Pelican Press

I wasted my day on Bluesky Social and no, I’m not sorry I wasted my day on Bluesky Social and no, I’m not sorry I would like to say I saw Bluesky Social’s big moment coming. After all, I joined the social network in April 2023 when few knew about it, and Twitter Founder and ex-charmingly quirky tech CEO Jack Dorsey was leading it. I rooted around a bit, and despite its threadbare interface, I declared it “quiet, reserved, thoughtful, or even polite. Overall, BlueSky is the equivalent of a social media Shangri-La.” This week though it resembled the opening hours of a classic ****** Friday ***** at Macy’s as millions of people reportedly joined Bluesky, prompted in part by what may be the imminent collapse of X (formerly Twitter). Sorry, it’s not actually collapsing but instead having a moral collapse since it’s being run by one narcissist who is now aligned with the U.S.’s incoming Narcissist-in-Chief. Instagram’s Threads has for months served as the safe social media harbor for X refugees, but for as good and as popular as that platform has become, it still has yet to replace the real-time news and information nature that made the original Twitter so compelling. Instagram CEO and Threads leader Adam Mosseri has made it fairly clear that news is not what drives Threads, and he shows little intention of helping it thrive on the platform, at least not yet. Stefon would love this (Image credit: Future) I don’t know if Bluesky will be any different, but for the moment, it’s the most exciting place on social media. If Saturday Night Live’s Stefon were describing it, he might say: “If you’re looking for a good time on social media, look no further. New York’s hottest social media club is Bluesky. Inside it has everything, posts about Alf’s privates, ex-Twitter drifters carrying cute cat pics, and Lizzo wondering if the internet is fun again.” Since I last checked Bluesky – and it had been months – the platform on mobile and desktop has grown. It’s a cleaned-up version of old Twitter or current Threads but still lacks some key functions like polls and GIFS. The activity was so frantic on Tuesday that Bluesky Social froze up and started delivering empty pages and artless posts. It really did feel like Twitter 1.0, all that was missing was a Fail Whale. So many people from so many strata of life were joining that they were sometimes stumbling into their doppelgangers. It seems that while Bluesky was operating mostly in the shadows, some took it upon themselves to adopt the handles of famous people. Lizzo and Mara Wilson (author and the little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire) both found their fake selves. Lizzo resorted to creating a new handle, Lizzobeeating,bsky.social, to combat the @lizzo imposter. Imposter syndrome (Image credit: Future) Soon, I was arguing with people on Bluesky about the need for a real verification system and was swiftly reminded that one already exists. You just have to set up a domain for yourself and do something with DNS, and… Right. No normal person is going to do that. I did find myself having fun on Bluesky. It felt like a homecoming of sorts as more and more people finally gave up on Twitter and marched over to the newer platform. It’s not clear if they were also giving up on Threads – I see no reason to do so – or planned on supporting multiple platforms. The thing is with these distributed platforms, you could ostensibly post in one place and have it appear elsewhere. I do this on Threads where all my posts get pushed to the Federated platform as well. I don’t visit these other platforms but appreciate the enhanced audience. I now have roughly 1,000 followers on Bluesky, about a fifth of what I have on Threads and miles away from the 89K (and dropping) I still have on the moribund X. I don’t know what that number means anymore. Followers do not equal engagement, which is the only reason I post on social media. Threads engagement has improved in recent months, but it’s unpredictable. Bluesky is so new that everyone is jumping on almost every post. That won’t last. When will the good times end? (Image credit: Future) I guess I’m now wondering what I do next. Do I shut down X (Twitter) and spend all my time on Bluesky? Do I keep Threads on as a backup? Even if I leave X (Twitter), I won’t delete my account and the record of the good times like when I taught Levar Burton how to Tweet or the first time Captain Kirk (William Shatner Tweeted at me). The internet is far too quick to delete historical records, and I have no interest in joining that unfortunate trend. But staying active on the platform seems less appealing by the second. Bluesky, on the other hand, is so fresh-faced that it has nothing but appeal. I know that won’t last, just like ******* don’t stay cute. They grow into ****** children and then surly teens before becoming uninteresting adults (or worse). Whatever happens, Bluesky will never recreate Twitter 1.0, just like Threads can’t really replace it. As a society, we have moved on from that. Open discourse on social media might start fresh and sweet, but it always curdles. I guess we should just enjoy this Bluesky moment – I know I am – but maybe also start thinking about how we return to having these experiences in real life. You might also like Source link #wasted #day #Bluesky #Social Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Keep buying ‘Trump trades’ through inauguration, Societe Generale says Keep buying ‘Trump trades’ through inauguration, Societe Generale says Cryptocurrencies and banks have been on a tear since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory last week, and Societe Generale thinks these “Trump trades” have more room to run into January. The firm specifically underscored bank stocks, companies exposed to the reshoring theme, small-cap names and crypto. “Trump trades are in full bloom and should continue to outperform until Inauguration Day, in our view,” U.S. chief economist Stephen Gallagher wrote in a Thursday research note. “After that, fundamental US cyclical trades should continue to perform throughout 2025 (such as quality domestics US cyclicality via SG US Reshoring, US Banks, SG Global Nuclear, where the profit cycle is supportive).” From the Nov. 4 close — the session before Election Day — through Wednesday, the small-cap Russell 2000 jumped 6.8%. The SPDR Financial Select Sector Fund (XLF) has also rallied more than 7% during that *******. Meanwhile, bitcoin briefly topped $93,000 for the first time on Wednesday. Gallagher is not the only one on Wall Street who thinks the “Trump trade” has more legs. “The markets are already well into pricing a ‘Trump trade’ that began in September, but the year-end rally has more room to run,” Jason Draho, head of asset allocation at UBS, said in a client note on Monday. Societe Generale said its Trump 2.0 thematic basket has jumped more than 7% in the week since the election, but it is only up 15% in 2024, compared to the S & P 500 ‘s 25% year-to-date gains. The basket still has plenty of room to catch up with the broad market index both in terms of valuation and performance, Gallagher added. Source link #buying #Trump #trades #inauguration #Societe #Generale Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary Trump picks vaccine skeptic 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, and the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention. HHS’s decisions have a major effect on the U.S. health-care system. 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 in October said that if he was 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. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Trump #picks #vaccine #skeptic #RFK #Health #Human #Services #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary Trump picks vaccine skeptic 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, and the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention. HHS’s decisions have a major effect on the U.S. health-care system. 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 in October said that if he was elected, he would let Kennedy “go wild on health.” 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.” The stock prices of shares of vaccine makers fell earlier 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. This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates. Source link #Trump #picks #vaccine #skeptic #RFK #Health #Human #Services #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tropical Storm Sara forms in Caribbean, could threaten Florida next week Tropical Storm Sara forms in Caribbean, could threaten Florida next week ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Sara formed in the Caribbean on Thursday and long-term forecast models show it could enter the Gulf of Mexico and turn toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. As of the NHC’s 1 p.m. EST advisory, Sara was located about 205 miles east of Isla Guanaja, Honduras and 50 miles northeast of ***** Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm became the 18th named system of the 2024 hurricane season. Tropical-storm-force winds extend out up to 70 miles. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern coast of Honduras from Punta Sal east to the Honduras/Nicaragua border and the Bay Islands of Honduras while a tropical storm watch is in place from the Honduras/Nicaragua border south to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. “The system is expected to meander near the northern coast of Honduras late Friday and through the weekend,” said NHC hurricane specialist Larry Kelly. “Some strengthening is possible, if the system ******** over water.” The NHC said 10 to 20 inches while some areas would get 30 inches of rain over northern Honduras. Up to 15 inches could also fall across the rest of Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala and western Nicaragua. The NHC only forecasts out five days with its projected path and that has it venturing over Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and dropping back to a tropical depression and entering the Gulf of Mexico. “It is too soon to determine what impacts, if any, the system could bring to portions of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, including Florida, during the middle portion of next week,” Kelly said. “Residents in these areas should regularly monitor updates to the forecast.” Long-term forecast models show it getting sucked back to the east once in the Gulf of Mexico. The interaction with land, though, could mean it doesn’t gather enough strength to grow into a hurricane, but models still show it potentially making a Florida landfall. “A ridge aloft across Florida will gradually shift east early next week, allowing this system to lift northward into the Gulf of Mexico into Tuesday/Tuesday night,” said National Weather Service Melbourne lead meteorologist Derrick Weitlich. He notes the models runs as of Thursday morning show a weaker system in the Gulf of Mexico. “However, there ******** some uncertainty on exact track, and how much land interaction will occur, which could lead to overall intensitydifferences after it emerges into the Gulf,” he said. “It is still too early to say what impacts, if any, may result across east central Florida from this system toward the middle of next week.” If it does turn and strike Florida, it could become the fourth named storm to hit the state’s Gulf Coast this hurricane season following hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has produced 11 of hurricanes among the 18 named storms, five of which grew into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or stronger. The season runs from June 1-Nov. 30. ——— Source link #Tropical #Storm #Sara #forms #Caribbean #threaten #Florida #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway takes a stake in Domino’s Pizza Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway takes a stake in Domino’s Pizza Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway built a new stake in Domino’s Pizza last quarter, according to a regulatory filing Thursday. The Omaha-based conglomerate bought more than 1.2 million shares of the pizza chain for a stake worth about $550 million at the end of September. Given its small size in Berkshire’s portfolio, Buffett’s investing lieutenants Ted Weschler and Todd Combs could be behind the investment. The world’s largest pizza chain fell short of Wall Street estimates for third-quarter comparable sales growth in the U.S. as competition for cost-conscious customers continued to ramp up. Shares of Domino’s have underperformed the broader market this year, up just 6%. The S & P 500 has gained nearly 25% in 2024. Berkshire also took a small stake in swimming pool supplier Pool Corp last quarter. The holding was worth about $152 million at the end of the third quarter. It could be another value bet as Pool shares have lost 10% this year. This is breaking news. Please check back for updates. Source link #Warren #Buffetts #Berkshire #Hathaway #takes #stake #Dominos #Pizza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vaccine maker stocks fall as Trump chooses RFK Jr. to lead HHS Vaccine maker stocks fall as Trump chooses RFK Jr. to lead HHS Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes an announcement on the future of his campaign in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. August 23, 2024. Thomas Machowicz | Reuters Shares of vaccine makers fell on Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The stocks fell in the final hour of trading as reports emerged about Trump’s expected pick. Moderna‘s stock closed more than 5% lower on Thursday, shares of Novavax fell more than 7% and Pfizer‘s stock ended more than 2% lower. Shares of BioNTech, the ******* drugmaker that helped develop a Covid vaccine with Pfizer, closed more than 6% lower. British drugmaker GSK, which makes flu shots and several other vaccines, closed roughly 2% lower. Shares of those companies dipped further in extended trading as Trump confirmed his pick in a post on his platform Truth Social. Health policy experts have said that a second Trump term could allow Kennedy to elevate anti-vaccine rhetoric, which could deter more Americans from receiving Covid shots and routine immunizations that have for decades saved millions of lives and prevented debilitating illnesses. Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are still recovering from falling Covid vaccination rates in the U.S., which have dented their profits over the last two years. Kennedy’s track record as a vaccine skeptic is extensive. He has long made misleading and false statements about the safety of shots, such as claiming that they are linked to autism despite numerous studies going back decades that debunk the association. Kennedy is the founder of the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, the most well-funded anti-vaccine organization in the country. Source link #Vaccine #maker #stocks #fall #Trump #chooses #RFK #lead #HHS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can Trump appoint Matt Gaetz without Senate confirmation? Here’s what to know about recess appointments Can Trump appoint Matt Gaetz without Senate confirmation? Here’s what to know about recess appointments Washington — President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general is his most controversial Cabinet pick yet, and the Florida *********** is likely to face obstacles in the confirmation process. But Trump is seeking an important change to the Senate confirmation process that would allow him to install some officials and sidestep lengthy hearings and a floor vote, in which nominees need a majority vote to be confirmed. Before Senate Republicans elected their leaders for the 119th Congress, Trump demanded that the candidates agree to recess appointments, which would give him the option of bypassing the Senate’s role of approving or rejecting the president’s nominations. Trump argued that without the ability to temporarily install nominees he would not be able to fill the positions in a timely manner. The legal basis for recess appointments emanates from a constitutional clause that gives the president “the power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate.” A Supreme Court ruling in 2014 concluded that recess appointments could only be made when the Senate is not in session for 10 or more days, after President Barack Obama made controversial appointments when senators were on break. Senators often leave Washington for long stretches of time, but have utilized pro forma sessions to prevent presidents from installing nominees without their consent. “In recent years, the Senate — regardless of which party controlled it — has used pro forma sessions to ensure that it is never in recess for more than three days,” said Josh Chafetz, a law and politics professor at Georgetown University. For Trump to make recess appointments, the Senate would have to agree, through a simple majority vote, to go on recess for at least 10 days. The House must also agree to allow the Senate to adjourn, but Chavetz says if the House does not agree, or if it disagrees with the Senate on the length of adjournment, then the president has the constitutional power to adjourn both chambers for a timeframe of his choosing. “That second route has never been used before in U.S. history, so no one is quite sure how it would work,” Chafetz said. A recess appointment, however, does not have the same benefits as a nominee confirmed by the Senate. Without Senate approval, the appointee would not be paid. The appointee can serve in the role for up to two years, depending on when the appointment was made. After that, the individual could be installed again through a recess appointment or the regular confirmation process. Some senators, including Republicans who will be in the majority come January, showed little appetite for giving up their constitutional power, especially after Trump announced that he intended to nominate Gaetz to lead the Justice Department. “I was shocked,” *********** Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Wednesday. “If the president proceeds with that nominee, I think it shows the importance of having the Senate advice and consent process.” Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday after Trump announced his selection. The timing came days before a House panel was set to vote on releasing a report on whether Gaetz engaged in ******* misconduct. Gaetz was also the subject of a previous Justice Department investigation that sought to determine if Gaetz violated **** trafficking and obstruction of justice laws. No charges were filed, and Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. “We have a process around here for considering presidential nominees,” *********** Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Thursday when asked by reporters about Gaetz. “That’s a constitutional responsibility of the Senate, and I intend to play my part as a member of the Judiciary Committee in doing that vetting and advice and consent.” “I don’t think we should be circumventing the Senate’s responsibilities, but I think it’s ********** to be talking about recess appointments,” Cornyn added. The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for conducting confirmation hearings for the attorney general nominee. Several other Judiciary Committee members also weighed in Thursday. “The bottom line is our responsibility in the Senate is advice and consent,” said Democratic Sen. ***** Durbin of Illinois, the committee chairman. *********** Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said recess appointments should be used “judiciously,” adding that he has concerns about “blanket recess appointments.” Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said he could name between “five to 10 Republicans who are seriously considering voting against” Gaetz “and insisting that there will be a vote.” *********** Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri indicated he would not have an issue if Trump made recess appointments, saying the president “has total authority to make recess appointments.” Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware urged his *********** colleagues to protect their role in confirmations and encourage Trump to pick confirmable candidates. Grace Kazarian and Laura Garrison contributed to this report. Caitlin Yilek Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Source link #Trump #appoint #Matt #Gaetz #Senate #confirmation #Heres #recess #appointments Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Video Captures ******** Strike on Humanitarian Zone in Gaza Video Captures ******** Strike on Humanitarian Zone in Gaza Video on social media, verified by The New York Times, captured a large ********** in a densely populated tent camp. The ******** military said it targeted a loaded weapons launcher. Source link #Video #Captures #******** #Strike #Humanitarian #Zone #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Latest Xbox Campaign is Microsoft Really Grasping at Straws after Consecutive, Disastrous Game Releases Latest Xbox Campaign is Microsoft Really Grasping at Straws after Consecutive, Disastrous Game Releases Microsoft’s latest Xbox marketing campaign, “This Is an Xbox,” is attempting to re-imagine the gaming experience in a way that may seem very bold and forward-thinking on the surface. The campaign, which will be featured on digital billboards, buses, and online ads, aims to show the entire brand as more than just a gaming console. Instead, it will present the brand as a versatile platform that can be accessed through various devices. The new marketing campaign is not very well received by the community. | Image Credit: Microsoft It’s an ambitious plan but not hitting the mark for many. Many fans feel that this marketing shift from console to everything feels like a desperate attempt to cover a deeper problem: the company’s struggle to keep up or compete with Sony in the console wars and its ******** to deliver consistently strong gaming experiences. And players aren’t holding back in calling out the company either. Is Xbox’s Latest Marketing Campaign Just Desperation in Disguise? Players are concerned that the company is going to ditch the console. | Image Credit: Microsoft Microsoft has recently shifted its motives toward software and subscription models, signaling a major change in strategy. A prime example of this shift is the release of Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass on day one. It’s an unusual move that shows a change in how the company is approaching gaming. While it’s great for Game Pass subscribers, it also highlights the company’s increasing reliance on its subscription service. The new marketing campaign, which rebrands Xbox as a platform rather than just a console, has raised eyebrows across the industry. This has caused fans to ask a question: Could this be a sign that Microsoft is quietly preparing to phase out the console itself? The campaign showed that Xbox can be everything, from laptops, and TVs to even VR headsets. Gamers, particularly those in the Xbox community, have a fairly negative response to the latest campaign. They are criticizing that this is just a transparent attempt to salvage a brand that is continuously losing ground in the gaming industry. Microsoft has revealed their new “This is not an Xbox” marketing campaign. “To truly understand what an Xbox is, it’s equally important to understand what is not an Xbox.” pic.twitter.com/NNWPig7Itr — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 14, 2024 They have to remind everyone what it is since nobody is buying them — BLOODLINE SAGA (@Rockstar82vansh) November 14, 2024 Sorry but this is terrible. I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft pulled out of the console business altogether. — The Moonlight Warrior (@BlackMajikMan90) November 14, 2024 desperation. PS5 clears — alexander (@alexanderkaiju) November 14, 2024 They have to remind everyone. — हाजमोला टॉक्स (@HajmolaTalks) November 14, 2024 Fun, but sadly too late to salvage the brand for this generation. — David (@drushe1983) November 14, 2024 One common sentiment from these comments is that the company, after years of struggling with underwhelming game releases, is now trying to distract fans from its failures by pushing a message of “Xbox Everywhere” that feels more like a desperate plea than a bold step forward. Players are even speculating that this campaign could be the start of a broader pivot for the company, where it only focuses on software, services, and subscriptions. It’s not like players’ concerns are invalid as upcoming major releases like Indiana Jones are going to be available across both Xbox and PlayStation platforms and are not going to be exclusive. This is a clear sign that the company is focused on building a subscription-based ecosystem rather than creating a reason for gamers to choose its console over Sony’s. New Marketing Campaign Is a Double-Edged Sword Gamers are saying that this is a desperate attempt to remind players of the brand. | Image Credit: Microsoft On the surface, this marketing campaign seems like a forward-thinking strategy, aimed at expanding the brand’s reach and creating a more accessible, multi-device gaming experience. However, beneath this ambitious plan, there are also various risks that have the potential to undermine the entire brand. The only strength of this campaign is its effort to showcase the company’s ******* to expand its reach. Highlighting its willingness to tap into the growing demand for cross-platform and cloud-based gaming. The campaign has the potential to attract a broader audience who were not interested in purchasing the console but are now likely to subscribe to the Game Pass. However, this shift away from focusing on the console itself brings way too many risks as well. The loyal fans, the very gamers who have supported the brand for years, are beginning to feel alienated by the message that ‘Xbox’ is no longer about the console. For them, the console is the core of their experience, it’s where they play their exclusive titles. By stripping them of this identity, the company risks distancing its loyal console base. In the end, the whole marketing campaign is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the campaign is a bold attempt to redefine the brand for the future but on the other hand, it is alienating the core fanbase, confusing many consumers, and most of all looking desperate. Let’s see what the future holds. Source link #Latest #Xbox #Campaign #Microsoft #Grasping #Straws #Consecutive #Disastrous #Game #Releases Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cloudflare Stock Is a Solid Buy for 2025 Cloudflare Stock Is a Solid Buy for 2025 Cloudflare sustains momentum and is on track to quadruple earnings in the next four years, which is a tailwind for the market. Macroeconomic tailwinds are expected to form in the back half of 2025; the forecasts for Cloudflare are cautious. Cyber attacks are rising at a hypergrowth pace and are unexpected to stop, driving demand for this cyber security stock. Cloudflare’s (NYSE:) biggest problem in 2024 is its stock price valuation. Trading well over 100X earnings, the market is pricing in significant growth, implying a 4X gain in earnings, but the concerns will disappear in 2025. The company continues to build leverage despite macroeconomic headwinds, and headwinds are expected to revert to tailwinds in 2025, so it will likely grow earnings faster than expected over the longer term. As it is, the analysts’ consensus outlook is robust and forecasts adjusted EPS to more than quadruple in the next four years. It may not be until later in the year. Still, falling interest rates and business-friendly presidential policies will reduce the cost of borrowing and ease regulation, clearing the path for business investment. That will result in expanding economic activity across industries and verticals, driving demand for leading business services stocks like Cloudflare. Because business increasingly depends on websites, eCommerce, and the cloud, Cloudflare is perfectly positioned to capture it. Cloudflare Sustains Traction in 2024: Outlook Brightens Cloudflare is sustaining high-double-digit growth in the upper 20% range in 2024. The Q3 results include a 28.2% topline growth that outpaced the consensus by 140 basis points on improved client count and ************. The company acquired 219 new large clients during the quarter, up 28% year over year, and now has 35% of the Fortune 500 under its umbrella. The net retention rate declined but remained strong at 110%, showing a solid increase in revenue from existing customers. The margin news is good, with margins trending above targets and improving incrementally on a YOY basis. The company continues to post GAAP losses, but the losses are shrinking. It is on track for GAAP profitability, and the adjusted margins are positive, sustaining free cash flow growth. The adjusted income margin is 15%, and the free cash flow is strong. The FCF grew by 30% to 11% of revenue and is expected to remain strong in Q4 and 2025. The guidance provides a tailwind for the market in 2024. The market reaction was unenthusiastic, but guidance calls for sustained growth in the mid-20% range in Q4 and the full-year total to outpace the consensus targets. The critical details include the earnings outlook, which also outpaced the consensus targets and is likely cautious. Cyber attacks are rising at an alarming rate, up an estimated 75% in Q3, with the time and cost of remediation increasing along with it. Businesses need the Internet and Cloudflare to help keep their websites operational and safe. Analysts Support Cloudflare’s Price, but the Upside is Limited in 2024 Analysts support Cloudflare and show a bullish bias in the data. However, even with sentient firming, the stock is pegged at Hold, and the upside is limited. The consensus target assumes the stock is fairly valued in the low $90s, and most recent revisions suggest the top is near $115. The high-end range is $135, but that target is an outlier set by Needham & Company over the summer. Likewise, the institutions support the market but provide limited upside. The institutions bought on balance in 2024, including every quarter of the year, but the total activity diminished as the share price advanced. The technical action is bullish, showing support growing in the low-end range. The market could push the price to the $115 level but may have difficulty moving any higher. That level coincides with a market top set in 2022 and will provide strong resistance. A move above that level is possible in 2024 but more likely in 2025 after subsequent quarters of strength. The critical level for support is the 150-week EMA, which has provided solid support in 2024. A move below that level could take this stock to the low-end range near $60. Original Post Source link #Cloudflare #Stock #Solid #Buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picking Matt Gaetz for AG puts House ****, ***** probe in focus Trump picking Matt Gaetz for AG puts House ****, ***** probe in focus Multiple *********** senators gave a chilly reception to President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Matt Gaetz for U.S. attorney general, putting the former Florida congressman’s odds of being confirmed by the Senate in question. The surprise announcement Wednesday, and Gaetz’s swift resignation from Congress, also drew attention to a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations that Gaetz engaged in ******* misconduct, illicit ***** use and other wrongdoing. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a *********** on the judiciary panel that will decide whether to advance Gaetz’s nomination to the full Senate, said Thursday morning that he “absolutely” wants to see the ethics committee’s final report. “I think there should not be any limitation on the Senate Judiciary committee’s investigation, including whatever the House Ethics Committee is generated,” Cornyn told reporters on Capitol Hill. He added that while “it’s ********** to count votes,” there are “a lot of questions.” Gaetz had previously been embroiled in a federal investigation into whether he was involved in the **** trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. That probe, which ended last year without charges being filed, was conducted by the Department of Justice — the agency Gaetz would lead if he were confirmed as attorney general. Gaetz has denied all of the allegations against him. In September, he declared he would stop cooperating with the House panel, while sharing a letter in which he vehemently denied having “******* activity with any individual under 18.” On Thursday, an attorney for the woman who alleges she had a ******* relationship with Gaetz when she was a minor, said the Ethics panel should release the report. “Mr. Gaetz’s likely nomination as Attorney General is a perverse development in a truly dark series of events. We would support the House Ethics Committee immediately releasing their report,” John Clune, a partner at Hutchinson ****** and Cook, wrote on X. “She was a high school student and there were witnesses,” the lawyer added. A lawyer for Gaetz did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Calls for the committee to release its report have become more pressing given the unusual sequence of events surrounding Trump’s announcement. Trump’s selection of Gaetz and the lawmaker’s decision to abruptly resign from Congress the same day, came just two days before the panel was set to vote on releasing its report on the **** and ***** probe, Punchbowl News reported Wednesday, citing sources. Gaetz’s resignation effectively ends the Ethics Committee probe, because the panel’s reach is limited to members of the House. Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters Wednesday that if Gaetz were to step down in order to seek the attorney general role, “then the Ethics Committee loses jurisdiction at that point.” The Ethics panel was slated to meet Thursday behind closed doors, a source familiar with the situation told NBC. It was unclear whether the committee would discuss Gaetz or vote on the report during that confidential meeting. Read more CNBC politics coverage Several Senate Republicans reacted with bewilderment and skepticism Wednesday about Gaetz being chosen to lead the Justice Department. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was “shocked” by the decision and predicted that there will be “a lot of questions asked” if his nomination proceeds. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she did not believe Gaetz was “a serious nomination for the attorney general.” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said, “I’m all about counting votes, and I would probably think he’s got some work cut out for him.” Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said of Gaetz’s expected nomination: “He’s got his work cut out for him.” But others appeared ready to back Gaetz’s bid. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the judiciary panel’s ranking ***********, said in a press release Thursday afternoon that, “Generally speaking, I vote for confirmation regardless of party or personal feelings because that is my Constitutional role as a Senator.” “I will do the same for President Trump’s nominees,” Graham said in the statement, which was sent in an email with the subject line, “Elections Have Consequences.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said Thursday on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” that “there’s no problem with me. I want to see President Trump’s Cabinet appointed quickly.” Hagerty said “there has been no one better at channeling the ********* public’s frustration with the weaponization of the Department of Justice than Matt Gaetz.” When Republicans take control of the Senate in January, they are projected to have a slim majority of two or three seats. Assuming all Senate Democrats vote against Gaetz’s nomination, Trump can only afford a few GOP defections before he would lose the simple majority required to confirm his pick for AG. Trump has demanded that the next Senate *********** leader agree to send senators home for at least 10 days in order to pave the way for Trump to make “recess appointments,” which would allow him to install Cabinet members and bypass individual confirmation votes altogether. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., after being selected to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell as majority leader, said Wednesday that Republicans will “explore all options” to make sure Trump’s nominees move forward quickly. Source link #Trump #picking #Matt #Gaetz #puts #House #**** #***** #probe #focus Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Naughty Dog Project Has Been in the Works Since 2020, Neil Druckamnn Given Full Creative Control New Naughty Dog Project Has Been in the Works Since 2020, Neil Druckamnn Given Full Creative Control Explore the fascinating journey of Brian Fargo, a visionary figure in the gaming industry who founded Interplay Entertainment and has left an indelible mark on RPGs. From his early inspirations rooted in science fiction and fantasy to pioneering iconic games like Fallout, Fargo’s career spans decades of innovation and adaptation in the ever-evolving landscape of video games. Discover his insights into game development challenges, his pioneering use of crowdfunding for Wasteland 2, and his upcoming project, Clockwork Revolution. Source link #Naughty #Dog #Project #Works #Neil #Druckamnn #Full #Creative #Control Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Proba-3: Twin spacecraft will launch to create an artificial solar eclipse Proba-3: Twin spacecraft will launch to create an artificial solar eclipse The two Proba-3 spacecraft will work together to create an artificial solar eclipse ESA The ********* Space Agency (ESA) is aiming to create an artificial eclipse in space with its upcoming Proba-3 mission, which will help study the sun and demonstrate extremely precise formation flying, down to just a millimetre. Scheduled to launch on an Indian PSLV-XL rocket on 4 December, the mission comprises two spacecraft. After launch, they will be placed into a highly elliptical orbit around Earth that comes as close as 600 kilometres to the planet, but as far as 60,000 kilometres from it. One spacecraft, called the Occulter, is equipped with a 1.4-metre-wide disc made of carbon fibre and plastic. The other spacecraft will fly about 150 metres behind the first, pointing a camera towards it. From this vantage point, the Occulter’s disc will block out the surface of the sun, just as the moon appears to cover the sun during a total solar eclipse. This will allow the imaging craft to view the solar corona, the sun’s atmosphere, in unprecedented detail. “It will be the closest to the sun we have observed the corona in visible light,” says Damien Galano, the mission manager for Proba-3 at ESA. “This can give us some specific information about the temperature of the corona, the creation of solar wind and how the corona expands into space.” Proba-3 will achieve this feat by flying with incredible precision. Both spacecraft are laden with sensors to track their position in space and the Occulter will use 12 nitrogen thrusters to autonomously maintain position with its partner to a single millimetre in accuracy. The thrusters can eject just 10 millinewtons of thrust, 50 times less force than a human breath. Each artificial eclipse will last 6 hours when the spacecraft are furthest from Earth, in order to limit the destabilising effect of Earth’s gravity. More than 1000 eclipses are planned during the two-year mission. Galano says it is the first artificial eclipse experiment in space since an effort on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. The experience gained from the Proba-3 mission could also have applications in spacecraft refuelling, developing large telescopes in space and more. “Up until now, we’ve only been able to do a centimetre precision or more,” says Steve Buckley, the lead engineer for Proba-3 at US company Onsemi, which developed some of the sensors for the mission. “This is 10 times better.” Topics: Source link #Proba3 #Twin #spacecraft #launch #create #artificial #solar #eclipse Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top 3 Hotel Stocks to Watch: A Buy, Hold, and Trade Opportunity Top 3 Hotel Stocks to Watch: A Buy, Hold, and Trade Opportunity An attractive valuation and a resurgent dividend make Marriott a solid buy-the-dip candidate. Hilton Worldwide has a compelling business model that attracts more affluent consumers, but the stock is slightly overvalued. Hyatt Hotels stock has been trading in a range and looks like a good short-term trade with an attractive valuation that investors may not be considering. Hotel stocks have been initial beneficiaries of the Trump pump. In the days following the U.S. presidential election, many hotel stocks are seeing high single-digit gains as investors move off the sidelines and start to pick winners. As we head into the holiday season, consumer discretionary stocks are getting attention. And it’s easy to see why the hospitality industry is a good place to hunt in that sector. Although consumers have cut back on other expenses, they still have shown a willingness to travel. That’s a trend that’s likely to continue through the holiday season. A recent survey said that consumer spending this holiday season will be similar to that of 2023. About 39% of those travelers plan to book brand-name hotels. Interestingly, it’s the millennial and Gen Z travelers who have increased their travel budgets. But should you chase these stocks higher? As with most stock choices, the answer is maybe. The price-to-earnings ratio of hotel stocks is approximately 38x earnings, and some stocks are trading at a hefty premium. Here is one stock to buy, one stock to hold, and one that may be setting up for a profitable trade. Marriott ******** a Comfortable Buy The Buy on this list is Marriott International (NASDAQ:). The company recently delivered a mixed earnings report, with earnings that met expectations but earnings per share (EPS) that missed expectations by five cents. However, both numbers were higher by 5.5% and 7% year-over-year, respectively. Analysts weren’t that impressed and placed a consensus Hold on MAR stock with a price target of $259, which is about 7.5% lower than its closing price on November 8. It’s also important to note that short interest has increased by about 5% in the last month. But the stock is trading around 29x trailing earnings and 30x forward earnings. Plus, the stock pays after suspending its dividend in 2020 and reinstating it at a lower level in 2022; Marriott has been aggressively growing the dividend, which now pays 63 cents per share. You can look to buy MAR stock on any dip. And if you’re already invested you can use those dips to dollar-cost-average your position. Hilton Worldwide May Be a Little Overvalued Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:) is up 36% for the year, making it one of the best-performing stocks in the sector. In its most recent quarter, the hotel chain beat on the bottom line but had a slight revenue miss. It also lowered its prior guidance for revenue per available room (RevPAR) and lowered its full-year RevPAR expansion outlook. Yet despite the report, HLT stock is up nearly 10% since the report. Analyst reaction has been mixed, but the consensus price target is $228.71, nearly a 7% dip from the stock’s closing price on November 8. And when you consider that the stock is trading for around 52x trailing earnings and 35x forward earnings, you’re paying a premium for the shares at the current price. The dividend is safe but not that enticing. Nevertheless, the company’s focus on the premium customer makes it a Hold, but not a stock I’d be chasing at this price. Hyatt Hotels Looks Ready to Breakout Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:) looks like an enticing holiday trade idea among hotel stocks. First, the company has a trailing P/E ratio of around 11x earnings, which is significantly lower than the sector average. Then, you should consider the company’s earnings. Revenue of $1.63 billion was a tick below the $1.64 billion analysts expected and a tick above the $1.62 billion from the prior year. We’ll call that flat. But earnings were a different story. It beat analysts’ expectations by four cents, and the 94 cents per share was more than 30% above the 70 cents posted in the same quarter in 2023. Plus, analysts are starting to raise their targets for the stock. For example, while Mizuho lowered its price target to $198, that target is still nearly 30% above the current price. And finally, H stock has been trading in a range for the last two months. As analyst ratings catch up to the company’s recent earnings, this stock looks ready to break out. I’d look to take a position around the consensus price of $151. Original Post Source link #Top #Hotel #Stocks #Watch #Buy #Hold #Trade #Opportunity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump expected to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary, three sources say Trump expected to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS secretary, three sources say Washington — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to three sources familiar with the selection. Kennedy has a long record of criticizing vaccines, including spreading misleading claims about their safety. He has vowed to combat an “epidemic” of chronic ********* and believes that large ***** and food companies are to blame for a broad swath of ailments. Kennedy has claimed a number of health issues have worsened due to federal inaction, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sleep disorders, infertility rates, diabetes and obesity. He has also urged removing fluoride from drinking water. Kennedy’s odds of clearing a Senate led by Democrats would have been low, given his long record of what the party called “anti-science, fringe public health stances,” but with Republicans in the majority come January, Trump’s nominees will have an easier path to confirmation. Trump promised to let Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic and former environmental lawyer, “go wild” on issues relating to health, food and medicine. “I’m going to let him go wild on health. I’m going to let him go wild on the food. I’m going to let him go wild on medicines,” Trump said in the final days before the election. “The only thing I don’t think I’m going to let him even get near is the liquid gold that we have under our feet … sometimes referred to as oil and gas.” As a co-chair of Trump’s transition, Kennedy has been vetting a slate of staffers who could fill top positions throughout the Trump administration. He has said he hopes “to have every nutritional scientist” across the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture “fired on Day One.” Kennedy, who faced a costly and time-consuming process to appear on general election ballots as an independent candidate, ended his longshot bid for the White House in August and endorsed Trump. Kennedy said there were three issues that convinced him to endorse Trump: free speech, the war in Ukraine and what he called the “war on our children.” He said processed foods, chemicals and obesity were destroying the health of children in the U.S. At an August rally with Kennedy, Trump vowed to establish a panel to investigate chronic health problems and childhood *********, as well as establish an independent presidential commission on ************** attempts that would be tasked with releasing all of the remaining documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s **************. Kennedy is the nephew of the late president and the son of the late senator, attorney general and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Fin Gómez Fin Gómez is the political director for CBS News. Fin oversees the day-to-day political coverage for CBS News. He has covered five presidential political cycles and multiple presidential campaigns. He was formerly a member of the CBS White House unit. Source link #Trump #expected #nominate #Robert #Kennedy #HHS #secretary #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wycliffe Associates Fills Hearts with ‘Amazing Grace’ in Bulgaria Wycliffe Associates Fills Hearts with ‘Amazing Grace’ in Bulgaria Nearly 100 million people have still not read the ****** in their native language. ****** translation experts from Wycliffe Associates are working to bring that number down, and they’re finding innovative ways to speed up the process in many areas of the world. One of those places is Bulgaria. Bulgaria is known for its rich history, natural beauty, and blend of eastern & western culture. It’s also home to layered love stories. You can find those stories in the country’s people, like Tony & Inna Chinkov. Tony is from Bulgaria, and Inna is from Ukraine. They met in college, married, and are now in ********** ministry. “The people in Bulgaria, they identify themselves as ********** I would say, but not a lot of them really dedicated, understand what **** really wants from them and what does it really mean to go to ******* and to follow ****,” Inna told CBN News. Bulgaria’s history includes ********** rule from about 1946 to 1989. That *******, and its politics, pushed Roma People, who are often called Gypsies, into ghettos. That has left many feeling despised, dejected, and separated. It’s a reality that exists on several levels today, long after communism has ended. It can be found in just a short drive from the charm of the country’s capital. Sofia’s beauty fades into a picture of ********. There are about 12,000 people who live in one impoverished area called Risto Botev – a place where Tony Chinkov and his wife founded Amazing Grace *******. It’s a ministry with a mission to bring the Gospel to all who live there. “I didn’t want to be a pastor because I saw how many people treat the Roma pastors and the Roma people, the gypsy people. But then one day I had a meeting with the heart. I had a lot of prejudice when somebody told me, ‘**** spoke to me’ and I said, ‘come on.’ Okay. But then it happened to me,” Tony told CBN News. “I was alone in my car on the way back to my home. Then I heard the voice behind me, but told me, ‘Tony, stop turning back to my people, your back to my people.’ And I started to cry, and I felt the presence of the Lord in the car,” he continued. Now Amazing Grace ******* is celebrating 6 years of service in a big way by partnering with Wycliffe Associates to distribute ****** boxes to Roma children. The ****** boxes are complete with lessons in their native language Yerli. It’s something Wycliffe associate Mark Roberts says is important. “If they are not able to read scripture in their heart language, how will they know things like, ‘Come to me all who are weary.’ How will they know the comfort of the Psalms. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,'” he shared with CBN News. We paid a visit to the heart of the ****** Box assembly at Amazing Grace *******. The boxes are packed with contents children are sure to love. They include crayons, a lesson on exactly why scripture is important, a bookmark, and a coloring book filled with ****** stories and scriptures. Wycliffe associate Steve Martin is excited for the partnership with Amazing Grace *******. “One of the beautiful things that **** has provided for us here in Bulgaria is Pastor Tony. Pastor Tony has a heart for the Roma people. And his heart is beyond just reaching them with the message of ******* but reaching them with the word of ****. And he has helped us to be able to go far beyond anything we could have done as an organization, as he has opened up various ****** translation projects”, Martin told CBN News. Wycliffe’s latest ****** translation project is also part of Amazing Grace *******’s six-year celebration. It is the New Testament translated into Yerli. ******* members spent more than two years working together to complete the translation. For ******* member Milan Milanou, it was something that gave him fulfillment. “This is what I do for my people. This is what I do for **** as well, and this is how I feel satisfied for all this process,” he said. For Tony and Inna, the ******* is a love story that is filled with ****’s amazing grace. “Most of our brothers and sisters are new in the ******. They’re really new. And according to the water baptism we gave last year, since beginning of this year, we see that these people never been part of any *******. And this is a new believer actually. So I’m really happy to see how **** works. That’s amazing,” Inna told CBN News. “That’s my family. So we have our family with Tony and our kids, but I cannot separate our own family with the ******* family. We are one big family. The people, the new people who come. Every time we have a new people, that’s a family. That’s a real family,” she continued. **Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly ********** perspective.*** Source link #Wycliffe #Associates #Fills #Hearts #Amazing #Grace #Bulgaria Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ADL report finds Steam is ‘rife’ with ******* posts and images ADL report finds Steam is ‘rife’ with ******* posts and images Valve’s Steam store is more than just a place to buy computer games online. It’s an active community of gamers. Unfortunately, a sizable portion of those gamers are posting an “unprecedented” amount of hateful, ******* and anti-Semetic content on the gaming site’s cyber social gathering place Steam Community, according to a report from the Anti-Defamation League. The organization found 1.83 million unique pieces of “extremist or hateful content” from 1.5 million unique users in 73,824 groups. The content included “explicitly anti-Semitic symbols” and “tens of thousands of instances” of users showing support for foreign ********** groups. The online gaming community even included an alarming number of “copypastas,” more than half of which were variations of ***** swastikas. ADL The report also found a “significant number” of Steam avatars with hateful symbols. Investigators uncovered 827,758 users with extremist or *******-signaling avatar images including the cartoon character Pepe the Frog in ***** regalia or adorned with stereotypical tropes and looks, swastikas, the white supremacist skull or “siege” mask and the ***** Eagle. Another 15,129 avatars contained images of flags, emblems or logos of ********** groups, the majority of which referred to the jihadist group ISIS. The ADL even uncovered images that “glorify violent extremists” and violent hate *******. The report found references to and stills from tragedies like the 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand ********* and the stabbing of five people in Eskisehir, Turkey committed by an 18 year old wearing neo-***** imagery. Even the “Collections” and “Mods” community on the gamer gathering site contained hundreds of mods that contained hateful imagery. An unidentified user named after the Christchurch shooter Brian Tarrant took the Valve physics sandbox game Garry’s Mod and made the “*********** S**poster collection.” The user recreated Tarrant’s body armor look and posted screenshots implying the character is ******** Muslims just as Tarrant did in 2019. ADL Other users utilized the Garry’s Mod game to create maps that also celebrated tragedies like the Columbine High School ********* and the Tops supermarket white supremacist ********* in Buffalo. The maps inspired even more ******* comments and reactions such as “make synagogue next” and “remember labs, subscribe to PewDiePie,” a chilling reference to a comment Tarrant made on a livestream just before he committed his *********. The ADL accused Valve, Steam’s owner, of not taking enough action to remove or curb the use of these images in its communities. The report claims Valve has a “highly permissive approach to content policy” and only took action “in rare notable cases.” “Steam has selectively removed extremist content, largely based around extremist groups publicized in reporting or in response to government pressure,” the ADL report says. “However, this has been largely ad hoc, with Valve failing to systematically address the issue of extremism and hate on the platform.” We’ve reached out to Valve for a comment on the ADL’s report. Source link #ADL #report #finds #Steam #rife #******* #posts #images Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Plumes of pollution from big factories can make it snow Plumes of pollution from big factories can make it snow Factory aerosols can transform the clouds above Getty Images/iStockphoto Plumes of pollution from large factories can trigger snowfall and leave holes in clouds that stretch over large areas, satellite images have revealed. It has long been known that tiny particles of pollutants like soot, known as aerosol pollution, can affect clouds in many ways. Water vapour can condense on pollutant particles, triggering cloud formation, and pollutants can also alter the properties of existing clouds. While studying these effects, Velle Toll at the University of Tartu in Estonia noticed that there were sometimes holes in clouds downwind of major pollution sources. He and his colleagues have now analysed thousands of satellite images of North America and Eurasia and found 67 places where this effect can be seen, during the correct atmospheric conditions. Weather radar confirmed that these events were causing snowfall. In the biggest instance the team found, up to 15 millimetres of snow fell over a 2200-square-kilometre (850-square-mile) area. This happens because pollutant particles cause supercooled water droplets in clouds to freeze around them, producing ice crystals that grow into snowflakes, says Toll. “And if we have water coming out of the cloud as snow, then we end up with less clouds.” In the absence of any particles, water droplets in clouds can stay liquid even when the air is as cold as -40°C (-40°F). This satellite image shows reduced cloud cover downwind of a copper smelter in Canada Velle Toll The 67 pollution sources the team found are mostly oil refineries and factories producing metals, cement or fertilisers. But surprisingly, the researchers occasionally saw a similar effect near four nuclear power stations that don’t produce any aerosol emissions. This might be because the warm air rising from these power stations is lifting up aerosol pollution from elsewhere, but the team hasn’t confirmed this. “We don’t have a definite explanation for that,” says Toll. In theory, the aerosol effect could be used to deliberately trigger snowfall, but it would only work where clouds of supercooled liquid water droplets are already present, says Toll. Topics: Source link #Plumes #pollution #big #factories #snow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sundheim’s D1 Capital adds new stakes in GE Healthcare, Bank of America Sundheim’s D1 Capital adds new stakes in GE Healthcare, Bank of America Hedge Fund investor Daniel Sundheim trimmed many of his top positions in the third quarter, but added some new stakes in blue-chip companies, according to securities filings. Sundheim’s D1 Capital added positions in GE Healthcare Technologies and Bank of America during the third quarter, a filing Thursday showed. Both stocks are now among the fund’s 10 largest positions. The filing shows D1’s positions as of the end of September, and it is not known if the portfolio has since changed. As of Thursday afternoon, shares of Bank of America are up 16% in the fourth quarter. Outside of those new positions and buying more shares of XPO Logistics , D1 Capital was mostly selling its top holdings. The hedge fund sold 22% of its biggest holding, Instacart , and 46% of its stake in ********** maker Philip Morris . D1 also closed out several large holdings in GE Vernova , Pfizer and Nu Holdings , among others. Smaller new positions included Meta Platforms , which it had previously sold during the second quarter, and Starbucks . Sundheim, a veteran of Viking Global Investors, started D1 Capital in 2017. He is also a board member at Instacart. D1 Capital managed about $19 billion as of the end of last year. Quarterly hedge fund filings show only positions in U.S.-traded equities and select derivatives. The extent of other holdings for D1 Capital is unclear. Source link #Sundheims #Capital #adds #stakes #Healthcare #Bank #America Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk’s DOGE is hiring. Here’s the kind of person he’s looking for. Elon Musk’s DOGE is hiring. Here’s the kind of person he’s looking for. The new Department of Government Efficiency, a group created by President-elect Donald Trump with the task of identifying ways to cut federal spending and headed by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is already taking resumes. The request for job applicants was posted Thursday by the new X account for DOGE, which despite its heady mission isn’t an official government department. In his statement on Tuesday announcing the effort, Trump described Musk and Ramaswamy’s role as providing “advice and guidance from outside of government.” It’s unclear where the funding for DOGE will come from or the size of its budget, as well as whether Musk, the world’s richest person, and Ramaswamy, who has an estimated net worth of $1 billion, will be paid for their efforts. The Trump campaign didn’t respond to a request for information. In the meantime, DOGE is starting to hire, according to the post on X, the social media service (formerly known as Twitter) owned by Musk. The account already has 1.2 million followers on the platform. What qualifications is DOGE looking for? The post didn’t disclose the specific educational or career experience it is looking for in applicants. Instead, it described the kind of person they want to hire: “We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.” It added that it doesn’t want “more part-time idea generators.” How can people apply for a DOGE job? The post said that interested applicants should send a direct message, or DM, to the account with their CV, although the DOGE account wasn’t open to messages when the job notice was first posted. “Off to a great start. ‘DM this account with an application’,” one person pointed out. “DMs not open.” Even after the DOGE account opened to direct messages, not all X users could send their resumes because only verified accounts or accounts followed by DOGE are able to DM the account. The DOGE account currently doesn’t follow any other X users, and verification on the platform costs $84 a year. Only the “top 1% of applicants” will be reviewed by Musk and Ramaswamy, the DOGE account added. The post didn’t specify how it will rank applicants. What does a DOGE job pay? The post didn’t specify the salary range or benefits. What kind of response is the post receiving? A mix of pointed questions, humor as well as support from fans of Musk and Trump. “Anything over 40 hours will be paid overtime right?” one person posted on X in response to the job post. Others posted *******-in-cheek “qualifications,” with one person writing, “I’d love to join here’s my resume: – B+ in Science – JV soccer team (2 years) – Can eat >10 Oreos in one sitting – Owner of several Dogecoins – Can burp the alphabet – Can run fast (top 25% of class).” Another touted his “104 IQ (4 points above highest score possible).” Valentina Gomez, a *********** politician who posted a video of herself burning books in February, responded, “But I’m ready to cut & make a dent on that outstanding budget. TSI, IRS, ATF are the first to go.” Aimee Picchi Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports. Source link #Elon #Musks #DOGE #hiring #Heres #kind #person #hes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Emma Raducanu back as Great Britain take on Germany Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Emma Raducanu back as Great Britain take on Germany If Raducanu is picked against Germany as expected, she will be tasked with putting her team ahead in the three-match tie before Katie Boulter plays in the second singles match. It has been a winning formula. Raducanu and Boulter won three of their four singles matches as GB beat France in April’s qualifier. Boulter, ranked 24th in the world, is the nation’s leading player, with Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and doubles specialist Olivia Nicholls completing the team in Spain. Raducanu, though, has not played since 21 September when she retired from her Korea Open quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina, but on Thursday she insisted she was ready. “I’m in a place where I feel good and confident to give it my all if I’m to be on the match court,” said Raducanu, who is “in discussions” about bringing Naomi Osaka’s former fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura into her team. “I’ve been training in the last three weeks on it, properly building up and last week I was throwing myself around the court. It’s feeling good. “I’m happy to be in this position especially because it did take longer than we think. I feel really fit.” Raducanu has played just 33 matches this year after returning from the wrist and ankle surgeries which ruled her out of most of last season. There have been moments of encouragement on her climb back into the world’s top 60, but plenty of patience has also been required. As she recovered from the foot problem, Raducanu used the time away from the match court to “detach”. She spent quality time with her grandma who lives in China, brushed up her skills on the piano and read a stack of books. The mind is rested. But will the body be sharp? “Sharpness is something which comes with matches and although I haven’t played in a while, it will be good to find out,” said Raducanu, who lamented not playing enough matches before her painful US Open first-round exit in August. “On the practice court and practice points, I feel sharp and pretty good. “I don’t feel too far behind even though the second half of the season I have been a lot lighter on tournaments.” Source link #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Emma #Raducanu #Great #Britain #Germany Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR Comics And New Novel Are B2G1 Free At Amazon Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR Comics And New Novel Are B2G1 Free At Amazon You’d expect a comic book series headlined by Keanu Reeves to be pretty chill, but in the case of BRZRKR, you’d be very wrong. Created by Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney, BRZRKR tells the story of B, an immortal warrior with a ****** wish who has been cursed to ****** in a war with no end. If you’re interested in checking out BRZRKR, a Deluxe Limited Edition hardcover collecting the first 12 issues released last month. BRZKR’s Deluxe Limited Edition is currently discounted by over $20 and eligible for Amazon’s B2G1 Free Book *****. Multiple BRZRKR trade paperbacks are buy two, get one free, too. And since it fits the Keanu Reeves theme, it’s worth noting that The Book of Elsewhere, which Reeves co-authored with China Miéville, is up for grabs in the *****. The Book of Elsewhere was published in July. B2G1 Free BRZRKR Comics & Keanu Reeves’ New Novel BRZRKR The 400-page hardcover collection includes the entire run of BRZRKR so far. The story follows B–who bears a striking resemblance to Reeves on a high-protein diet–throwing himself into ******** missions on behalf of the US government. As you’d expect, the art gets incredibly gory, and Garney’s illustrations hold nothing back as B gets stabbed, shot, burned, and blown up in each mission. Self-preservation is for mortals, after all. Here’s the official pitch for BRZRKR from publisher ***** Studios: “The man known only as B is half-mortal and half-****, cursed and compelled to *********, even at the sacrifice of his sanity,” the official synopsis for the series reads. “But after wandering the world for centuries, B may have finally found a refuge–working for the US government to ****** the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B will be granted the one thing he desires–the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence and how to end it.” Source link #Keanu #Reeves #BRZRKR #Comics #B2G1 #Free #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cbus takes ‘complete responsibility’ for payout mess Cbus takes ‘complete responsibility’ for payout mess The chairman of Cbus Super, which has been pinged by the corporate regulator for disability and ****** payment delays, has personally apologised for the debacle. Wayne Swan, a former federal Labor treasurer, blamed the issue, which affected more than 10,000 insurance claims, on an offshore third-party operator tasked with processing the payouts. “But we are ultimately responsible for that, and we accept that responsibility,” he told Nine’s Today show on Friday. “We’re sorry it happened and we’re determined to ensure it never happens again.” Mr Swan added, “I do accept complete responsibility for it”. At a Senate hearing in Canberra on Thursday, Cbus chief executive Kristian **** said the fund had resolved more than 6000 claims. Those members and their beneficiaries had so far received $755 million in benefits, he added. “I do want to again say sorry for the impact that the delays in processing of insurance claims have had on our members and their families,” he told the hearing. “Many of our members hold high-risk jobs where injuries and ****** are more common. “We know that delays in processing claims can add to their distress at a difficult time.” Mr Swan confirmed those affected would also receive compensation. The *********** Securities and Investments Commission on Tuesday announced it was taking Cbus to the Federal Court over allegations it ******* to pay more than 10,000 claims in less than 90 days. It also alleged more than 6000 claims had been delayed more than 12 months by late 2022 – more than half the fund’s claims at that time. The corporate regulator is seeking penalties, adverse publicity orders and compliance matter orders through court. Cbus, which is linked with unions including the CFMEU, manages $94 billion in assets, according to its website. Source link #Cbus #takes #complete #responsibility #payout #mess Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fan-Favorite GOG Launches Game Preservation Program for Classic Titles Fan-Favorite GOG Launches Game Preservation Program for Classic Titles For the longest time, you could only find me using Steam. I wouldn’t touch another digital storefront or launcher if I could help it, but GOG inevitably won me over. Now, I have a growing library of classic titles, such as ***** Empire, The Suffering, and World in Conflict—all classics in their own right. Well, it turns out their offerings continue to improve. GOG is launching its game preservation program to ensure titles like Fallout and Resident Evil remain available and functional for players years after release. As of this writing, the program features 100 unique titles, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5, and more than 500 game improvements implemented by the restoration team at GOG. Some of the titles in the program include: Theme Hospital Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines SWAT 4 Empire Earth Fallout: New Vegas Diablo + Hellfire System Shock 2 Dungeon Leeper 2 MYST Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete Jagged Alliance Dragon Age: Origins Demonicon The GOG Preservation Program ensures classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stopped supporting them. By maintaining these iconic titles, GOG helps you protect and relive the memories that shaped you, DRM-free and with dedicated tech support. In a world of rapid technological change, we see the urgent need to save video games from vanishing. The GOG Preservation Program is committed to keeping beloved classics alive and playable for future generations. Our goal is for all games, whether recent or classic, to eventually become part of the Preservation Program. For a game to qualify for the Program, our team must run it through many quality tests. If these tests fail, our team updates and improves the game until it matches our quality standards. Only then, we stamp the game with our Preservation Program and grant it Good Old Game status. There is a long backlog of classic games available on GOG that may already qualify for the program, but our team has not been able to confirm that yet. We aim to support as many games as possible, but it’s not always entirely up to us. To this end, GOG recently launched the Resident Evil bundle, featuring the first three classic survival horror titles in a single, functional package that allows modern gaming computers to run and play smoothly. But that’s not the end of the road for the preservation program, as the team intends to add hundreds more titles to the program by the end of 2025, but not before thorough quality assurance checks clear each game. What classic gaming titles would you like to see in the GOG Preservation Program? Let us know in the comments below, or visit our community forum to discuss retro gaming in all its glory! Speaking of getting your hands on classic games, don’t forget to score your free titles from Prime Gaming for the month of November! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #FanFavorite #GOG #Launches #Game #Preservation #Program #Classic #Titles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]