work visas of their foreign employees revoked. Source link #Estee #Lauder #cut #thousands #jobs #warning #tariff #impact Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 Players Can Now Dig Their Way Out Of Trouble With A Shovel Helldivers 2 Players Can Now Dig Their Way Out Of Trouble With A Shovel It’s not unusual for Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios to add items to the game, but the latest update has given players a shovel without even telling them it was an option. And apparently, the shovel can actually be used for its most important purpose: Digging. Via IGN, a player known as The_Fighter03 shared the discovery on Reddit while demonstrating that the shovel can be used to create an improvised ditch for cover. Trench warfare could be very useful in Helldivers 2’s battles, assuming the player isn’t killed while digging. However, it doesn’t appear that digging is an option everywhere. Players will get a POI notice if they can use the shovel. For now, players are still experimenting to learn the extent of what they can do with the shovels, including how deep they can dig and if they can create a network of trenches by working together. Additionally, Arrowhead has announced the next Helldivers 2 Warbond is coming on February 6. Servants of Freedom will include a portable Hellbomb that can be strapped to the back of players. The Sickle is also getting an upgrade with the LAS-17 Double-Edge Sickle, while the GP-20 Ultimatum may be the most powerful grenade launcher that the game has seen to date. These weapons and other new items are briefly glimpsed in the trailer below. A Helldivers movie was recently revealed to be in development, and Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani would like to see some A-list celebrities get violently killed off on-screen. While that film is likely years away, the complete notes for the recently released Patch 01.002.101 can be found below. Overview Spray weapons gas effect duration Emoting while flying or ragdolling FRV camera and handling tweaks AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath rework Balancing ****** Fixes Weapon Fixes Stratagem Fixes Balancing General Changes The duration of the gas status effect from spray weapons has been increased from 6 to 10 sec Implemented a timer for the Illuminate dropship wreckages to despawn to prevent them from obstructing paths in the colonies Helldiver The Ministry of Humanity has added a clause to its Principles of Correct Posture for Safe Lifting, now allowing Helldivers to jog while carrying two-handed items such as barrels and SEAF Artillery Rounds FRV Helldivers have now also been authorized to deploy grenades and stratagems while leaning out from the FRV Tuned FRV handling for a better driving experience when cornering Sidearms Starting magazines increased from 2 to 3 Spare magazines increased from 4 to 5 Stratagem Support Weapons TX-41 Sterilizer Removed the crosshair drift recoil Decreased the camera climb recoil The duration of the gas status effect from spray weapons has been increased from 6 to 10 sec Armor Passives After hearing player feedback, we have decided not to fix a bug with the Siege Ready Armor Passive which gives more ammo to all magazine-based weapons, instead of just primary weapons as described. We will eventually update the Armory description to reflect this but for now we’re evaluating if it’s causing any other additional unforeseen bugs Backpacks AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath Has been reworked to increase its effectiveness and to ensure it remains distinct, focusing on its unique gas-based mechanics. It will now preserve ammo by only prioritizing enemies unaffected by the gas status effect. Once an enemy is affected by gas the drone will move on and target another unaffected enemy The targeting logic has been reworked to prevent the drone from roaming too far. The origin of the targeting will be from the Helldivers position rather than the drone itself The targeting range has been increased from 10 to 20m The duration of the gas status effect from spray weapons has been increased from 6 to 10 sec Stratagems MD-6 Anti-Personnel Minefield Cooldown decreased from 180 to 120 sec Damage increased from 350 to 700 The deployment spread of mines has been increased by 20% to minimize the risk of chain explosions MD-I4 Incendiary Mines Cooldown decreased from 180 to 120 sec Damage increased from 210 to 300 The deployment spread of mines has been increased by 20% to minimize the risk of chain explosions MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines Cooldown decreased from 180 to 120 sec SH-20 Ballistic Shield Backpack Now blocks melee attacks until it breaks from taking enough damage Fixes Resolved Top Priority issues: You can once again emote while falling or ragdolling! It should no longer reduce fall damage, but you’ll be able to freely express yourself as you fall to your imminent death or severe injuries – Nothing a stim can’t fix! Fixed Illuminate spawner ship shields not taking impact grenade damage Fixed an issue with collision gaps inside the Illuminate spawner ship, preventing grenades thrown in close proximity to the door from destroying the ships Health packs now fully restore all of the Helldiver’s stims High damage weapons will now detonate spawned Hellbombs on the map ****** Fixes, Hangs and Soft-locks: Fixed a ****** that occurred when aborting missions with the Democracy Space Station effects active on them Fixed a ****** that could occur when hot-joining a mission on a planet with the Democracy Space Station present Fixed a ****** caused by quickly switching between different emotes before another client interacted with the emoting player Reduced the chance for crashes caused by fires Fixed a rare ****** that occurred at the end of the drop-in sequence when hot-joining a game in session Fixed a ****** that occurred when the player returned to the ship while reloading their primary weapon Fixed a soft-lock during drop-in when the host left or disconnected the session right after loadout Fixed a ****** that occurred when repeatedly changing armor pieces in the armory Fixed a ****** that occurred after finishing the tutorial and after naming your Destroyer Fixed a ****** that occurred during extraction Fixed a ****** that occurred when returning to the ship during heavy projectile fire Fixed a ****** for clients when the host was holding a carryable objective and quit the game Fixed a ****** that could occur when a player left the game when an encounter started Fixed a ****** that could occur when changing text language Fixed a ****** that could occur when reloading the SG-20 Halt Social Issues & Matchmaking Improved the matchmaking logic to better match players with players from nearby regions You’ll now be more likely to get matched with the same difficulty lobbies as the one you have currently selected Fixed an issue where the chat history was cleared when going to a mission and returning from it Weapons and Stratagems Opening and closing the text chat while in an emplacement now allows the player to remain in the emplacement instead of switching to their weapon Fixed Arc weapons not reliably hitting the Impaler’s tentacles if aimed at the lower parts of the tentacle The E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement now has the correct armor penetration tag in the ship menu Stratagem turrets will no longer target Illuminate Tesla Towers Fixed a visual bug where heat weapons would show numbers over the progress bar in the weapon wheel menu Melee weapons should no longer send civilian cars and other objects in the world flying long distances B-1 Supply Pack will now once again provide stims to other players. Remember Helldiver, sharing is caring! Fixed a bug where players could get stuck in the E/AT-12 Anti-Tank Emplacement after depleting all of its ammunition FRV Following an investigation into the effects of severe survivorship bias during FRV Impact Testing, all FRVs have been reinforced. Minor parking mishaps will no longer result in catastrophic FRV explosions General improvements to the FRV camera to make it look cooler and prevent it from getting stuck underground when driving downhill. Absolute cinema! Reduced the chance FRVs get dropped on rooftops when being called in The FRV movement key bindings should now accept non-QWERTY keyboard inputs Fixed a bug where some enemies such as the Brood Commander was launched away further than intended when hit by the FRV Helldiver Fixed an issue where player ragdolling into the FRV would cause the vehicle to be yeeted into space Fixed an issue preventing Helldivers from climbing and vaulting over civilian cars Helldivers should no longer slide around on the ground after ragdolling from a blast (despite it being the year of the snake) Fixed an issue where ragdolling into shallow water caused a stuck prone gliding animation Fixed an issue where the Helldiver was not playing the sample pick up animations Enemies Fixed a small visual bug with the Stalker’s tongue (you don’t want to know what it took to fix it) Fixed an issue where enemies wouldn’t react to missed shots from projectiles or melee attacks near them Miscellaneous Fixes Fixed an issue where clients would trigger the wrong audio when waiting for the host to join the loadout Fixed an issue of Helldivers exiting the hellpod right after readying up and before transitioning to the loading screen Fixed an issue of civilians being blocked from finding the shuttle door during Emergency Evacuation missions Purple question marks should be encountered less frequently during Illuminate missions on Sandy and Arctic planets Fixed the floating head syndrome affecting Helldivers donning the AC-2 Obedient armor while using certain helmets Fixed a bug that was introduced in December where weapons with lower armor penetration than the target’s armor incorrectly dealt one (1) damage rather than zero (0), resulting in misleading visual feedback and negligible extra damage to enemies and Helldivers alike Enemies will now start sinking into the ground when killed near terminals or the extraction point, preventing players from being physically blocked Known Issues Top Priority: ****** box mission terminal may be unusable if it spawns clipped into the ground Stratagem ****** bounce unpredictably off cliffs and some spots Balancing and functionality adjustments for DSS Pathfinding issues in Evacuate Colonists Illuminate missions Dolby Atmos does not work on PS5 Medium Priority: Players can get stuck on Pelican-1’s ramp during extraction Explosives can cause Helldivers hidden behind terrain to ragdoll Currently equipped capes don’t display properly and show a blank grey cape in Armory tab Players who use the “This is Democracy” emote on their ship might unintentionally send their fellow Helldivers on unauthorized unscheduled spacewalks AX/TX-13 “Guard Dog” Dog Breath does not show when it is out of ammo The Barrager Tanks turret has armor 0 and no weak spots Higher zoom functions do not zoom the camera in through the scope on the LAS-5 Scythe Weapons with a Charge-up mechanic can exhibit unintended behavior when firing faster than the RPM (Rounds Per Minute) limit Source link #Helldivers #Players #Dig #Trouble #Shovel Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Inside the Ukrainian city as Russian forces advance Inside the Ukrainian city as Russian forces advance Orla Guerin Senior International Correspondent Goktay Koraltan/ BBC The BBC joined Anton Yaremchuk as he evacuated people from the town of Pokrovsk As he prepares to set off on another rescue mission on Ukraine’s eastern front, 35-year-old Anton Yaremchuk is grateful for the fog. It will shield him and his colleague Pylyp from Russian drones hunting from the skies. His armoured van will provide more protection – but only up to a point. Every journey could be the last. In December shrapnel from a drone attack ripped through a clearly marked armoured vehicle used by his team, causing injuries but no deaths. “We were extremely lucky,” he says. Anton’s regular destination these days is the industrial city of Pokrovsk, which he says is “being attacked night and day”. Russian forces are closing in – they are now less than 2km (1.2 miles) away. “The last few days we were coming in, there was hell,” Anton tells us. “There are around 7,000 people still there. We’ll try to get some people out of that nightmare.” He’s been doing just that since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. With his country under attack, the Ukrainian cinematographer left his life and career in Berlin, came home and co-founded a small aid organisation, Base UA. Since then, he and his team have managed to get about 3,000 civilians out of harm’s way, taking them away from front lines to safer areas. Goktay Koraltan/ BBC Very few residents – mostly elderly – remain, as they wait for Pokrovsk to fall Pokrovsk used to be one of those places. “It’s crazy,” he says as we head for the city, “because this used to be the haven, the safest city in the region and the biggest hospital. The evacuation train was departing from Pokrovsk”. If and when Russian forces take the city, it will deprive the Ukrainian military of a key supply and transport hub. Ukraine has already lost the output from a crucial coal mine in the area – the only one producing coking coal for its steel industry. Operations were suspended last month because of the Russian advance. We join Anton for the journey to Pokrovsk. He has a tourniquet, and a separate medical kit attached to the front of his body armour. His white high visibility jacket bears the slogan “Leave no-one behind”. Before we set off, there’s a warning. “When we park, get out of the vehicles and don’t stand nearby,” Anton tells us, “in case they are targeted”. The closer we get the more explosions we hear. War has left its mark, draining the city of life. Streets are deserted, and houses boarded up. Some buildings have been flattened. There’s no smoke from the chimneys on snow-capped rooves. We pass a parked car with a white flag. But we find Olga, already waiting by the roadside, wrapped up in a lilac winter coat and furry hood. She’s one of six people on Anton’s list for evacuation this time. She goes to lock up her home – moving quickly despite her 71 years. And then she gets into the van and does not look back. Goktay Koraltan/ BBC The escalation in fighting has forced Olga to leave her home of 65 years “I have been in this house for 65 years,” Olga says. “It’s hard to leave everything behind. But it’s not life anymore, it’s like hell. In the beginning we thought maybe we will sit it out, but now the ground is shaking.” Her children and grandchildren have already fled the bombing. I ask if she thinks she will be able to come back one day. “Who knows,” she replies, “but we hope.” Along the way, whenever Anton spots people out on the street – and there aren’t many – he urges them to go. He stops the car to hand out leaflets explaining that evacuation is free, and help, including a place to stay and ongoing payments, is available in the city of Pavlohrad to the west. But some are hard to persuade. “I have to stay,” one old elderly woman says. “My son has died, and I need to be near his grave.” “I don’t think he would want this,” Anton says. Goktay Koraltan/ BBC Pokrovsk was considered a safe hub but now the Russian army is closing in on the city We drive on and pass a group of three who have been out collecting water. Anton shouts another warning. “There will be street battles,” he says, “unfortunately, I promise you this. I am doing this from the very first day. It’s the same everywhere. This is the final stage”. One of the women comes forward to take a leaflet. “God keep you safe,” she tells him before going on her way. Anton moves fast from address to address. When there’s no answer at one house, he climbs over a high metal gate to investigate. He knocks. He shouts. He speaks to a neighbour. With no sign of the woman he hoped to evacuate, we drive on. I ask what he’s expecting for 2025, now President Trump is back in the White House and pushing for peace talks. “I stopped looking too much ahead,” he says. “I think nobody really knows what’s going to happen. I personally don’t think that even if some kind of negotiations will start, they will bring a ceasefire anytime soon.” More than this he expects that fighting will worsen if talks do start, as both sides will try to gain leverage. Goktay Koraltan/ BBC Anton drives around the city urging people to evacuate The last pick up of the day is 75-year-old Lyuba – her white hair peeping out from under a scarf. Her long life is now compressed into a few plastic bags. She looks bereft and flinches at every explosion we hear. “It has been bad,” she tells me. “Bad. We were left alone. There are no authorities. People are just getting killed under the sky,” she says, gesturing upwards. “There’s no gas, no water, no electricity.” Lyuba is helped into the van, which is now full, with five elderly evacuees – their memories and their fears – and one ****** cat peering out from a **** carrier. No-one speaks. Goktay Koraltan/ BBC Seventy-five-year-old Lyuba says there is no gas, water or electricity in the city For Anton this is a familiar picture, but still a painful one. We first travelled with him in the heat of summer in 2022. He was then evacuating civilians from another front-line city – Lysychansk – as Russian shells rained down. Now in Ukraine’s third winter of war he – and other volunteers – are still trying to outrun moving front lines and save whoever they can. “To be honest every time I see this I break down,” he says, “because it’s just these innocent people leaving everything behind. These are human tragedies, and you can never really get used to it. But I am glad that we manage to get people out to safety”. That comes at a cost, and it is increasing. Since we travelled to Pokrovsk, one of Anton’s teams has come under fire from a Russian drone. A 28-year-old British volunteer lost an arm and a leg – saving civilians – but is now stable in hospital. Following the attack, Anton’s group have suspended evacuations from Pokrovsk, and from other front-line areas. A Ukrainian police unit called the White Angels is still doing rescue missions in the city. They tell us they are “trying to be very cautious and careful”. Inside the city, in freezing basements and unlit homes, the remaining residents – mostly elderly – are at the mercy of Russian glide bombs and artillery, as they wait for Pokrovsk to fall. Additional reporting from Wietske Burema, Goktay Koraltan and Volodymyr Lozhko Source link #Ukrainian #city #Russian #forces #advance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wreckfest 2 Launches on Steam Early Access March 20 Wreckfest 2 Launches on Steam Early Access March 20 THQ Nordic has published a new trailer and a release date for Wreckfest 2, the sequel to the hilarious car destruction game. Wreckfest 2 will be launched on March 20 on PC via early access. No information about the consoles version was provided. Among the improvements applied by Bugbear studio, the most notable is the enhancements in the engine, allowing the visuals to look better, as well as the physics of the game. The collisions are undeniably one of the game’s main elements, so having this improved system is one of the team’s development focuses. The studio’s idea was to launch the game in early access format precisely to build it together with the community, applying the necessary changes thanks to the players’ feedback. The most recent video gives a glimpse of new tracks (or rather, arenas) and some vehicles that will be present in the new game. Main features of Wreckfest 2: Unmatched racing experience Brace yourself for the most phenomenal full-contact racing action with no rules, just jaw dropping moments of chaos and destruction, powered by the overhauled physics engine. Race in intense head-to-head fights on courses featuring high-speed circuits, crazy courses with obstacles & jumps, intersections and oncoming traffic, or go for demolition domination in derby mode. More and more tracks & arenas will be added during the Early Access phase. Awesome & customizable cars Forget pristine supercars: Our cars are old, dented and patched together. Each of them tells a story, and you can tell your own by customizing your ride. Over the course of early access, more and more customization options will be added to the game. They will not only unlock your creative desires, but also contain new armor and component types that support certain playstyles. And later during Early Access, you can also share your designs with other racers and wreckers! Fully revamped game modes Launching into early access with the base game modes of Racing, Derby and multiplayer mode. During the Early Access phase, we will add a completely revamped career mode that adapts to your individual playstyle and guides you on your journey to become a true champion! For online racers there will be new skill-based matchmaking system and server queues coming as well! Challenges Another highlight during the Early Access phase will be special challenges, putting you behind the steering wheel of unconventional vehicles that were definitely never supposed to end up on a racetrack! Various bite-sized scenarios will keep you hooked as you battle for the highest scores. Tournaments Players can also look forward to tournaments that will be implemented during the Early Access phase. Here you can earn unique rewards in special events – events which test more than just your driving skills! Mod Support During the Early Access phase, mod support will be added so you can really mess with this game by installing various mods from the Steam Workshop. Are you going to play Wreckfest 2? Tell us in the comments and join the discussion in our forum. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Wreckfest #Launches #Steam #Early #Access #March Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arteta ‘disappointed’ Arsenal failed to sign striker Arteta ‘disappointed’ Arsenal failed to sign striker Mikel Arteta admits he was disappointed Arsenal did not sign a new striker but believes it is not a gamble in the club’s bid for English Premier League glory. The Gunners ramped up their pursuit of a forward after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending injury in their FA Cup exit against Manchester United on January 12. But after they fell short in their swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa – a move it is understood appears unlikely even in the summer – Arsenal will continue their quest for silverware with Kai Havertz as their sole recognised senior striker. A frustrated Arteta said he will now have to be “very flexible” with his attacking tactics as the Spaniard tasked Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling with leading the line if Havertz is unavailable. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s second leg of their semi-final Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, Arteta said: “We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense. “We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. “After you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season. “But we’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we’re going to have to try something different.” Havertz, 25, has faced criticism this season and missed a glaring opportunity in Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City on Sunday. However, the former Chelsea man did get his name on the scoresheet in the rout which keeps Arsenal’s title dream alive and has returned 15 goals from 33 appearances so far this term. Of Arsenal’s failed striker pursuit, Arteta continued: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality. I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.” Arsenal are 2-0 down to Newcastle heading into Wednesday’s fixture, following a disappointing defeat in the opening leg at the Emirates a fortnight ago. But Arteta is confident the boost of their statement victory against City could yet propel them to the final on March 16. “The next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it,” Arteta said. Source link #Arteta #disappointed #Arsenal #failed #sign #striker Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Raptors swingman Barrett in concussion protocol Raptors swingman Barrett in concussion protocol By n The ********* Pressn The ********* Press Posted February 4, 2025 12:16 pm Updated February 4, 2025 12:17 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size TORONTO – Raptors swingman RJ Barrett is in concussion protocol and has been ruled out of Toronto’s game Tuesday night against visiting New York. Barrett appeared to hit his head on the floor and was slow to get up after scoring a layup late in Toronto’s 115-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena. Related Videos 1:32 Toronto Raptors players surprise students in Kahnawake Previous Video Next Video Story continues below advertisement He stayed in the game and practised with the team Monday. 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. Barrett missed most of the pre-season and the first three games of the regular season with a shoulder injury, and five games with an illness in December. His latest injury will keep him out of a matchup against his former team. The Knick sent Barrett, guard Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick to Toronto for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn midway through last season. Trending Now Should Canada ban X and Tesla? Why calls are growing Musk Starlink deal with Ontario government back on hours after threat to rip it up Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., is averaging 21.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists over 41 games in his first full season in Toronto. The Raptors enter Tuesday’s contest with wins in eight of their last 10 games. This report by The ********* Press was first published Feb. 4, 2025. More on Sports More videos &copy 2025 The ********* Press Source link #Raptors #swingman #Barrett #concussion #protocol Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Upjers celebrates Valentines across its suite of free releases, including Zoo 2 Upjers celebrates Valentines across its suite of free releases, including Zoo 2 Valentines Day is right around the corner and with it comes top new events in many releases Developer Upjer’s catalogue is no different as they hit us with multiple new events That includes many of their mobile-adjacent releases like Zoo 2 As we head towards the middle of February the biggest date on many couple’s calenders is coming up. Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest gift-giving and romantic occasions there are, but it’s not just IRL that this event is being marked as many top releases are also marking the date! If you’re not aware of Upjers then you’re probably still familiar with their many releases over the years. Whether that’s Zoo 2: Animal Park, My Free Zoo, My Little Farmies and more, and the Valentines events are set to take place in all of them. But, for the sake of brevity, we’ll look most closely at those in Zoo 2, as we’ve covered it before. In Zoo 2: Animal Park you’ll have the opportunity to earn chests and exclusive decorations throughout the event ******* running February 5th to the 12th. Romantic Cottage Garden is described as the main theme for this Valentine’s Day event, with lovely-designed decorations letting you give your zoo theming a dose of romance. Hearthrob Of course, that’s not even close to all, and if you’re dipping into their browser titles like My Free Zoo you’ll find plenty of other great events, such as the zoo itself being turned into a copy of the romantic French capital Paris! While Upjers catalogue may be on the older side they’re no less beloved by fans. So little surprise that big events like this are also big news. But be sure to check in soon! Because these are only available for a limited time, so if you want to get that extra dose of romance in your games you’ll need to jump in quick. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to stay Ahead of the Game why not check out our article on just that subject covering top releases that you can play ahead of launch? Source link #Upjers #celebrates #Valentines #suite #free #releases #including #Zoo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Compact Neutrino Detector Successfully Identifies Antineutrinos at Nuclear Reactor Compact Neutrino Detector Successfully Identifies Antineutrinos at Nuclear Reactor A compact neutrino detector has successfully identified antineutrinos at a nuclear power plant, marking a significant advancement in particle physics. Unlike conventional detectors that require massive infrastructure, this device weighs less than three kilograms. Despite its size, it effectively detected antineutrinos emitted from a nuclear reactor in Leibstadt, Switzerland. The experiment, which lasted 119 days, involved a detector composed of germanium crystals. Around 400 antineutrinos were recorded, aligning with theoretical predictions. Scientists believe this achievement could lead to improved testing of physics theories and potential applications in nuclear monitoring. Study Findings and Expert Insights According to a study submitted to arXiv on January 9, the experiment relied on a specific interaction where neutrinos and antineutrinos scatter off atomic nuclear. This phenomenon, which was first observed in 2017, enables smaller detectors to function effectively. Kate Scholberg, a neutrino physicist at Duke University, told Science News that the accomplishment is significant, as researchers have attempted similar feats for decades. She highlighted the simplicity of the interaction, comparing it to a gentle push rather than a complex nuclear reaction. Christian Buck, a physicist at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and co-author of the study, told Science News that this development opens a new avenue in neutrino physics. He noted that the interaction’s clean nature could help identify undiscovered particles or unexpected magnetic properties in neutrinos. Potential Applications and Challenges Physicists suggest that such detectors could play a role in monitoring nuclear reactors. The ability to detect antineutrinos could provide insights into reactor activity, including plutonium production, which has implications for nuclear security. However, challenges remain. Jonathan Link, a neutrino physicist at Virginia Tech, told Science News that while the technique is promising, it is still a difficult approach. The detector, despite its small size, requires shielding to eliminate background noise, limiting its portability. This experiment also helps clarify past findings. In 2022, a similar claim of reactor antineutrinos scattering off nuclei was made, but inconsistencies with established theories led to controversy. Buck stated that the new study rules out the validity of those earlier results. With ongoing research, the field continues to evolve, potentially leading to further discoveries in particle physics. Source link #Compact #Neutrino #Detector #Successfully #Identifies #Antineutrinos #Nuclear #Reactor Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meta sets Oculus Quest headset shelf-life at six years, but there’s still hope that the Meta Quest 2 will survive past 2026 Meta sets Oculus Quest headset shelf-life at six years, but there’s still hope that the Meta Quest 2 will survive past 2026 Meta has reportedly ended all software updates to the Oculus Quest This sets the shelf-life for Quest headsets at just under six years, which suggests the Quest 2 would lose all support in 2026 The Meta Quest 2 might last until 2028 based on Meta’s CTO’s comments Meta looks to have put the final nail in the coffin of the original Oculus Quest VR headset – and it gives us some idea of the life expectancy for the company’s other current headsets. Meta discontinued the original Oculus Quest, which was released in 2019, in 2020, stopped updating it with new features in February 2023, ended security updates in August 2024, and cut support for new apps on the system in April 2024. Now it’s being reported (via UploadVR) that the system can no longer receive updates for older games from developers either, effectively meaning the headset has reached the end of its life. You can continue to use your Quest if you wish – though given the lack of security updates we’d recommend exercising caution if you do. More significantly, this reported development would put the official lifespan of the original Quest at six years, which in turn gives us an idea of how long Meta might continue to support its other Quest headsets for – and it might be bad news for Meta’s most popular VR hardware, the Quest 2. That’s because if Meta follows a similar policy with the Meta Quest 2 we can expect that headset to receive software updates until mid/late 2026, then the Meta Quest 3 to be supported until 2029, and the Meta Quest 3S until 2030 – though Meta may choose to end support for the Quest 3 later or 3S earlier given that the headsets share the same chipset so it would be odd to end support for one and not the other. There’s still hope for the Quest 2 yet (Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet) Meta has already taken the first steps towards sunsetting the Quest 2. The headset was officially discontinued in September last year – though it began disappearing from retail in July – and the first Meta Quest 3 exclusives have already arrived (titles such as Batman: Arkham Shadow) as software developers begin to abandon the Quest 2’s aging hardware. So a 2026 end-of-life date would certainly make sense; however, there’s potentially good news if you’re hoping to keep using your Quest 2 for a bit longer. In a no-longer-available Instagram Story (which was shared to Reddit), Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said the Quest 2 would receive support for “three years from the last date of *****.” That would mean it should last until 2027, with its incredible popularity (it has reliably topped Steam VR headset usage charts for years) likely helping to extend its life a little beyond that off its older sibling. What’s more, if Bosworth is just talking about Horizon OS security updates, and not app updates from developers, then following the timeline Meta took for the original Quest, your Meta Quest 2 could claw its way to eight years of support before it’s stuck in software stasis, which isn’t too shabby given the lifespan of other tech like your smartphone. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. If the Quest 2 does indeed survive until 2028, by then we’ll hopefully have a Meta Quest 4S for Quest 2 holdouts to sink their teeth into as a new affordable VR headset alternative, but for exact details of Meta’s plans for its existing headsets, and future ones, we’ll need to wait for some official announcements. You might also like Source link #Meta #sets #Oculus #Quest #headset #shelflife #years #hope #Meta #Quest #survive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Best Way to Cook Rice and Grains The Best Way to Cook Rice and Grains This simple boiling method doesn’t require measuring or memorization — and you probably already know how to do it. A wide variety of grains comes out tender and fluffy when prepared with the boiling method.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews By Ali Slagle Ali Slagle is a recipe developer and regular contributor to NYT Cooking who specializes in low-effort, high-reward recipes. She is also the author of the cookbook “I Dream of Dinner (so You Don’t Have To).” Published Feb. 4, 2025Updated Feb. 4, 2025 Bouncy, chewy barley, springy, fluffy quinoa and sourly tangy rye berries: Grains of all shapes, sizes and hues can add deep flavor and lively textures to every meal. You might think that cooking each type requires a different ratio of water or that you have to follow the exact instructions on the back of the package. Fortunately, there is one simple method that works for most any grain — and you probably already know it well. Just boil it like pasta. This method is a common way to partly cook rice in dishes across Central and South Asia, such as biryani, challaw and sabzi polo, because it results in plump, evenly cooked kernels. But using this method to cook them all the way has a number of perks. The grains will be cooked quickly and thoroughly — no matter the type used. You can also forgo rinsing the grains first because the cooking liquid washes away any unwanted debris and starch. Of course, there are a few exceptions: If you want your grains to stick together (as with sushi rice), to cook the grains in **** first (as with pilaf) or to have a soupy consistency (as with congee and risotto), you might want to use the absorption method, in which grains soak up a measured amount of water in a covered pot. But in all other cases, the boiling method is less finicky and more forgiving. So how do I boil grains? Add grains to a saucepan or pot of lightly salted boiling water, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re tender and chewy. They should be the texture of al dente pasta — not soft or mushy — and may also be split at the ends. Use the cook times that follow as a guide for some common grains, and start tasting five minutes before because grains vary greatly based on producer. Drain the grains through a sieve. For warm, fluffy grains, return the grains to the pot and cover to rest for a few minutes. Room temperature grains are ideal for salads and stir-fries and should be rinsed under cold water right after they’re cooked and spread out on a sheet pan to cool and dry. This step will help the grains stay separate. Rinsing grains right after cooking helps prevent clumping even after they’ve been chilled or frozen.David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews Approximate Cook Times Amaranth: 20 minutes Buckwheat groats: 10 minutes Bulgur wheat: 15 minutes Cracked freekeh: 20 minutes Long-grain white rice: 10 minutes Millet: 30 minutes Pearled farro or barley: 20 minutes Quinoa: 10 minutes Short-grain brown rice: 30 minutes Short-grain white rice: 15 minutes Sorghum: 50 minutes Wheat berries (including rye and spelt): 45 minutes Wild rice: 45 minutes How do I store grains? Store uncooked grains in a jar in a dark, cool and dry cabinet for up to 6 months or in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 year. Can I freeze cooked grains? Cooked grains keep well in both the refrigerator and freezer. Rinse the cooked grains under cold water, spread out on a baking sheet to cool and dry, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to five days. To freeze, place the sheet pan of cooled grains in the freezer; once firm, transfer the grains to a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. More grain recipes on New York Times Cooking Roasted Broccoli Grain Bowl With Nooch Dressing | Millet With Corn, Mango and Shrimp | Warm Roasted Carrot and Barley Salad | Quinoa Salad | Sorghum Bowl With ****** Beans, Amaranth and Avocado | Brussels Sprouts Salad With Pomegranate and Pistachios | Sweet Chile Grain Bowl With Tofu How do I reheat cooked grains? Add a splash of water to refrigerated or frozen cooked grains and warm them in the microwave or in a covered pot set over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You also can crisp them under the broiler or in an oiled skillet, stirring as you would with fried rice. What do I do with the cooked grains? Enjoy them as a simple, warm side dish with mains like stir-fries, braised meat, roasted vegetables, beans or another protein. Or sprinkle them into soups, frittatas, salads and bowls. Cooked grains can add heft and pops of texture to many meals. Source link #Cook #Rice #Grains Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wall St rises as megacaps gain despite tariff concerns Wall St rises as megacaps gain despite tariff concerns The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq have gained as megacap stocks stabilised despite ongoing market volatility following China’s counter tariffs in response to new US trade restrictions. Minutes after US President Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariff on ******** goods kicked in at 12.01am ET, China’s finance ministry announced levies on some US imports, effective February 10. China’s limited reply to Trump’s imposition underscored its attempts to engage the US president in talks and avert an outright trade war between the world’s two largest economies. “The tariff gun is clearly loaded… we don’t know if it eventually is going to fire (but) we now have some time in between the announcement and the implementation,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. “Markets are going to take the pause and try to price in the uncertainty.” Alphabet rose 1.8 per cent ahead of its quarterly results, which are due after markets close, while Nvidia advanced 2.8 per cent. In early trading on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 46.08 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 44,467.99, the S&P 500 gained 34.50 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 6,029.07 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 214.68 points, or 1.11 per cent, to 19,606.63. Six of the 11 S&P 500 sectors traded higher, with energy stocks leading the gains with a 1.7 per cent rise. Biotechnology firm Illumina dropped 4.3 per cent while PVH Corp, the holding company for brands including Calvin Klein, shed 0.8 per cent after China placed the companies in its “unreliable entity list”. Trump had also imposed a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada over the weekend but agreed to a 30-day pause in the levies on Monday, in return for border and crime concessions from both countries. The last-minute change helped the three major US stock indexes pare some of the heavy losses suffered earlier on Monday and closed trading well off session lows. Three Federal Reserve officials warned on Monday that trade tariffs carried inflation risks, with one arguing that uncertainty over the outlook for prices called for slower interest-rate cuts than otherwise. Comments from Fed leaders including Atlanta’s Raphael Bostic are expected through the day. A Labor Department report showed US job openings stood at 7.6 million in December, compared to an estimated 8 million, according to economists polled by Reuters. In earnings-driven moves, PepsiCo fell 1.8 per cent after it forecast annual profit below expectations and missed quarterly revenue estimates. Merck dropped 9.9 per cent after the drug maker said it would pause shipments of Gardasil to China through at least the mid-year, as continued weak demand for the HPV vaccine there is expected to hurt the company’s 2025 revenues. Palantir jumped 25.8 per cent after the data analytics company forecast first-quarter and annual revenue above Wall Street estimates. PayPal fell 9.5 per cent after the digital payments giant’s operating margin shrank in the fourth quarter. Marathon Petroleum rose 4.4 per cent after beating fourth-quarter profit estimates. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 2.46-to-1 ratio on the NYSE, and by a 2.19-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 13 new 52-week highs and 14 new lows while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 34 new highs and 68 new lows. Source link #Wall #rises #megacaps #gain #tariff #concerns Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

February’s Game Pass additions include Avowed and Madden NFL 25 February’s Game Pass additions include Avowed and Madden NFL 25 Xbox just announced the new titles that will be available for Game Pass this month, . There’s a big day one release, an indie gem and, of course, a newish Madden title. Let’s get to it. The big news? Avowed is a day one release for subscribers. We knew would come out on February 18, but now we know it’ll be instantly available for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass users. This is a first-person action RPG from the company that brought us Fallout: New Vegas, so it’s a pretty big deal. It’s a spinoff of Pillars of Eternity, though set in a new land. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Another Crab’s Treasure is a unique soulslike that trades in the genre’s typical grimdark aesthetic for a bright, cartoon-like color palette. However, it’s still tough as nails. You play as a crab trying to get its shell back. The game will be available on February 5 for both Ultimate and Standard subscribers. Madden NFL 25, not to be confused with the Madden 25 that , is EA’s latest football sim. You know the drill here: It’s a Madden game. The title will be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on February 6. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Far Cry New Dawn is available right now for all Game Pass tiers. This 2019 FPS fell under the radar a bit, . It’s also set after a nuclear apocalypse, which is always a fun time. There are also some games coming to Game Pass Standard that used to be locked behind an Ultimate subscription. These include Starfield and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on February 5 and Kingdom Two Crowns on February 13. Source link #Februarys #Game #Pass #additions #include #Avowed #Madden #NFL Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]