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South Of Midnight Looks Like A Deep South Take On A PS2-Era Action-Adventure South Of Midnight Looks Like A Deep South Take On A PS2-Era Action-Adventure South of Midnight caught my attention the second its first trailer debuted, captivating me with its stop-motion-inspired art style and a story and lore built on the culture and myths from the ********* South. Up to this point, developer Compulsion Games hasn’t said much about what the actual gameplay of South of Midnight is, so I was eager to check the game out when the studio offered a chance to see it in action. The demo was on the shorter side and, unfortunately, was hands-off, so I still don’t know how it feels to actually play South of Midnight. But from what I saw, the game most reminded me of my time with Kena: Bridge of Spirits–South of Midnight looks like an action-adventure game from the PS2 era: a far cry from Compulsion Games’ Contrast and We Happy Few. In South of Midnight, you play as Hazel, a woman whose home of Prospero is hit by a hurricane. Learning she’s a Weaver, a magician-like person who can unravel the *********** affecting a place and suture the fraying ties of the community, Hazel sets off in search of her mother who was washed away during the storm. Hazel can use her magical weaving abilities to tear apart enemies, acrobatically flip through platforms, and solve puzzles. Each major arc of the story sees Hazel uncovering the legend surrounding a creature–sometimes an animal, other times a person–that has achieved larger-than-life, otherworldly status as their past traumas twist them into mythical monsters. Upon deducing how these creatures became what they are, Hazel is tasked with defeating them. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. 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Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter Now Playing: South of Midnight Gameplay Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2024 The setup looks a whole lot like Bridge of Spirits, with Hazel’s efforts to explore the trauma and backstories of the creatures that threaten her home resulting in the area being cleansed, much as Kena fought off the Rot and the lingering spirits of the traumatized individuals left behind. And like Bridge of Spirits, South of Midnight takes nods from a culture not often explored in video games–just in this case, it’s the ********* South instead of Bridge of Spirit’s Bali (a small province in Indonesia). Similarly, South of Midnight looks like a modern-day take on the same type of gameplay Bridge of Spirits built on: that of the action-adventure game from the mid-2000s. The demo I watched saw Hazel use combos to take down mobs of enemies, platform between landmarks, complete optional challenges to unlock collectibles, and take on a larger-than-life monster in a boss ******. Again, I have no idea how the game actually plays, but in practice it looks familiar; it looks like a type of game I’ve played and enjoyed before. What I’m most curious to see is how the gothic-fantasy themes and Deep South setting inform the world design because that–for me, anyway–is what’s going to set this game apart from its contemporaries. Hazel is a Weaver, using magic that emulates the act of weaving thread. “Where the South really influenced the gameplay was mostly across three things,” game director Jasmin Roy told GameSpot. “It was the world itself, how we were going to go through various regions that have different biomes, which means in level design, and different spaces to navigate–all these buildings that are abandoned, things like that. And we went like, ‘It would be cool to be able to jump on [buildings] and move around and do things. And that combined itself with magical realism–how you’re going to have powers to interact with the fantasy element of the settings. And when you combine those two things together, you start going, ‘Okay, I’d like to be able to jump, move, use the strands, manipulate objects, create objects with that fantasy of everything being this traditional arts and craft of weaving.’ And then the third thing I know that really influenced [the world] was the mythical creature, folkloric, the giant thing. So that informed how we built the world and how we created mechanics to go around them.” Roy described South of Midnight as a more linear experience, with the player moving forward from one area to another. “The region informed all the rest [of the game],” Roy said. “And that’s how we ended up creating a feature set and the gameplay loop and how it works. That’s why we think it’s a unique journey and it’s all built as a journey. So you are asking, ‘Oh, is it the same gameplay loop?’ It does fluctuate because it is narrative-driven. So most of the time with the creature, it will play out with, ‘Oh, I need to learn their story to go on.’ But there are also other different beats of narrative events that will happen because dealing with creatures and regions is not the only thing you’ll do in the game to progress. There are other events to be discovered once you get the game right.” Two-Toed Tom is a crocodile whose past has transformed him into a monstrously large creature. “Some of the [gameplay] loops do repeat, so I just want to make that clear,” studio head Guillaume Provost said. “The experience [of meeting] the creatures pass through multiple beats and [culminate with] filling your bottle–those are loops that do repeat themselves that you do recognize throughout the game’s structure itself. But to Jasmin’s point, you don’t always ****** the creatures–there’s no fighting. There are different types of encounters that you’ll get throughout the game that kind of celebrate different beats that have to do with the story and/or contact your problem that the creatures are going through.” “Some of [the creatures] are going to focus on traversal,” Roy said. “Some of them even focus on narrative beats. It really is a mixed bag. Some of them will evolve into direct confrontations, like we saw with the demo today. But there are other features that do focus on traversal. We have some of that, and we also have some that focus on that. I don’t want to reveal them too much because I really think they’re really cool. But yes, the idea was that even though the loop was going to be about experiencing their story and interacting with them and beating them, depending on which type of creature you’re going to encounter, fighting wasn’t always the right word. [Fighting them isn’t] always the right thing because [the creatures] do have wildly different stories of things that happen to them.” Some of the mythical creatures Hazel encounters were once human. “You as a player are there to resolve their trauma or help move past the situation that they’re in,” Provost continued. “So in certain cases, when it made sense from a narrative [standpoint], structural point of view, there is a combat sequence. For example, when Two Twod Tom eats your house, you get really ******. There’s a setup for it that creates the conflict. Hazel, the main character, is not roaming around trying to ***** mythical creatures. That’s the key takeaway. When there is conflict, there’s conflict that’s instituted for a narrative construct and reason that makes sense. But in other cases, there are problems with the creature that don’t involve conflict. It’s better resolved either through narrative [choice] or puzzle-solving or platforming or other types of challenges that actually have to do with specifically the issues of that creature.” How the studio spoke about trauma was the one qualm I had about the game at the event, given how often “resolve” and “fix” were tossed around. The preview event didn’t include an example of how Hazel would do this and the developers were vague on the subject, but I’m always wary of folks talking about trauma as an easily fixable issue when it’s regularly an ongoing process. And taking into account that South of Midnight is taking inspiration from the Deep South, a place of long-lasting intergenerational trauma that rarely is just addressed and “fixed,” I’m looking at this specific part of the game with an air of caution. Admittedly, the rest of the event showcased that Compulsion has shown a tremendous amount of respect and care toward other aspects of the ********* South in terms of ambiance, landmarks, music, and language–South of Midnight sounds like a trip to the Deep South–so it’s just as possible that the studio has handled the themes of trauma with similar care and simply isn’t ready to showcase how those storylines play out yet. You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos. South of Midnight Cinematic Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase 2023 Size:640 × 360480 × 270 Want us to remember this setting for all your devices? Sign up or Sign in now! Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. This video has an invalid file format. Sorry, but you can’t access this content! Please enter your date of birth to view this video JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198919881987198619851984198319821981198019791978197719761975197419731972197119701969196819671966196519641963196219611960195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948194719461945194419431942194119401939193819371936193519341933193219311930192919281927192619251924192319221921192019191918191719161915191419131912191119101909190819071906190519041903190219011900 By clicking ‘enter’, you agree to GameSpot’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy enter “They’re not statements on the here and now,” art director Whitney Clayton told GameSpot in regard to South of Midnight’s mythical creatures and stories of trauma. “They’re folktales; they’re more universal. In this world, they’re legends that [Hazel] ends up coming across after she starts her journey. And then the more she sees, the more it stops becoming surprising for her, and that’s the magic-realism angle. Whereas after she leaves the most grounded area, which is where she’s from, this little town, her home, and she starts going into what we call the focal arc of the Deep South, and she starts meeting these characters and communities, those people just accept these creatures around them. And those creatures, their story is really tied to the land, to the history of that land. And they would have more, I guess you’d say, high-level allegorical messages behind them, if that makes sense.” Having now seen a smidge of what South of Midnight has to offer, I’m mostly excited–I loved Kena: Bridge of Spirits so another game akin to that is right up my alley–but I do have some worries about the story that I hope to see addressed. South of Midnight is set to launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2025. Source link #South #Midnight #Deep #South #PS2Era #ActionAdventure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philippe Laffont’s Coatue bet big on China and GLP-1 drugmakers in Q3 Philippe Laffont’s Coatue bet big on China and GLP-1 drugmakers in Q3 Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management took several new stakes in major ******** e-commerce companies and a couple of anti-obesity focused drugmakers in the third quarter, according to the latest 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Laffont, one of the “Tiger Cub” fund managers who worked under the late Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, added more than 2.4 million shares, or 896%, to his stake in Alibaba in the three months that ended Sept. 30. He also increased his stake in JD.com by 8.2 million shares, or 33,490%, and PDD Holdings by roughly 2.28 million shares, or 741%. Laffont also created new positions in iShares China Large-Cap ETF and KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF . Alibaba is scheduled to post its quarterly financial results on Friday, which could provide closely watched details on the health of the ******** consumer. The ******** stock market has seen recent volatility partly due to concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s stance toward China and his tariff threats . In September, shares in China rallied sharply after authorities there ramped up stimulus measures and President Xi Jinping called for strengthening fiscal and monetary economic support and stopping the real estate slump. Laffont also made a couple of significant increases to the fund’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk . Eli Lilly shares are up nearly 35% year to date, while Novo Nordisk’s ADRs have gained about 2% after soaring 54% in 2023. Laffont added to existing positions in Alphabet , Amazon , Broadcom and Microsoft during the quarter, but made sizable reductions in holdings of Meta Platforms and Nvidia . He also lowered his stake in chipmakers Qualcomm , Advanced Micro Devices and Taiwan Semiconductor . Facebook parent Meta still ******** the fund’s largest holding, while Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia remain in the fund’s top 10. The filing also showed increased bets on Eaton Corporation, a name closely tied to the artificial intelligence-related energy infrastructure *****, as well as Constellation Energy and NextEra Energy . Source link #Philippe #Laffonts #Coatue #bet #big #China #GLP1 #drugmakers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Look At The Most Wishlisted Upcoming Steam Games in November A Look At The Most Wishlisted Upcoming Steam Games in November My wife enjoys laughing at me because I spend time daily going through the most wishlisted upcoming Steam games on the digital storefront in search of anything new I might have missed. Something is launching daily, and new game announcements occur weekly, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that my nearly 1,000-strong wishlist is missing something. I’m sure I’m not alone, which is why I’m sharing with you the ten most wishlisted upcoming games on the platform for November! Top Wishlists on Steam for November For the most part, the top ten wishlists on Steam don’t change too frequently. Many of these games, like Monster Hunter, Deadlock, and Hollow Knight, remain in the top ten month after month. They likely will until launch. But it’s nice seeing titles like Delta Force, Arena Breakout, and the upcoming STALKER 2 make an appearance! Monster Hunter Wilds Deadlock Hollow Knight: Silksong S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Delta Force Marvel Rivals Sid Meier’s Civilization VII ARK 2 Light No ***** Arena Breakout: Infinite Just narrowly missing the top ten list are Path of Exile 2, inZOI, and Unrecord. I imagine Path of Exile 2 will push into the top ten slot this month, following the developer’s upcoming livestream showcasing the launch-day build, classes, and end-game content! Related: When Does the New ****** Ops 6 Zombies Map Come Out? Upcoming Game Releases in November Worth Keeping An Eye On Of course, just because something isn’t on the top wishlists on Steam doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. November is chock full of hot releases, such as: LEGO Horizon Adventures Metro Awakening S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Mario & Luigi Brothership Funko Fusion Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Star Wars Outlaws (Steam) Genshin Impact (Xbox Series X|S) Towers of Aghasba Who could forget the recently released Farming Simulator 25? It launches with a few day-one issues that require a patch promptly from Giants, but it’s still a fun, relaxing experience! What November release are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below, or visit the community forum to discuss hot new releases with others! Speaking of the most wishlisted upcoming Steam games on the platform, we recently reported on the *********’s Creed Animus Hub, which reveals season pass content for Shadows! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Wishlisted #Upcoming #Steam #Games #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon questioned by House committee over ‘dangerous’ TikTok deal Amazon questioned by House committee over ‘dangerous’ TikTok deal A view of the Amazon logo outside Amazon’s offices in Dublin City Centre, Ireland, on Feb. 15, 2023. Artur Widak | Nurphoto | Getty Images Amazon representatives met with the House China committee in recent months to discuss lawmaker concerns over the company’s partnership with TikTok, CNBC confirmed. A spokesperson for the House Select Committee on the ******** ********** Party confirmed the meeting, which centered on a shopping deal between Amazon and TikTok announced in August. The agreement allows users of TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, to link their account with Amazon and make purchases from the site without leaving TikTok. “The Select Committee conveyed to Amazon that it is dangerous and unwise for Amazon to partner with TikTok given the grave national security threat the app poses,” the spokesperson said. The parties met in September, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. Representatives from Amazon and TikTok did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. TikTok’s future viability in the U.S. is uncertain. In April, President Joe Biden signed a law that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok by Jan. 19. If TikTok fails to cut ties with its parent company, app stores and internet hosting services would be prohibited from offering the app. President-elect Donald Trump could rescue TikTok from a potential U.S. ban. He promised on the campaign trail that he would “save” TikTok, and said in a March interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that “there’s a lot of good and there’s a lot of bad” with the app. In his first administration, Trump had tried to implement a TikTok ban. He changed his stance around the time he met with billionaire Jeff Yass. The *********** megadonor’s trading firm, Susquehanna International Group, owns a 15% stake in ByteDance, while Yass has a 7% stake in the company, NBC and CNBC reported in March. — CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO Source link #Amazon #questioned #House #committee #dangerous #TikTok #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Do People Cry? Here’s What We Know. Why Do People Cry? Here’s What We Know. Crying is a quintessential human experience. Claire Danes does it. Kim Kardashian does it. Even Michael Jordan does it. And no matter how long it has been since you last shed a tear, there is no doubt that you’ve done it, too. Other species produce tears, but ours is the only one that scientists believe consistently cries not just to lubricate and protect the eyeballs, but also to express emotion — like after a breakup, at graduation ceremonies and while watching “The Notebook.” While they are one of the few things that make us uniquely human, in many ways, emotional tears remain an enigma. Research has revealed that our emotions are even more complicated than neuroscientists once thought; there is no one area of the brain that’s responsible for feelings of sadness or anger, for instance. And scientists have yet to scan people’s brains to see what happens while they are crying. Still, some progress has been made to help us understand human tears — to grasp what they’re made of, why we create them (some of us more than others) and why producing them can help us feel better. The three types of tears Practically any creature that has eyeballs produces two sets of tears: basal and reflex. Basal tears keep the eye moist, while reflex tears are meant to protect the eye from irritants like dust. Humans also shed a third type, fittingly called emotional tears, when they are sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, happy or moved. All three types of tears are structurally similar in that they are primarily made of water, oils, mucus, antibacterial proteins and electrolytes, said Darlene Dartt, a professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. You probably rarely, if ever, notice basal tears, which are released in tiny amounts throughout the day. As they evaporate, the temperature on the surface of the eyeballs drops slightly, which signals that the eyes should produce more basal tears to avoid drying out. Reflex and emotional tears release more liquid, which is why your eyes well up while you’re chopping onions or why tears stream down your face at a ********. That extra liquid mainly comes from special tear glands located underneath the eyebrows that are regulated by cells in the brainstem. With reflex tears, nerves in the eyes signal to the brainstem that tears are needed to flush out whatever is irritating them. For emotional tears, scientists think that other parts of the brain activate those brainstem cells to turn on the tear glands. Why we evolved to cry Lots of animals wail in distress. Experts think that they — and we — evolved to do so in infancy as a means of survival. That’s because the animals that cry vocally, namely mammals and birds, tend to rely on a mother or father. A robin chick’s peeps and a goat ****’s bleats are the baby’s main way to solicit care from a parent when it’s hungry, scared or in pain. But animals don’t shed emotional tears when they cry. And for the first several weeks of their lives, neither do humans. Instead, similar to other animals, newborn ******* produce a heartbreaking (and ear-piercing) bawl. Then, sometime in the first month or two, salty fluid starts to fall from their eyes as well. It’s a bit of a mystery why we started to produce tears while upset, rather than continuing to cry with dry eyes like sloths or bats do. It’s possible that the act of scrunching up your face to unleash a yowl puts pressure on the eyeballs, stimulating the tear glands, said Ad Vingerhoets, an emeritus professor of clinical psychology at Tilburg University in the Netherlands and one of the foremost experts in human crying. That may be why yawning, laughing and vomiting can lead to tears as well, he added. Tears may also hold an evolutionary advantage over howls, and as we age, we become more able to cry quietly. While anyone on an airplane can hear an infant wail, only those sitting in the seats near you will see tears roll down your cheeks while you watch the opening sequence of “Up.” In that way, tears can more subtly alert others nearby to someone’s distress without giving the person away to predators that may be lurking, said Lauren Bylsma, an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. The reasons we cry change as we age For the first years of our lives, we mostly shed tears related to our own experiences — a busted knee, a bee sting or a dropped ice cream cone. That starts to change as we grow older and become more emotionally and socially developed. We cry less in response to physical pain and more over our emotional connections to other people. “Your world becomes greater, so there are more people who become more important for you,” Dr. Vingerhoets said. One of the most common reasons for crying is the absence or loss of a loved one, whether we’re homesick as children, heartbroken in adolescence or grieving a ****** at any age. We cry over the plights of others, too. These empathetic tears may occur because we are imagining ourselves in other people’s shoes, whether they are friends, strangers or even fictional characters. In fact, this is how scientists study crying: They show people a sad clip from a film and see if it turns on the waterworks. While sadness is the emotion most typically associated with crying, what many tearful experiences have in common is a sense of helplessness or powerlessness. That feeling of powerlessness often accompanies tears of frustration, and it may even explain the tears some people shed when they feel emotionally overwhelmed, whether from joy, anxiety or awe. In fact, Dr. Vingerhoets called helplessness “the core element of crying,” since it harks back to the original evolutionary purpose of tears: needing assistance or support. Why some people cry more than others Cliché as it is, the biggest predictor of how often someone cries is gender. Research from around the world has found that women consistently cry more frequently than men. Much of that difference is likely to be the result of societal pressures and gender norms, experts say. Consider the fact that little boys and ****** cry about the same amount, said Jonathan Rottenberg, a professor of psychology at Cornell University. Only over time does a tearful gender gap start to emerge. Part of the reason may be that society largely teaches boys the importance of being tough. “Boys might inhibit their crying for ***** of violating a gender stereotype,” Dr. Rottenberg said. Hormones may play a role as well. The gender gap in crying tends to emerge during adolescence, when **** hormones kick in, and one hypothesis is that testosterone may suppress tears or that swings in estrogen levels make the crying response more likely. But there is little research on the topic, and one of the few studies that examined the connection between hormones and tears found that, despite commonly held beliefs about premenstrual syndrome, women were not more likely to cry during any particular phase of their cycles. Certain personality traits appear to influence how much people cry. Highly empathetic people tend to report crying more, as do people who are more neurotic, Dr. Vingerhoets said. Then there are things we do to our bodies that increase the odds — namely, drink alcohol and neglect sleep. Doing either can cause people to cry more easily, most likely because they lower inhibition, making it ******* to hold back tears. The benefits of a good cry Perhaps the longest-running debate among researchers is why crying often makes people feel better. One of the largest studies to investigate the concept asked thousands of people from around the world about the last time they shed tears. A little over half reported feeling better afterward, almost 40 percent experienced no difference and 10 percent said they actually felt worse. Crying, especially when alone, may serve as a sort of self-therapy. “It forces you to think about whatever you’re crying about,” Dr. Bylsma said. “To deal with it cognitively, emotionally, and kind of process whatever that thing is that’s upsetting you.” People tend to report feeling better if the crying episode was prompted by an issue that could be solved, like a disagreement with a partner, rather than by a situation outside of their control, like the loss of a loved one, Dr. Vingerhoets said. In social situations, the biggest factor influencing how you feel after crying is how the people around you react. People who receive a supportive response, like a hug or validation of their feelings, tend to feel better, while those whose tears are met with anger or ridicule are more likely to feel worse. This makes sense, as experts think the primary purpose of the tear, no matter your age, is to communicate distress to others. “It is there to signal to others when help is needed and when someone is feeling separated and not attached to care,” Dr. Rottenberg said. The lesson: When someone cries around you, show you’re there for that person. The science says it really does help. Source link #People #Cry #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mondo Reveals World Of Warcraft 4 LP Set Mondo Reveals World Of Warcraft 4 LP Set This looks like a must own for fans and collectors. Mondo Music, in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, are proud to present the World of Warcraft set. Source link #Mondo #Reveals #World #Warcraft #Set Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Student ******** prompts ‘cancel culture’ warning Student ******** prompts ‘cancel culture’ warning The ******** of a young man “cancelled” by his peers at university has prompted a coroner to write to the government warning about “self-policing” among some students. Alexander Rogers, 20, was in his third year studying at the University of Oxford’s Corpus Christi College when he took his own life in January. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Graham said Mr Rogers had been “ostracised” in the preceding days after a woman expressed discomfort about a ******* encounter between the pair. In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, the coroner urged the Department for Education to take action to stop similar deaths occurring related to the harmful effects of being socially ostracised. He said Mr Rogers had reported being subjected to “name calling, targeted behaviour and exclusion and rejection following allegations made against him about his conduct”. Corpus Christi College commissioned an independent serious incident review following the ******. “That review identified evidence of a concerning practice of social ostracism among students, often referred to as a cancel culture,” the coroner said. “[The review’s] evidence was that this behaviour, where individuals are isolated and excluded from social groups based on allegations or perceptions of wrongdoing, poses a significant risk to student mental health and well-being.” He said students “appear to employ social ostracism as a means of ‘self-policing’ their community, often in response to allegations of serious misconduct”. “This occurs in the absence of formal processes and without proper investigation or evidence,” Mr Graham said. Mr Graham added: “I did not find on the balance of probabilities that this culture specifically caused or contributed to Alexander’s ******, but it did give rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of future deaths could occur.” Mr Rogers’ family have been raising money for ******** prevention charity PAPYRUS. In a tribute on a fundraising page, they said: “The loss of Zander has been seismic. “He was and is the epitome of what is good in this world; kind, warm, funny, and an incredible friend to so many.” The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. Need help? If you have been affected by this story the BBC Action Line web page features a list of organisations which are ready to provide support and advice. Source link #Student #******** #prompts #cancel #culture #warning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Here’s a fresh look at the Half-Life 2 RTX remaster Here’s a fresh look at the Half-Life 2 RTX remaster 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. We initially about a team modding an RTX remaster of Half-Life 2 last August. Today, NVIDIA released a trailer giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at Orbifold Studios’ efforts to apply more modern graphics tools to the iconic title. The video highlights the RTX Remix engine and how the team is using it to make visual upgrades to a game with an engine two decades old. They have examples of how they’re creating more dynamic light sources, volumetric fog in moody areas, and full 3D detail on the objects in the environment. The crew at Orbifold still doesn’t have a release date for their work, but as the 20th anniversary for Half-Life 2 approaches on November 16, it’s possible that there may be something official in the works from Valve. No, not Half-Life 3. But YouTuber and veteran Valve reporter Tyler McVicker noticed that there is a new, password-protected branch of the game in Steam. Just based on the number of new test builds that have been pushed out on that branch, the new update seems more involved than the one the company to mark the 25th anniversary of Half-Life 1 last year. So if you’re itching to pick up the gravity **** again, this weekend might be the time to do it. Source link #Heres #fresh #HalfLife #RTX #remaster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philippe Laffont’s Coatue bet big on China and GLP-1 drugmakers in Q3 Philippe Laffont’s Coatue bet big on China and GLP-1 drugmakers in Q3 Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management took several new stakes in major ******** e-commerce companies and a couple of anti-obesity focused drugmakers in the third quarter, according to the latest 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Laffont, one of the “Tiger Cub” fund managers who worked under the late Julian Robertson at Tiger Management, added more than 2.4 million shares, or 896%, to his stake in Alibaba in the three months that ended Sept. 30. He also increased his stake in JD.com by 8.2 million shares, or 33,490%, and PDD Holdings by roughly 2.28 million shares, or 741%. Laffont also created new positions in iShares China Large-Cap ETF and KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF . Alibaba is scheduled to post its quarterly financial results on Friday, which could provide closely watched details on the health of the ******** consumer. The ******** stock market has seen recent volatility partly due to concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s stance toward China and his tariff threats . In September, shares in China rallied sharply after authorities there ramped up stimulus measures and President Xi Jinping called for strengthening fiscal and monetary economic support and stopping the real estate slump. Laffont also made a couple of significant increases to the fund’s holdings in Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk . Eli Lilly shares are up nearly 35% year to date, while Novo Nordisk’s ADRs have gained about 2% after soaring 54% in 2023. Laffont added to existing positions in Alphabet , Amazon , Broadcom and Microsoft during the quarter, but made sizable reductions in holdings of Meta Platforms and Nvidia . He also lowered his stake in chipmakers Qualcomm , Advanced Micro Devices and Taiwan Semiconductor . Facebook parent Meta still ******** the fund’s largest holding, while Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia remain in the fund’s top 10. The filing also showed increased bets on Eaton Corporation, a name closely tied to the artificial intelligence-related energy infrastructure *****, as well as Constellation Energy and NextEra Energy . Source link #Philippe #Laffonts #Coatue #bet #big #China #GLP1 #drugmakers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Car hits ‘pretty loaded’ school bus carrying Lakota Local School District students Car hits ‘pretty loaded’ school bus carrying Lakota Local School District students Students on a Lakota Local School District bus were involved in a ****** in West Chester Township Thursday afternoon. At approximately 2:30 p.m., the “pretty loaded” bus was rear-ended by a car at the intersection of Tylersville Road and Ohio 747, according to township spokesperson Barb Wilson, who added that the intersection is “very busy.” No one on the bus was injured. Two people were in the other vehicle and both refused treatment. The students were from Lakota Plains Junior School, which serves seventh and eighth graders in Liberty Township, Wilson said. Officials briefly closed Ohio 747 at Tylersville, but the intersection is now open. The district notified families of the ****** and shortly after, the students were transported onto another bus and headed home. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota Plains Junior School students involved in school bus ****** Source link #Car #hits #pretty #loaded #school #bus #carrying #Lakota #Local #School #District #students Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

QB Betrayal Index: Lamar Jackson acing his toughest test; Justin Herbert finally gets a break QB Betrayal Index: Lamar Jackson acing his toughest test; Justin Herbert finally gets a break The Quarterback Betrayal Index is back, with a surprise new standard bearer: Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback for years benefited from elite defense/special teams support, but not in 2024. His ability to overcome poor play in those areas during a 7-3 start enhances his MVP credentials. Introduced before the 2022 NFL season, the Betrayal Index measures the degree to which quarterbacks overcome poor play by their own teams’ defenses/special teams, the part of the team they cannot control. It’s the context needed to discuss quarterback win rates. An extreme example: Drew Brees won only 45 percent of his starts (21-26 record) from 2014 to 2016 despite New Orleans ranking No. 1 in a range of offensive categories. The Saints’ historically bad defense/special teams betrayed Brees, resulting in the losing record. The QB Betrayal Index through Week 10 of 2024 is especially interesting because two prominent quarterbacks, Jackson and Justin Herbert, have traded places. Both led productive offenses in the past, but Jackson had the superior win rate (75 percent to 48 percent) largely because, before this season, his Ravens ranked second in combined EPA on defense/special teams during his career (since 2018), while Herbert’s Los Angeles Chargers ranked 31st during his (since 2020), per TruMedia. The big revelation this season has come in Jackson’s ability to keep winning (7-3 record, including 2-0 against the similarly betrayed Joe Burrow) despite his Ravens ranking 31st in combined EPA on defense/special teams in 2024. Herbert’s Chargers are 6-3 because they rank first on defense/special teams EPA on a per-game basis this season, with an offense that ranks middle-of-the-pack statistically. The table below stacks all 34 quarterbacks with at least five starts this season by the difference between where these players rank in QB EPA, and where their teams rank in defense/special teams EPA during each QB’s starts. Jackson, Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy and Kyler Murray are the best examples of betrayed quarterbacks this season. All rank highly in QB EPA for teams with low-ranked defense/special teams. Quarterbacks in the middle rank about the same in QB EPA as their defenses/special teams rank. Quarterbacks at the bottom produce less for teams with stronger defenses/special teams. 2024 QB Betrayal Index through Week 10 The 34 quarterbacks have a combined 37-94 (.282) record this season in starts when their teams finished with negative combined EPA on defense/special teams. That includes 0-55 for a group of 16 quarterbacks headlined by Mayfield (0-6), Aaron Rodgers (0-5) and Burrow (0-4). It’s difficult to win these games, but some quarterbacks — Jackson in particular — have been able to prevail anyway. We’ll close by examining the seven most betrayed quarterbacks this season, plus a closer look at Herbert and the Chargers’ drastic shift. Most betrayed 1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens QB-EPA 1st | DST 32nd | Betrayal Index: -31 W-L: 7-3 (.700) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 5-3 (.625, 5th) Jackson has shown an unusual ability to win what I call “extreme betrayal” games. He is 3-1 this season when the Ravens finished with -10 or worse EPA on defense/special teams. The other 33 quarterbacks listed here have a combined 5-45 (.100) record in those games. That’s the equivalent of winning three-fourths of the time after spotting the opponent 10 points. It’s not necessarily a fluke, either. Jackson has a 7-6 career record in extreme betrayal games, making him the only quarterback since 2000 to start at least three of these games and have a winning record in them. Rich Gannon is next at 5-5. Tom Brady (18-25), Peyton Manning (22-32) and Brees (27-54) have the best records since 2000 in these games among quarterbacks with at least 30 such starts. The league at large has won 15 percent of these games. The chart below shows Jackson’s cumulative EPA since he became the Ravens’ starter compared to Baltimore’s cumulative EPA on defense/special teams during that span, with the two heading in opposite directions since this season began. 2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals QB-EPA 5th | DST 31st | Betrayal Index: -26 W-L: 4-6 (.400) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 0-4 (.000, T-18th) Burrow is 0-4 in extreme betrayal games this season but has 24 touchdown passes with four interceptions and a 108.1 rating in them. Cincinnati fell to Baltimore by scores of 41-38 and 35-34. There was also a 38-33 defeat to Washington and a 37-17 defeat to Philadelphia. Burrow was 4-7 in extreme betrayal games before this season. He’s playing more of them now. 3. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB-EPA 6th | DST 29th | Betrayal Index: -23 W-L: 4-6 (.400) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 0-6 (.000, T-18th) The Buccaneers are 4-0 when they finish with positive EPA on defense/special teams, but 0-6 otherwise. That is typically the hallmark of a team featuring a win-with quarterback, as opposed to a win-because-of QB. But with four of those defeats falling into the extreme betrayal bucket, Mayfield deserves more credit. He has generally kept Tampa close in four extreme betrayal games, but the Buccaneers lost 36-30 and 31-26 to the Falcons, 30-24 to Kansas City and 41-31 to Baltimore in those difficult-to-win matchups. 4. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons QB-EPA 8th | DST 30th | Betrayal Index: -22 W-L: 6-4 (.600) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 3-3 (.500, T-7th) Two victories over Tampa Bay and another over Philadelphia in games in which the Falcons’ defense/special teams faltered helped offset a tough opening-week defeat against Pittsburgh, when Cousins and the offense struggled in his first game back from a torn Achilles. 5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders QB-EPA 3rd | DST 24th | Betrayal Index: -21 W-L: 7-3 (.700) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 3-2 (.600, T-7th) Daniels’ signature Betrayal Index game came at Burrow’s expense: 38-33 at Cincinnati in Week 3, capped by Daniels’ 27-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin on third-and-7 with 2:15 remaining in a game Washington led 31-26. That was the knockout punch by the Commanders, who also beat the Giants twice in games when Washington finished with negative combined EPA on defense/special teams. 6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers QB-EPA 4th | DST 20th | Betrayal Index: -16 W-L: 5-4 (.555) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 2-3 (.400, 10th) Purdy’s continued production has been one of the few constants for the 49ers as they’ve worked through injuries on offense and inconsistent play on defense/special teams. He passed for 645 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in the 49ers’ two extreme betrayal games this season. That was enough to beat Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was not quite enough to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, despite San Francisco leading by 10 points in the fourth quarter. Purdy has an 8-6 record in betrayal games during his career, including 2-2 in extreme betrayal games (-10 or worse EPA on defense/special teams). Jimmy Garoppolo was 11-11 in betrayal games as a 49er. Past starters Colin Kaepernick (3-22) and Alex Smith (6-22-1) did not fare as well in those games for San Francisco. T-7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals QB-EPA 9 | DST 23 | Betrayal Index: -14 W-L: 6-4 (.600) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 3-3 (.500, T-7th) The Cardinals have won and lost with Murray this season. They are 5-1 in games when he finishes with positive EPA, but 1-3 otherwise. Murray did win an extreme betrayal game, 28-27 over Miami. He is now 4-12 in his career in extreme betrayal games. Other Cardinals quarterbacks are 2-58 (.033) in those games since 2000, with Jake Plummer accounting for both victories (he was 2-14 in those games, while Hall of Famer Kurt Warner was 0-11 in them for Arizona). Things are looking up in L.A. T-25. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers QB-EPA 14 | DST 1 | Betrayal Index: +13 W-L: 6-3 (.667) W-L with negative team DST EPA: 1-2 (.333, T-11th) In a change for the Chargers, their defense/special teams have done much more than their quarterback to win games this season. The team’s three losses came in games when the defense/special teams were either very good (+7.1 EPA in a 17-10 defeat to Kansas City) or barely below average (-1.0 EPA in 20-10 defeat to Pittsburgh as well as in a 17-15 defeat to Arizona). The chart below compares Herbert’s cumulative EPA to the cumulative EPA of the Chargers’ defense/special teams. The uptick on defense/special teams began late last season with games against bad offenses: New England in Week 13 and Denver in Week 14, right before Herbert landed on injured reserve. Herbert’s 5-10 record (.333) in extreme betrayal games is better than the 10-37 (.213) mark for Philip Rivers and the 3-12 (.200) mark for Drew Brees among Chargers quarterbacks since 2000. (Photo of Lamar Jackson: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images) The Football 100 The story of the greatest players in NFL history. In 100 riveting profiles, top football writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NFL in the process. The story of the greatest players in NFL history. Buy Source link #Betrayal #Index #Lamar #Jackson #acing #toughest #test #Justin #Herbert #finally #break Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Latest Motorsport Games Earnings Report Reveals Grim Outlook Latest Motorsport Games Earnings Report Reveals Grim Outlook Motorsport Games’ latest earnings report has revealed a grim outlook for the future of the company. Despite reducing costs and increasing general revenue for the third quarter of 2024, the company is still facing a significant uphill climb to continue. According to its latest earning’s report, Motorsport Games saw a slight increase in revenue of $1.8 million. That’s a $0.1M increase in year-over-year revenue. The company did have a net loss of $0.6 million for Q3 2024, which is an improvement compared to the $3.5M net loss from Q3 2024. That said, despite some improvements, there is a concern from the company regarding its ability to continue forward. As of October 31, 2024, Motorsport Games has just $0.5M in cash with “no assurances” that they can find the liquidity and investments needed to continue. HELP INSIDER GAMING: Take Our 2024 Reader Survey “We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future,” the company said in its report. “Accordingly, our financial condition raises substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.” The company’s current deficit sits at $86.3M as of September 30, 2024, and they still owe $0.6M for the 2021 purchase of Studio 397. They are set to lose the ability to sell their NASCAR video games on December 31, 2024 as part of the deal that sold the NASCAR license to iRacing. It was also said that the company expects to receive a letter of deficiency from the NASDAQ regarding its compliance for a continued listing. Even with the concerns, CEO Stephen Hood said that the company will continue the work towards turning things around. “We are pleased to see an improvement in several key financial performance indicators, highlighting that the business is now in a stable position for the next phase of growth,” Hood said. This is the latest development for a company that has seen its share of turmoil and issues over the last couple of years. Most recently, they ***** off more staff while announcing its plans to consider “strategic alternatives” for the company. “[The] Motorsport Games board of directors and I are in the process of reviewing the options available to us with a view to improve our long-term funding needs in order to produce the great game experiences we have proved that we can offer under our new business structure,” Hood said. “The number of expressions of interest received serves to reinforce our belief in the opportunities ahead.” Should the company not be able to gain additional investment, they have listed a number of potential alternatives ranging from selling assets and reducing staff further to “discontinuing operations” entirely. Motorsport Games is currently operating on a reported $100,000 monthly ***** rate after multiple cost-cutting measures. For the year, they are sitting at a negative cash flow of $0.7M. For now, the company continues to work on updates to its simulation racing title Le Mans Ultimate. The latest update in September saw the introduction of a new co-op mod, stave states, and more. There is also a new update coming in December that will add GT3 cars to the game. What do you think the future holds for Motorsport Games? Let us know below, or join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming, read about the latest mass layoffs taking place at Thunderful. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Latest #Motorsport #Games #Earnings #Report #Reveals #Grim #Outlook Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Michael Burry reshuffles portfolio, adds hedges on China holdings Michael Burry reshuffles portfolio, adds hedges on China holdings Michael Burry, best known for calling the subprime mortgage crisis, made a slew of changes in his portfolio last quarter, including what appears to be a hedge on his sizable bet on ******** internet stocks. Burry, who now manages hedge fund Scion Asset Management, boosted his stakes in a few ******** internet companies’ ADRs, according to a regulatory filing. The trader added to his Alibaba bet by 29% to a stake worth more than $21 million, making it his largest position at the end of September. The widely followed investor also doubled his stake in JD.com , pushing it to become Scion’s second-biggest holding, worth $20 million. Burry also increased his stake in ******** search engine Baidu by 67% to a bet worth $13.2 million at the end of the third quarter. While loading up on these ADRs, Burry took a significant amount of put options against these names, likely as some sort of hedge. Investors profit from puts when the underlying securities fall in prices. But when paired with long holdings, they can be used to offset any short-term losses expected in the shares. As of the end of September, Burry owned millions of dollars worth of put contracts against Alibaba, JD.com and Baidu, with unknown value, strike price or expiry, according to the filing. ******** equities got a boost in September after the government signaled a flood of stimulus measures in a bid to revive growth and avoid continued stagnation in the world’s second-largest economy. However, many stocks gave up some of those gains as officials have yet to announce much concrete fiscal support. Burry shot to fame by ******** against mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 global financial crisis . Burry was depicted in Michael Lewis’ book ” The Big Short ” and the subsequent Oscar-winning movie of the same name. Outside of these ******** companies, Burry added to his bets on payment processing company Shift4 Payments , ********* Coastal Insurance Corporation and managed care firm Molina Healthcare . Money managers with more than $100 million in assets are required to disclose long positions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 45 days after a quarter ends. Active traders such as Burry could have already changed their positions by the time filings come out. Source link #Michael #Burry #reshuffles #portfolio #adds #hedges #China #holdings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brad Guzan on thriving at 40, halting Lionel Messi and why USMNT recall talk makes him ‘laugh’ Brad Guzan on thriving at 40, halting Lionel Messi and why USMNT recall talk makes him ‘laugh’ After Atlanta *******’s stunning win over Inter Miami on November 9, an Atlanta staffer approached the team’s charter bus outside Chase Stadium with a box full of Michelob Ultra ***** cans. They were for the players, he said, a deserved reward after eliminating Lionel Messi and his teammates from the playoffs. Among the last players to board the bus was captain Brad Guzan, who exited the stadium with a noticeable strut in his step. The 40-year-old former Aston Villa goalkeeper, who thwarted Messi on numerous occasions throughout the three-game series, was followed by a documentary videographer. Atlanta’s 2024 has not gone according to script but Guzan’s heroics in goal have drastically changed their story arc. “Forty is the new 21,” Guzan said at the time with a laugh, referencing his ability to turn back the clock during Atlanta *******’s surprising playoff run. By knocking out Inter Miami, Atlanta recorded one of the biggest upsets in MLS history — Guzan was a major factor. His shot-stopping has been excellent for the better part of the season. His clutch saves have been game-changing in the playoffs. The focus is squarely on Guzan, but he isn’t necessarily enjoying it. “When you’re in this business as long as I’ve been, it’s not about whether you like something or you don’t like something,” Guzan tells The Athletic. “I’ve been on the other end of it when things haven’t gone great. I’ve made mistakes and cost the team.” Yet, without Guzan’s performances, Atlanta would have already begun their offseason overhaul. This will include players leaving and new signings coming in, the hiring of a new sporting director, and potentially, a new head coach to replace interim manager Rob Valentino. But all of those decisions have been put on hold as Atlanta prepares to face Orlando City in the Eastern Conference semifinal on November 24. Guzan made a string of crucial saves as Atlanta knocked out Inter Miami in Round One of the MLS playoffs (Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Guzan’s future is also pending. He’s in the final year of his contract, with a 12-month option remaining for 2025. Guzan has avoided the subject of his future all season but reality is setting in for the veteran goalkeeper. “It’s not about feeling younger,” Guzan said. “It’s about using my experience. It’s about using moments that I’ve been in before in terms of games and situations I’ve faced, and within a millisecond trying to analyze the situation that I’m currently in, and how to use my experience to help me make a save in that moment.” Playing in goal in your late thirties and early forties is not unusual in professional soccer, but Guzan admits the emphasis on his age makes him “chuckle”. “I’m not the first goalkeeper to be playing at 40 years old,” he says. “There are tons of guys that have come before me that have played in their forties in the Premier League, Bundesliga, World Cups. No disrespect to Major League Soccer but, you know, those guys are playing at a World Cup. If all of a sudden I’m playing in ’26, then we can have this conversation (about feeling younger).” Could ’26’ mean a third World Cup on home soil? After Atlanta *******’s win on Saturday, there were mentions on social media of Guzan deserving a recall to the U.S. men’s national team. Guzan earned his first international cap 18 years ago and was part of two World Cup squads in 2010 and 2014. He was the first-choice goalkeeper at the 2015 Gold Cup and 2016 Copa America Centenario. He has a total of 20 clean sheets with the U.S. There was a time when Guzan was synonymous with the national team, even when he was competing with renowned goalkeepers Tim Howard and Kasey Keller, but he thinks a return to the U.S. squad would be an indictment of the goalkeeper pool. “I hope that’s not the case,” he says when asked if he was expecting a call from USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Guzan pauses briefly before laughing about the texts he has received from close friends about the possibility of renewing his international career. “It’s not a joking matter but, in my eyes, it is,” Guzan said. “(My friends) were joking about it, as well, and for me, it is what it is. It’s just that. It’s a bit of a laugh and joke. Guzan last played for the USMNT in 2019 (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) “Our goalkeeper pool… we are in good hands. We’ve got guys that maybe they’re not playing week in and week out, but they’ve proven to be capable of playing in those types of environments. So, yeah, I’m not anticipating a phone call by any means.” U.S. No 1 Matt Turner, a backup with Crystal Palace, described Guzan’s output lately as “truly spectacular”. Turner called Guzan a mentor who supported him during the 2021 Gold Cup that the U.S. won. “A lot of people at his age, if they had the injury that he had, might call it a day,” Turner told reporters on Tuesday. “You can tell when (Guzan’s) flowing. You know he’s in that mental zone. I was happy for him.” In Guzan, Turner sees what he called a “pathway” for goalkeepers who still play at age 40. “That’s always been my dream, to make it into my forties and just keep plugging away,” said the 30-year-old. For a lot of U.S. fans, the last image they have of Guzan is his desperate attempt to get a hand to a Messi free kick at the 2016 Copa America. Argentina defeated the U.S. soundly 4-0 at the semifinal stage of the tournament. The narrative has since changed. Guzan is now most recently remembered as the man who stopped Messi — many, many times. Whether it was a finger, a heel or an outstretched arm, Guzan parried and blocked countless attempts by Messi over the three games. Sometimes luck was on Guzan’s side, too. In Game 2, for example, a close-range shot from Messi screamed past Guzan’s near post and continued out of bounds. The two shared a brief embrace that was more like a sign of mutual esteem. “My oldest (child) asked me afterwards, ‘Are you friends with him? Because he gave you a hug’,” said Guzan. “And I was like, ‘I don’t think he was giving me a hug’. It was more like he was in disbelief that it went wide and I was in disbelief that it went wide, as well. I probably had a look on my face like: ‘*****, I was beat’. We dodged a bullet there but you have to have the utmost respect for someone like (Messi).” In Atlanta, Guzan is a polarizing figure. He’s an MLS Cup champion and the club’s undisputed captain. Fans chant his name after a big save. Around the Atlanta ******* training facility, Guzan is a workaholic who sets the standard for his teammates. In March, he became the first player in Atlanta *******’s short history to make 200 appearances for the club. His longevity is a sidebar to the spotlight moment he’s experiencing at present. “When things like this happen it’s about timing,” says Guzan. “The fact that it’s happened kind of back-to-back-to-back, in terms of how the games have finished — that certainly adds to the excitement level.” Guzan challenges Messi in Game One on Atlanta’s series win over Inter Miami (Rich Storry/Getty Images) But some Atlanta supporters have seen enough of Guzan. His 2022 season ended in April of that year after he ruptured an Achilles tendon. Then, in 2023, Guzan didn’t perform like he has this season and the fans have let him know about it. “I’ve had people literally come up to me, whether it be at my kids’ sporting events, their games or practices, or just out and about in town, (and) say, ‘Hey, we really love you. Thank you for everything you’ve done, but we’ve got to move on’,” he said. “I give them a thumbs up and it’s just like, I don’t know what to say or how to react to that, because, you know, it’s a club decision, right?” If it were up to Guzan, he’d continue to play beyond this season. He isn’t battling with any inner feelings that tell him to retire. Guzan is driven by the day-to-day aspects of being a professional, down to the smallest details. “I enjoy coming in here and putting on my boots, putting on the gloves, and taping my fingers for the gazillionth time, you know?” He has discussed retirement with teammate Dax McCarty, 37, who has announced that he’ll call it a day at the end of the season. Guzan has also sought opinions from other friends and former players about their decisions to ***** the final whistle on their careers. “They’re just like: ‘I don’t want to go to practice. I don’t want to go outside. I don’t want to train’,” said Guzan. “And here I am, and I’m like: ‘OK, well, is that the sign that said it’s time to hang it up, because I don’t have that feeling?’. I want to be out there. I don’t know exactly what it is but I feel as if I can still contribute to the group. And most importantly, I feel sharp physically and mentally.” In December 2023, Atlanta signed goalkeeper Josh Cohen, now 32, from Maccabi Haifa in the ******** Premier League. Cohen had played in the UEFA Champions League and told reporters after he signed that he was there to push Guzan for his spot. But Guzan didn’t feel threatened. He understands the club needs a succession plan. “I’m not naive to think that I can play forever,” he said. Still, at the start of the year, the pressure was on Guzan. He finally had competition in Atlanta. “If you need to have outside motivation, you’re probably not going to be in this business a long time,” Guzan said. “You need to have an internal motivator to push yourself, so I didn’t take that personally whatsoever. Guzan is in the final year of his contract with Atlanta (Jason Allen/ISI Photos/Getty Images) “I looked at last year knowing that it wasn’t good enough from the standards that I set for myself, both individually and collectively, and as a leader of this team. “Playing in the Premier League for nine years and playing with the national team, competing against and with the best players in the country; that competition for places is normal,” he continues. “And if it’s not normal, then you need to start asking questions elsewhere.” Inside the Atlanta ******* dressing room, ending Messi’s season and the content catastrophe it caused MLS and its broadcast partner Apple, isn’t a main talking point. However, it’s not lost on Guzan either. “That was never the goal,” he said. “The goal was to win a trophy. The goal is to win MLS Cup. You know, we laugh and smile and joke about it now, because you see these headlines, and it’s like, that’s not our problem.” Guzan’s nine-year-old son may idolize Messi but he would like to be more like Argentina and Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. A Villa goalkeeping kit is his son’s latest request. Thousands of miles away in Atlanta, Villa ******** a part of the Guzan household. He follows his former Premier League club closely and keeps the city of Birmingham close to his heart. GO DEEPER Bosnich analyses Martinez: ‘His arrogance is insecurity too – he’s the best in the world’ Both of his children were born in the city. Guzan still keeps in touch with ex-teammates Nigel Reo-Coker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, his former captain Stiliyan Petrov and ex-Villa winger Jack Grealish, among others. “I look back on those years and I’m extremely thankful,” said Guzan. “When I was in high school, I said that my goal was to play for a big ********* club and go to Europe, and I lived my dream. Going to Europe, going to England, playing in the Premier League, being a part of a massive club like Villa for as long as I was — I don’t think I cherished those moments enough when I was in the moment.” Guzan will have time to relive or reminisce about his past when his MLS career ends. For now, he’s too preoccupied with the moment he’s living presently. A club spokesperson said that Atlanta ******* had received around 20 media requests for Guzan this week. After the international break, Atlanta ******* will travel to Orlando for the semifinal against their rivals. Guzan and his goalkeeping counterpart Pedro Gallese will be the two central figures in what is expected to be a tense affair in a hostile environment. “It’s going to be a real dog ******,” Guzan said. “Hopefully afterwards, we’re celebrating, we’re taking another team photo in the locker room and we’re moving on to the conference final.” GO DEEPER MLS playoffs without Lionel Messi could be a welcome reality check (Top photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Source link #Brad #Guzan #thriving #halting #Lionel #Messi #USMNT #recall #talk #laugh Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo Switch 2 Elden Ring Rumor Can Possibly Mean Another Miyazaki Game May be Coming That Xbox Fans Can Only Wish for Nintendo Switch 2 Elden Ring Rumor Can Possibly Mean Another Miyazaki Game May be Coming That Xbox Fans Can Only Wish for Over the past few months, the buzz around Nintendo’s next-gen console, the Switch 2, has been growing rapidly. This buzz is fueled by a steady flow of rumors and leaks. While official details still remain very limited, fans have been eagerly speculating about the console’s capabilities, potential games, and what kind of third-party support it might attract. Rumors about the upcoming console are running wild in the community. | Image Credit: Nintendo The latest rumor setting the gaming community on ***** is that Elden Ring could be making its way to the Switch 2’s library in a Definitive Edition sometime in late 2025. However, this opens up more exciting possibilities for the device, what if another Miyazaki masterpiece makes its way to the handheld console? Bloodborne. If it comes true, it would send shockwaves through the gaming community, especially among Xbox users. Latest Rumor Suggesting a Big Move for Nintendo A recent rumor suggests that Elden Ring might be coming to the upcoming console in 2025. | Image Credit: FromSoftware Nintendo’s strategy with the Switch has always been about offering a unique, portable gaming experience. However, with the rumored performance of the Switch 2, it looks like the company is stepping up its game in terms of hardware capabilities as well. If the latest rumors are true and Elden Ring makes its way to the Switch 2 by late 2025, it will be a monumental win for the upcoming console. Elden Ring has already become a cultural phenomenon, praised for its vast open world, intricate lore, and challenging gameplay. The potential addition of this game to the Switch 2’s library would not only showcase the power of the next-gen hardware but also set a new precedent for Nintendo’s ability to secure high-profile titles. With one Hidetaka Miyazaki masterpiece potentially heading to the Switch 2, the door may open for others to follow, including the beloved Bloodborne. Since its release in 2015, it has been a PlayStation-exclusive title, leaving Xbox and PC players yearning for a chance to experience the gothic action RPG. If the Switch 2 can handle Elden Ring successfully, it’s a real possibility that Bloodborne, which was built for the PS4, could be optimized for the new console. This would break the game’s PlayStation-only status and offer a wider audience the chance to finally enjoy it. Such a move could be a game-changing moment for the Switch 2, further expanding its library with another fan-favorite title. Switch 2 Could Be a Game-Changer for the Gaming Industry Players are hoping that the rumors come true as it will open doors for other Miyazaki titles as well. | Image Credit: FromSoftware If the rumors about the Switch 2’s impressive performance and the potential addition of Elden Ring to its library prove true, Nintendo’s next-gen console could dramatically shift the gaming landscape. With enhanced power, a growing third-party catalog, and the ability to handle AAA titles, the Switch 2 would offer a compelling alternative to Sony and Microsoft’s consoles. The addition of major cross-platform games to its lineup could not only boost the system’s appeal but also redefine what players expect from a hybrid console. For Xbox fans, if Bloodborne does release on the Switch 2, it would be an emotional rollercoaster. While the news could bring joy to players who wanted to experience the game on other devices than PlayStation, it would also highlight the disparity between Sony and Xbox’s exclusive offerings. Sony has quite a hold on various high-profile franchises which has long been one of the key differentiators between PlayStation and Xbox. If Switch 2 were to secure Bloodborne for the new handheld, it would only deepen that divide, leaving Xbox fans wishing for an answer to Sony’s exclusivity stronghold. In the end, if rumors hold true, the Switch 2 may just become the console where cross-platform dreams come true. It could offer fans of Miyazaki’s creations and gamers in general, a truly diverse library to enjoy. Source link #Nintendo #Switch #Elden #Ring #Rumor #Possibly #Miyazaki #Game #Coming #Xbox #Fans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary Trump picks RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a keynote speech during the Bitcoin 2024 conference at Music City Center July 26, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Jon Cherry | Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that he will nominate vaccine skeptic and *********** theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. If the Senate approves Kennedy, the former independent presidential candidate will lead a sprawling department responsible for the huge Medicare and Medicaid health coverage programs, the Food and ***** Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention. HHS’s decisions on spending and policies have major effects on the U.S. health-care system and related businesses. Kennedy, 70, is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, the late U.S. attorney general and Democratic senator from New York who was assassinated in 1968 by a gunman in Los Angeles as he ran for president. He is the nephew of former President John Kennedy who was assassinated in 1963. Trump said in October that if elected he would let Kennedy “go wild on health.” “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The ******* States Secretary of Health and Human Services,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site Thursday. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and ***** companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote. “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.” Kennedy told NBC News in a recent interview that Trump has said he wants Kennedy to “clean up ***********” at federal health agencies, return those agencies to science-based policies and “make America healthy again.” Kennedy said that “there are entire departments, like the nutrition department at the FDA, that have to go.” Stock prices of vaccine makers fell earlier Thursday on reports that Trump would tap Kennedy for the HHS post. Kennedy last year suggested that the Covid-19 virus, which CDC played a major role in combatting, was engineered to “******* Caucasians and ****** people,” and to be less likely to harm “Ashkenazi Jews and ********” people. He previously promoted theories that autism was linked to childhood vaccines, a connection that has been disproved. Kennedy outraged many of his siblings by endorsing Trump in August after abandoning his long-short presidential candidacy. Trump’s selection of Kennedy came a day after the *********** president-elect tapped Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Gaetz’s selection immediately sparked controversy due in large part to the fact that the Department of Justice, which he would lead as AG, previously investigated him for possible **** trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz resigned from Congress effective Thursday, removing him from the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee, but a number of *********** senators have called on that panel to release a report of its investigation of the former lawmaker. Kennedy last week reportedly suggested he would ***** 600 NIH workers and replace them. His “Make America Healthy” website has been seeking suggestions from the public for more than 4,000 appointee posts across the federal government to be filled by Trump. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Trump #picks #RFK #Health #Human #Services #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he’ll play in 2025: ‘I think so, yeah’ Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he’ll play in 2025: ‘I think so, yeah’ Despite the New York Jets’ struggles in 2024, Aaron Rodgers implied Wednesday he was planning on returning to play next season. “I think so, yeah,” Rodgers said when asked. Rodgers, who turns 41 on Dec. 2, said the Jets’ disappointing season hasn’t changed his thought process for the future. “Not really, not for the negative no,” he said. As he recovered from a torn Achilles tendon, Rodgers said in March he hoped to play “two, three or four more years.” But a 2024 season that began with playoff aspirations hasn’t gone as planned. The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh after five games, and enter Week 11’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts losers of six of seven. At 3-7, New York has a 6 percent chance of making the playoffs, per The Athletic’s Austin Mock. Aaron Rodgers says that this season has not changed his opinion on playing in 2025 and that he still thinks he wants to play next year: pic.twitter.com/1OldVNuvW9 — Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 13, 2024 Rodgers has posted a career-low in quarterback rating (86.8) and has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game — something he hasn’t done since December 2021. As a whole, New York’s offense ranks 26th in scoring and yards per game. Rodgers is under contract through the 2025 season. He carries a $23.5 million cap hit next year, but the Jets would incur a $49 million *****-cap charge if they cut him or he retires. If the Jets declared him a post-June 1 cut (or retirement), they could split the $49 million hit over two seasons, with $14 million of it coming in 2025 and $35 million in 2026. What to make of Rodgers’ comment It is still too early to say whether Rodgers will be back, or, at least, whether he’ll play for the Jets. His statement wasn’t exactly a declaration of certainty — he’s been much more definitive in the past when talking about his future. This was not that. Ultimately, whether he returns to the Jets might not even be his choice. The franchise will likely have a new head coach and general manager, and the team will have to sort through a post-Woody Johnson world if the owner leaves to become part of Donald Trump’s administration for a second time. Purely from a performance statement, Rodgers is on the decline. Inheriting a 41-year-old quarterback coming off a disappointing season might not be appealing for a prospective GM or head coach. (Photo: Norm Hall / Getty Images) Source link #Jets #quarterback #Aaron #Rodgers #***** #play #yeah Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Max Mustard Review | TheSixthAxis Max Mustard Review | TheSixthAxis “The Gold Coast-based (Queensland, Australia) indie games developer Toast Interactive (the renowned studio behind the standout VR title “Richie’s Plank Experience”), are today very happy and excited to announce that their award-winning platformer “Max Mustard”, is now available for PCVR via Steam.” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #Max #Mustard #Review #TheSixthAxis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former NFL player Antwoine Williams charged in Capitol riot Former NFL player Antwoine Williams charged in Capitol riot A former professional ********* football player has been charged in connection with the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Antwoine Williams is facing felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding police, along with several lesser misdemeanour charges. He was charged on 7 November, in what is reportedly the first Capitol riot-related case filed since Donald Trump won the presidential election. Mr Williams, a defensive player from Georgia, was a college star at Georgia Southern University before being drafted by the National Football League’s Detroit Lions. He played one season in 2016 before being released by the Lions and had brief stints with several other ********* football teams. According to court documents, Mr Williams, 31, was seen on videos from the Capitol riot, where thousands of pro-Trump activists broke into the building after his 2020 election loss, pulling on barricades and hitting a police officer on the head, and struggling with other officers. Prosecutors say he stayed on the Capitol grounds until the evening of 6 January. He was identified by a golf hat and a distinct key fob that he was wearing during the riot that matched other online photos of Mr Williams. Online volunteers known as “sedition hunters,” who use online videos and pictures to hunt for rioters, identified the brand of the hat and nicknamed Mr Williams “RiotingGolfer”. More than 1,500 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, when a crowd of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building that houses the US Congress in an attempt to stop certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump has promised to pardon some of the rioters, although he has not made clear what criteria he would use to do so. Several convicted or accused rioters have asked for their trials or sentencing hearings to be delayed because Trump’s promise might affect their cases. On Thursday, two judges delayed such hearings, however other judges have turned down similar requests. The FBI is still looking to identify dozens of other suspects who were present at the Capitol that day. Source link #NFL #player #Antwoine #Williams #charged #Capitol #riot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Joel Embiid shoving incident a microcosm of our society’s loss of respect for one another Joel Embiid shoving incident a microcosm of our society’s loss of respect for one another Joel Embiid’s postgame media gaggle went off without issue Tuesday night in New York, following the Philadelphia 76ers’ loss to the Knicks. There was no emotional confrontation between him and a reporter, unlike the previous week when he cursed and shoved a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist for writing a piece he viewed as crossing the line between professional and personal commentary. Dustups between professional athletes and reporters are as old as the games themselves, with the earliest known high-profile incident dating back to 1907 and baseball great Ty Cobb. But something felt different about the incident between Embiid and columnist Marcus Hayes, who angered the 7-foot All-Star center by mentioning Embiid’s son and late brother in a piece that criticized Embiid’s conditioning and commitment. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I stepped back to get a macro view. It was then I realized the altercation itself was not the thing gnawing at me. It was what the incident represented: another strong indicator that the deterioration of decorum and respect throughout society is bleeding ever deeper into the fabric of sport. The thought first hit me in April. LSU was preparing to face UCLA in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament and the Los Angeles Times published a story that characterized LSU’s players, led by All-America frontcourt star Angel Reese, as “****** debutantes” and UCLA’s players as “America’s sweethearts.” The only thing worse than the coded language was the fact that someone actually thought it was a good idea to publish it. The same holds true for Hayes’ column, which initially began with the following passage: “Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically ***** in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er. Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work.” Hayes later apologized in a social media post and rewrote the passage to remove any mention of Embiid’s family, similar to how the Los Angeles Times and its writer apologized and removed the offensive language from their story. Still, it’s hard to read such commentary and wonder whether we’ve lost respect for each other. Today, people seem more comfortable saying out loud what they used to say only in private. The quiet part is no longer meant to be quiet. And to the extent that sports are a microcosm of society, it was a matter of time before the temperature turned up in reporter-athlete relations. “You’re reading it precisely correct,” said Dr. Harry Edwards, the respected sociologist, social activist and professor. “Sport inevitably, unavoidably, recapitulates the structure and dynamics of human and institutional relationships in society and the ideological definitions that define and rationalize those relationships. You go back and look at the history of athletes and the sports media, really the media in general, and there has always been a tension there that most people saw as healthy. They looked at the mainstream media and the powers that be, and the expectation was that the media was going to speak truth to power and report accurately to the people. But the tension we see today is different.” Stephen A. Smith responds to Kevin Durant calling him a “clown”: “I will not disrespect him the same way he disrespects me. It’s unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity it doesn’t. But that’s something he has to deal… pic.twitter.com/nzujKIJUyU — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 4, 2024 That is not to say that physical altercations between athletes and reporters are a new phenomenon. The timeline of the last five-plus decades includes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett flipping a table on talk show host Jim Rome , Atlanta Braves outfielder Deion Sanders pouring a bucket of ice water over the head of baseball analyst Tim McCarver, Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice ripping the shirt of baseball writer Steve Fainaru, San Diego Chargers quarterback Jim McMahon intentionally blowing ***** on beat writer TJ Simers, and Chargers cornerback Elvis Patterson, in a separate incident, sneaking up on Simers from behind and putting a garbage bag over his head before trying to throw him in the shower. And let us not forget Buffalo Sabers goaltender Dominik Hasek shoving a columnist, Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers pushing two cameramen and throwing one of the cameras to the ground, Cleveland outfielder Albert Belle throwing a baseball and intentionally hitting a photographer, and New England Patriots cornerback Raymond Clayborn getting physical with Boston Globe columnist Will McDonough, only to regretfully learn that McDonough was as skilled with his fists as he was with his pen. But, relatively speaking, these types of altercations are outliers. Whether they will remain so is up for debate. Star players are making so much money today, that the threat of a fine or suspension is not the deterrence it once was. And with advances in technology ostensibly making everyone with a working camera phone part of the “media,” the line between what is and isn’t fit for print is as faint as it has ever been. The Pulse Newsletter Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up “There were things that you just didn’t write about in the past,” Edwards said. “The rationalization was, ‘What does that have to do with tomorrow night’s game? He’s not suspended, he’s playing, so we’re not going to write about that. We’re going to focus on the game.’ But today there’s so much media exposure and everyone who has a camera phone is a reporter, and so the boundaries are going to melt away. That tears down the historical relationship.” We’re then left with a heightened adversarial culture that touches every level of sports coverage. In the last year alone, we’ve seen ESPN media personality Stephen A. Smith call Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant a liar after Durant publicly called him a “clown.” We’ve seen Sanders, now the head football coach at Colorado, accuse reporters of going “on the *******” because some of them earn less than NIL-enriched players. We’ve seen LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey threaten to sue a reporter as a preemptive strike to a planned profile. And we’ve seen the WNBA Players Association seek the revocation of Christine Brennan’s media credential after accusing the USA Today columnist of being “unprofessional” and “abusing” her “privileges” in an interview with Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington. “Once upon a time you guys never attacked college players, now they’re making more money than y’all and some of y’all are envious and jealous about that so you’re on the *******.” Deion Sanders had some words for CFB reporters in today’s press conference pic.twitter.com/AYqsTAv7yl — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 17, 2024 Sadly, media guardrails have been missing at times, complicating an already complicated relationship. It’s no surprise that pro athletes are making louder calls to have safe spaces from reporters. The NFLPA already has floated the idea of ​​closing the locker room on non-game days, and 76ers star Paul George has made it clear he would prefer a media-free postgame locker room. But here’s where it comes full circle. Limiting access not only makes it more difficult for reporters to get to know athletes on a personal level, but it also makes it easier to be critical of them. And if it’s easier to be critical of them, it could result in more altercations, particularly when professionalism seems to be decaying at a rapid rate. “It’s horrible, but this is where we are and, more than that, this is who we are,” Edwards said. “And that is going to be a terrible situation to deal with.” (Top image: Meech Robinson and Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos, from left, via Getty Images; Barry Gossage / NBAE; Paras Griffin; Mitchell Leff; Patrick Mulligan; Alika Jenner) Source link #Joel #Embiid #shoving #incident #microcosm #societys #loss #respect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The best Lego ****** Friday deals include up to 40 percent off Star Wars, Super Mario sets The best Lego ****** Friday deals include up to 40 percent off Star Wars, Super Mario sets It’s not hard to understand why Lego sets are some of the most sought-after gifts for the holidays. We’re big fans of the building blocks here at Engadget, and we know they make particularly good gifts this time of year. Whether it’s a Super Mario starter set or a mammoth Star Wars collectible, there are dozens of Lego sets to consider shopping for right now — be it for yourself or for someone on your gift list. And no, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good set as some come in at $50 or less. These are the best ****** Friday Lego deals for 2024. The highlights for ****** Friday include a couple of Lego advent calendars: one for Disney fans and another that’s more general for all kids. Lego makes a bunch of other advent calendars in addition to these, and we expect to see more of them go on ***** in the coming days. There’s also the beautiful Insect Collection, which when completed, includes three life-size, posable models of a butterfly, Hercules beetle and ******** mantis. Even as someone who detests bun appreciate the elegance of this set and how striking they’d look sitting on a shelf. Star Wars, Super Mario and Harry Potter sets have been discounted as well. This Phantom Menace Mos ESPA Podrace Diorama set has brick models of Anakin Skywalker’s podracer and his rival Sebulba’s one as well, and this discount is a new low. This King Boo’s Haunted Mansion set is on ***** for the first time since launch, and in addition to the brick mansion that opens out for better play, it includes King Boo, Yellow Baby Yoshi, Dry Bones and Boo figurines. Finally, this Expecto Patronum set lets you build two different figures from the series, Harry Potter’s stag patronus or Professor Remus Lupin’s wolf patronus, with the same bricks. We’ll be updating this post through the entire ****** Friday and Cyber Monday time *******, so check back for the latest offers. ****** Friday Lego deals Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #Lego #****** #Friday #deals #include #percent #Star #Wars #Super #Mario #sets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon questioned by House committee over ‘dangerous’ TikTok deal Amazon questioned by House committee over ‘dangerous’ TikTok deal A view of the Amazon logo outside Amazon’s offices in Dublin City Centre, Ireland, on Feb. 15, 2023. Artur Widak | Nurphoto | Getty Images Amazon representatives met with the House China committee in recent months to discuss lawmaker concerns over the company’s partnership with TikTok, CNBC confirmed. A spokesperson for the House Select Committee on the ******** ********** Party confirmed the meeting, which centered on a shopping deal between Amazon and TikTok announced in August. The agreement allows users of TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, to link their account with Amazon and make purchases from the site without leaving TikTok. “The Select Committee conveyed to Amazon that it is dangerous and unwise for Amazon to partner with TikTok given the grave national security threat the app poses,” the spokesperson said. The parties met in September, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. Representatives from Amazon and TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. TikTok’s future viability in the U.S. is uncertain. In April, President Joe Biden signed a law that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok by Jan. 19. If TikTok fails to cut ties with its parent company, app stores and internet hosting services would be prohibited from offering the app. President-elect Donald Trump could rescue TikTok from a potential U.S. ban. He promised on the campaign trail that he’d “save” TikTok, and said in a March interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box that “there’s a lot of good and there’s a lot of bad” with the app. In his first administration, Trump had tried to implement a TikTok ban. He changed his stance around the time he met with billionaire Jeff Yass. The *********** megadonor’s trading firm, Susquehanna International Group, owns a 15% stake in ByteDance, while Yass has a 7% stake in the company, NBC and CNBC reported in March. — CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report. WATCH: TikTok is ‘digital nicotine’ for young people Source link #Amazon #questioned #House #committee #dangerous #TikTok #deal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Eva Longoria says her family no longer lives in ‘dystopian’ US Eva Longoria says her family no longer lives in ‘dystopian’ US Hollywood actress Eva Longoria has revealed that her family no longer lives in the ******* States, and is splitting time between Mexico and Spain. In an interview with French magazine Marie Claire for its November cover story, Longoria attributed the decision to the country’s “changing vibe” after the Covid-19 pandemic, homelessness and high taxation in California, and the re-election of Donald Trump. She also acknowledged she was “privileged” enough to move, saying: “Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country.” The Desperate Housewives star is viewed as a power broker for women and Latinos in Democratic Party politics. With a keen interest in immigration policy, she has been visibly involved with Democratic candidates at the national and local level since at least 2012. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention and hit the campaign trail on behalf of Kamala Harris this year, with a tagline for the 2024 presidential candidate that adopted the Spanish translation of Barack Obama’s famed “Yes, we can” slogan (“Si se puede”) into the phrase “She se puede”. In her Marie Claire interview, published on Thursday, Longoria described being dispirited at Trump’s victory over Harris last week “If he keeps his promises, it’s going to be a scary place,” she said. She added that Trump’s win in 2016 had crushed her belief that “the best person wins” in politics. “I had my whole ****** life here,” Longoria said of Los Angeles, adding that “it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now”. She said work now has her often spending time in Europe or South America. Longoria is a ninth-generation Texan who moved to California in her twenties. In 2006, she earned a Golden Globe nomination in her starring role as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives. More recently, she has hosted the CNN mini-series Searching for Mexico and Searching for Spain. She is married to José “Pepe” Bastón, her third husband and the president of ******** broadcaster Televisa. The couple share a six-year-old boy, Santiago, while Bastón also has three children from a previous marriage. Source link #Eva #Longoria #family #longer #lives #dystopian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rays to play 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa after hurricane damage to Trop Rays to play 2025 home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa after hurricane damage to Trop The Tampa Bay Rays, for the first time in their history, will actually play their home games in Tampa. The team’s home slate will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home facility, was “significantly damaged” during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, with the roof being ripped off. The Rays selected Steinbrenner Field because it was the “best-prepared facility in the Tampa Bay region,” according to a news release. “We deeply appreciate that the Yankees have graciously allowed us to play at Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 season,’’ Rays owner Stu Sternberg said in the statement. “The hurricane damage to Tropicana Field has forced us to take some extraordinary steps.” “We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a major-league quality facility for them to utilize this season,’’ Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “… We understand how meaningful it is for Rays players, employees and fans to have their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field.” There has been no determination yet as to how the change will impact the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate and Steinbrenner Field’s normal regular-season occupant. The Rays also talked extensively to the Philadelphia Phillies about using the Phillies’ spring training complex in nearby Clearwater, which offered advantages because it’s also located in Pinellas County. However, the Rays opted for Tampa for several reasons. One is that Steinbrenner Field seats upward of 2,000 more fans, which could translate into significantly more revenue over 81 games. Another is that the Yankees’ facility was viewed by the club as having facilities – particularly in and around the clubhouse – that are more suitable to housing a major league team over six months, as opposed to six weeks. A third is that ultimately, the Rays preferred the central location offered by a stadium in Tampa, as opposed to Clearwater, which is a longer drive for much of their fan base. The aftermath of Hurricane Milton at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) A damage assessment report released earlier this week estimated that Tropicana Field would not be ready before 2026, and would cost around $55.7 million in repairs. It is possible much of the damage could have been avoided if the team had replaced its roof in the years prior. With the team hoping to move into a new St. Petersburg venue in 2028, it is unclear what the long-term plan for the Rays will be beyond 2025. Steinbrenner Field has a capacity of 11,000 and notably does not have a roof given the rainy weather typical for the region throughout the summer. It has, however, recently undergone renovations to expand clubhouse space, improve the lighting and upgrade the facilities writ large. The Rays will be the second MLB team playing in a minor-league stadium in 2025, with the Athletics planning to spend the next three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., ahead of their move to Las Vegas in 2028. The Rays and league prioritized playing the team’s home games in the region, rather than moving to a larger or domed facility. It’s also not the first time regular-season games will be played at a Tampa-area spring training site. The Toronto Blue Jays opened the 2021 season with home games at their spring training site in Dunedin. “Given the significant challenges caused by Hurricane Milton, I appreciate the hard work and collaboration between the two teams,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in the release. “This outcome meets Major League Baseball’s goals that Rays’ fans will see their team play next season in their home market and that their players can remain home without disruption to their families.” Additional reporting by Chris Kirschner. (Top photo of Steinbrenner Field in 2017: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) Source link #Rays #play #home #games #Steinbrenner #Field #Tampa #hurricane #damage #Trop Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump names RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist, as U.S. health secretary – National Trump names RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist, as U.S. health secretary – National U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he is nominating anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from *****, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and ***** companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site announcing the appointment. Kennedy, he said, would “Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration. He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump’s rallies. Story continues below advertisement 5:20 RFK suspends U.S. presidential campaign, endorses Trump A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy is an attorney who has built a loyal following over several decades of people who admire his lawsuits against major pesticide and pharmaceutical companies. He has pushed for tighter regulations around the ingredients in foods. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. With the Trump campaign, he worked to shore up support among young mothers in particular, with his message of making food healthier in the U.S., promising to model regulations imposed in Europe. In a nod to Trump’s original campaign slogan, he named the effort “Make America Healthy Again.” Trending Now Canada Post: No agreement so far as work stoppage deadline nears ‘Full House’ star Dave Coulier reveals ‘very aggressive’ ******* diagnosis It ******** unclear how that will square with Trump’s history of deregulation of big industries, including food. Trump pushed for fewer inspections of the meat industry, for example. Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has also made him a controversial figure among Democrats and some Republicans, raising question about his ability to get confirmed, even in a GOP-controlled Senate. Kennedy has espoused misinformation around the safety of vaccines, including pushing a totally discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism. Story continues below advertisement He also has said he would recommend removing fluoride from drinking water. The addition of the material has been cited as leading to improved dental health. HHS has more than 80,000 employees across the country. It houses the Food and ***** Administration, the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention, the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the National Institutes of Health. Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit. More on World More videos &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #Trump #names #RFK #antivaccine #activist #U.S #health #secretary #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]