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Apple accused of trapping and ripping off 40m iCloud customers Apple accused of trapping and ripping off 40m iCloud customers Getty Images iCloud is the online storage service from Apple Apple is facing a legal claim accusing it of effectively locking 40 million British customers into its iCloud service and charging them “rip off prices.” Consumer group Which? says the legal action – which it has launched – could result in a £3bn payout if it is successful, equivalent to £70 per customer. Apple has rejected the suggestion its practices are anti-competitive, saying users are not required to use iCloud, many rely on third-party alternatives and insisting it “works hard to make data transfer as easy as possible.” It is another example of the “growing tide of large class actions against Big Tech” which has “operated without sufficient constraint”, Toby Starr from legal firm Humphries Kerstetter told the BBC. Facebook, Google, gaming giant Steam and the ***’s leading mobile providers are among the others facing legal claims at the same court, the the Competition Appeal Tribunal. “Although most of these claims are in their infancy and take a long time to resolve, there will be more decisions coming out over the next couple of years and there will be settlements – these will start to affect the tech giants’ businesses,” said Mr Starr. A price to pay Users of Apple products get a small amount of digital storage for free – and after that are encouraged to pay to use its iCloud service to back up photos, videos, messages, contacts and all the other content which lives on their device. Prices for this storage range from £0.99 a month for 50GB of space to £54.99 a month for 12TB. Apple does not allow rival storage services full access to its products. It says that is for security reasons – but it also contributes to the company’s enormous revenues. Which? says over a ******* of nine years dating back to 2015 Apple has been effectively locking people into its services – and then overcharging them. “By bringing this claim, Which? is showing big corporations like Apple that they cannot rip off *** consumers without facing repercussions,” the body’s chief executive Anabel Hoult said. “Taking this legal action means we can help consumers to get the redress that they are owed, deter similar behaviour in the future and create a better, more competitive market.” Apple has strongly denied Which’s accusations. “We ******* any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will vigorously defend against any legal claim otherwise,” it said in a statement. ‘Very high value damages’ Though being launched by Which?, the legal action is being funded and taken forward by international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Which? said they would be paid fees as the case progressed, getting additional payments if it was successful – but they would not be getting a percentage of any damages. Alan Davis, from law firm Pinsent Masons, said there were very likely to be more, similar cases in the future. “It is inevitable that further claims of this nature will continue to be brought given the very high value of the aggregate damages and the role of and incentive for litigation funders to support these claims which might not otherwise be brought without that financial support,” he told the BBC. He added the absence of any infringement decisions under EU or *** competition law meant it would be down to the claimant to prove the market ****** it was alleging was actually taking place. However, he pointed out the regulator had announced a wider investigation into cloud services in the ***. Source link #Apple #accused #trapping #ripping #40m #iCloud #customers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Worst Mistake That Almost ******* Helldivers 2 isn’t Going Away as COO Still Believes They are the Good Guys The Worst Mistake That Almost ******* Helldivers 2 isn’t Going Away as COO Still Believes They are the Good Guys Sony’s biggest mistake seems to be following it still, and it does not seem to be going anywhere. Sony faced a huge challenge during Helldivers 2’s release early this year, but it still does not seem to be learning from its mistakes. Sony is still delusional about its biggest mistake. Image Credit: Sony The mistake that almost ******* a lot of Helldivers 2’s sales is here to stay, as Sony’s COO, Hitoki Totoki, still believes that they did the right thing by implementing this one feature. Sony’s Past Mistake With Helldivers 2 Still Lingers On In The Company’s Philosophy Helldivers 2 was the one that got affected the most due to Sony’s policies. Image Credit: Arrowhead Studios The biggest problem with Sony exclusive titles coming to PC is that it still requires you to create a PSN account to play these games. This feature got a lot of criticism from players initially during the release of Helldivers 2. Following the massive backlash from the Helldivers 2 community, it was ultimately removed from the game, but other titles still required you to do the same, including **** of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, which both require PSN accounts. It seems like Sony has not learned anything from its past mistake, which almost ******* Helldivers 2 earlier this year. Totoki still believes that Sony is doing the right thing by implementing this. He said: For the live service games, in order to maintain order of the gaming so that anybody can enjoy the games safely, we need to create an environment conducive to that and, of course, enjoying the game freely. Totoki feels the company is going in the right direction by implementing this as it enables it to create one more layer of security, but the same argument does not hold up for single-player games. It is High Time Sony Sets Things Right PSN account linking on PC should not be a thing. Image Credit: Arrowhead studios Sony has been implementing this annoying feature ever since the company decided to release its exclusive titles on PC in the name of security. On the other hand, it seems like it just still wants to have an upper hand over its titles. It has been doing this to make it clear that the games still belong to Sony and PC releases are just an extension of what Sony has to offer. It makes complete sense to do it for a live service game because of security concerns, but it is high time now that it gets removed from some of the single player titles. Players have been criticizing this for a long time for Sony to realise that it is not being appreciated by the majority, and still the company does not feel that it is not in the right. It is high time Sony sets things right and comes up with a better plan to release future exclusives on PC. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Worst #Mistake #******* #Helldivers #isnt #COO #Believes #Good #Guys Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Early ****** Friday Microsoft Office deals 2024: Save on Microsoft 360 Early ****** Friday Microsoft Office deals 2024: Save on Microsoft 360 Early ****** Friday deals are the perfect time to score a sweet discount on useful services that will help you all year around. We’re talking about Microsoft Office, which is perfect for typing up documents, creating spreadsheets or presentations, and much more. While Google apps may fulfil many of these roles, it’s tough to compete with the allure of Microsoft Office. We’ve picked out all the best ****** Friday Microsoft Office deals so you can save big on these services. It’s perfect for going alongside early ****** Friday laptop deals that you may have snapped up. We’ve also looked at some awesome Best Buy ****** Friday laptop deals too if you’re still seeking the best hardware. For now though, keep reading and we’ll take you through all the best Microsoft Office deals around at the moment. We also have some great buying advice if you’re not sure what to look for. Microsoft 365 Personal — $70 Microsoft Microsoft 365 Personal has all the essentials for one person. It provides you with access to Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Powerpoint while also bundling in 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage so you’re all set for somewhere to save your backups. The price gives you a one year subscription. Microsoft 365 Family 6-people — $100 Microsoft If you want your whole family to use Microsoft 365, check out this family plan. It provides access for six people with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook all included here. Access to 1TB of cloud storage is useful while you can also protect valuable files using OneDrive Personal Vault. Microsoft Office Home 2024 — $150 $160 6% off Microsoft A one-time purchase, the Microsoft Office Home 2024 gives permanent access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one user. You can only download the software to one PC or Mac but that should be fine for a student or solo workers. You’re all set for the future without needing to pay for a yearly subscription. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 — $230 $250 8% off Microsoft A one-time purchase, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 gives you constant and steady access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Effectively, it’s the same as the Home & Student version but with Outlook also included. One person on one PC or Mac can use the software with the benefit of not needing to resubscribe in future years. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 — $250 $270 7% off Wikimedia Commons For the latest build of Microsoft Office for your business, check out Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024. It’s the latest version of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote so you get all the best and most relevant features, along with the latest patches. As before, it works for just one device and user, but your solo business is all set. How to choose a Microsoft Office product on ****** Friday Many of us consider the best Microsoft Office alternatives, but on *****, it often makes sense to stick with the big name in the field. Once you’ve committed to that, it’s important to figure out if you want to purchase a lifetime/one time only deal or if you’re fine paying each year. There are ***** and ***** here as the yearly subscriptions tend to give you more updates and new features, but you’ll be paying for it. Alongside that, you need to think about how many people you need a license for. Are you just buying for yourself or do you need to support the whole family? You need a license for each person using Microsoft Office at any one time, so make sure you buy something that works for everyone. Also, think about extras like how much cloud storage is bundled in. For the most part though, it’s a pretty simple process buying Microsoft Office. How we chose these Microsoft Office products on ****** Friday We know our way around deals, as well as what’s important with Microsoft Office. We spend every day looking for the best deals, checking out all the major retailers, and comparing prices. Because of that, we know what prices are worth recommending and what should be skipped. In conjunction, we know all about Microsoft Office along with the ***** and ***** of buying a subscription to 365 or going for a onetime purchase. We can recommend different services for different people with plenty of knowledge backing that view up. Essentially, all the deals above are the kind of deals that we would recommend to our friends and family, and that we would use ourselves. There’s no filler here or any substandard packages. We only include genuinely good products here, which luckily tends to encompass most of what Microsoft Office provides as standard. We also check back regularly and update the deals with the latest best prices. Source link #Early #****** #Friday #Microsoft #Office #deals #Save #Microsoft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Baby milk prices punish those who don’t breastfeed’ ‘Baby milk prices punish those who don’t breastfeed’ Clare Smyrell Clare Smyrell says it feels “petty” to ban special offers on formula The high price of baby formula makes parents feel “punished” for not breastfeeding, mums and dads have told the BBC. The cost of baby milk has surged in recent years, while retailers in the *** are not allowed to advertise or offer discounts on infant formula because it might discourage breastfeeding. Parenting site Mumsnet says this rule has raised the price of formula rather than breastfeeding rates, while the competition watchdog has recommended the ban on price promotions be overturned. Clare Smyrell, who was not able to breastfeed due to medical reasons, says she spent £30 a week on milk for her baby and resorted to online marketplaces to try to keep costs down. Her son is now eight months old and she is weaning him off formula but Clare says she felt “like a ********” because she couldn’t breastfeed and then had to cope with the additional cost of buying formula. “You have offers on unhealthy ****** food, but you can’t have offers on baby formula which is perfectly healthy. It feels a little bit petty,” says Clare from Wolverhampton. “It almost feels like those who don’t breastfeed are being punished.” The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found prices for formula in the *** jumped between 18% and 36%, depending on the brand, over the two years between December 2021 and December 2023. Just three companies – Danone, which makes Aptamil and Cow & Gate, and Nestle, which makes SMA and Kendamil – control over 90% of the *** market. ‘How much did that just cost me?’Natash Kurzeja Natasha Kurzeja says she can’t afford to waste a single drop of formula because it is so expensive Natasha Kurzeja from London says the cost of formula is “extortionate”. When Natasha’s 12-week-old son was born, he needed extended stays in hospital, which, she says, made breastfeeding unsustainable. “It’s frustrating when you drop some of the formula because you think, ‘gosh, how much did that just cost me?'” She agrees with Clare about feeling punished for not being able to breastfeed. “For ******* under 12 months you don’t have to pay for prescriptions as medicine is something they need. So if I have to feed my baby formula, why are we having to pay through the nose? “For some of us formula feeding definitely isn’t a choice, but even if it is, fed is best, and mothers don’t need any more shame heaped upon them.” In its interim report into infant formula, the CMA suggested better education about formula so that parents are not swayed by undue loyalty due to advertising by a brand. It also suggested the government could buy formula from a third party to sell at a lower price under NHS branding. Getty Images However, a former director of a baby formula manufacturer, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC the introduction of an NHS-branded product would create a “race to the bottom”, with companies lowering the quality of their formula to compete for the cheapest price. He said with any other product, supermarkets would “play hard ball on margins” with suppliers. But with baby milk, parents had fierce loyalty towards their favoured brand so if a supermarket demanded too low a price, a supplier would just take the product somewhere else, he said. He also claimed some baby milk products were branded and priced differently despite being made in the same factory with the same ingredients. Meanwhile, the boss of parenting site Mumsnet said the government was treating baby milk like tobacco, with the restrictions on advertising. “The way it’s been regulated, we totally get that it’s an effort to increase breastfeeding rates. But, let’s be frank, that simply hasn’t worked,” said Justine Roberts. “The *** has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world… and all it’s done is raise the cost of formula for some parents.” ‘Verging on discrimination’ James Gilmartin from Manchester has nine-month old twins, one of whom was born with fluid on the lung. “Getting enough breastmilk for her was quite challenging. It had to be enough for her to gain enough weight to get her off the hospital machines, so it was suggested we use formula,” he says. James Gilmartin The ban on price promotions is “completely disgusting”, says James Gilmartin His partner took a hybrid approach using ******* milk and formula, and eventually went with just formula. “As with a lot of newborns they had digestion issues affecting their bowel movements so we were told to go for a better baby formula – Cow & Gate Comfort which is easier to digest.” An 800g tub cost £14 and with two kids to feed, James and his partner were going through two and a half tubs a week, spending well over £100 a month. “I find the ban on price promotions completely disgusting and verging on discrimination,” says James. Nelson Dean from London was also taken aback by the high cost of formula. His son was born in September and is fed on a mixture of formula and ******* milk. Family friends recommended Kendamil, which costs £15 a tin and lasts his son about a week. If anything, rather than not allowing promotions on formula, Nelson thinks parents should be given help towards the cost. “With the price of everything else going up, I expected there would be some assistance for essential things like baby milk,” he says. Additional reporting by Bernadette McCague and Rozina Sini. Source link #Baby #milk #prices #punish #dont #breastfeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The story-driven cyberpunk RPG “HeistGeist” is now available for PC via Steam The story-driven cyberpunk RPG “HeistGeist” is now available for PC via Steam A story-driven RPG set in a cyberpunk version of Central Europe. Play as Alexandra, doublecrossed street-smart thief on the run after a job gone bad. Put together a team of specialists, ******** highly elaborate heists, ****** in card-based battles and hack into the most secure corporate systems. Source link #storydriven #cyberpunk #RPG #HeistGeist #Steam Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How to know which Mac to buy — and when to buy it How to know which Mac to buy — and when to buy it If you’re in the market for a new Mac (or Apple display), there’s a lot of choice ahead of you. Maybe you’re interested in a lightweight MacBook Air from the selection of the best MacBooks — or maybe one of the desktop Macs. Either way, there’s a wide variety of Apple products on offer, including some external desktop monitors. Below you’ll find the latest information on each model, including if it’s a good time to buy and when the next one up is coming. MacBook Pro Chris Hagan / Digital Trends The MacBook Pro represents the high-end of Apple’s MacBook lineup, and it was updated it in October 2024. This revamp brought the M4 chip series to the flagship laptop, including the M4, the M4 Pro, and the M4 Max. However, it was much more than just a chip update, as Apple increased the memory capacity at every level (including double the starting RAM of the previous MacBook Pro). There’s a ****** ****** option for the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro, a brighter display with a nano-texture option, an improved webcam, more ports with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, plus longer battery life. And let’s not forget the mini-LED display that can range up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and 1,000 of SDR brightness. Given the recent update, we wouldn’t expect a new MacBook Pro until at least fall 2025, which would fit in with Apple’s rumored plans to update this laptop on a regular, annual basis. This new model is likely to be a modest upgrade, with a much larger refresh rumored for 2026. This could get an OLED display and a thinner chassis, while Apple also is expected to bring out a foldable MacBook at some point in the coming years. MacBook Air Luke Larsen / Digital Trends Apple’s slimmest laptop received its most recent changes in March 2024 when Apple launched the M3 MacBook Air. The M3 chip brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing and better performance compared to the previous MacBook Air, as well as better microphones and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. That’s wrapped up in Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop chassis, along with a 500-nit display and comfortable keyboard. The MacBook Air is the next Mac in line for an update, with a new version expected to launch in spring 2025. While we can be certain that this will come with the M4 chip, there’s not a lot else we know for sure about it. There are murmurings that Apple is working on an OLED MacBook Air, but this isn’t due to launch for a few years. Mac mini Chris Hagan / Digital Trends In October 2024, Apple gave the Mac mini its most significant overhaul in 14 years. The device’s case was completely redesigned to take on the appearance of a downsized Mac Studio, with a footprint about half the size of the previous model. Apple skipped the M3 chip entirely and upgraded the Mac mini from the M2 to the M4 and M4 Pro chips, which has resulted in an impressive performance leap. Elsewhere, the memory capacity has been increased at every tier, there’s support for up to three external displays, there’s a new port arrangement that features Thunderbolt 5 on the M4 Pro model, and you get two USB-C ports on the front of the computer (the USB-A ports have been removed). Apple won’t bring out another Mac mini until fall 2025 at the earliest. There’s not much in the way of rumors for future Mac mini models, but we’ll update this page as soon as we hear more. iMac Caleb Denison / Digital Trends In October 2024, the iMac became the first Apple computer to get the M4 chip (following the iPad Pro in May 2024). Aside from the speedy new chip, you can now buy it in a new range of colors, with increased memory bandwidth, more starting memory, an improved webcam, as well as Apple’s nano-texture glass option that cuts down on reflections and glare (this was previously only available on the Pro Display XDR and the iPad Pro). As with several other M4 Macs, the iMac’s next update is likely to arrive around fall 2025. There is talk that Apple is working on a larger iMac, perhaps with a 30-inch or 32-inch display and mini-LED tech, and this might debut alongside the next iMac in 2025. That said, this project has reportedly been delayed many times, so don’t bet the house on it arriving any time soon. Mac Studio Mark Coppock / Digital Trends The latest update to the Mac Studio arrived in June 2023. Today, it comes with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, huge amounts of memory, wide support for its external displays, as well as compatibility with high-impedance headphones, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. It’s a highly capable computer inside a very compact chassis, making it ideal for high-end workloads even if you don’t have a lot of desk space. Apple has skipped the M3 generation in the Mac Studio, so its next update should bring the M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips alongside a significant increase in performance. Reports have suggested that the M4 Ultra will have 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, double the core counts you can find in the MacBook Pro’s M4 Max chip. Mac Pro Brittany Hose-Small / AFP via Getty Images Like the Mac Studio, the Mac Pro received its most recent update in June 2023. This was a sizable change for Apple’s most powerful Mac, as it was the first time it came outfitted with Apple silicon chips (in this case, the M2 Ultra). Buying this model today gets you the most modular (and expensive) Mac on the market, including support for PCIe expansion, huge amounts of memory, massive support for external displays, and high-end CPU and GPU performance. Looking ahead, the M4 Ultra is a certainty, and this is expected to arrive in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. There are rumors that this might result in the Mac Pro getting a maximum memory capacity of 512GB, up from the current 192GB. There’s also the question of the Mac Pro’s design. The current chassis was designed for the 2019 model, which featured Intel chips that ran hot, as well as expandable, discrete graphics cards. That’s no longer the case, and it’s arguable that the Mac Pro doesn’t need to be as large or as focused on cooling as it currently is now that it uses Apple silicon chips. There aren’t many rumors that Apple will soon redesign the Mac Pro’s chassis, so don’t expect that to come next year, but don’t be surprised if it’s somewhere on the horizon. Apple Studio Display Apple The 27-inch Studio Display is Apple’s more accessible monitor (at least compared to the Pro Display XDR, anyway). It comes with a 5K resolution and 600 nits of brightness, an internal A13 Bionic chip that handles Center Stage and Spatial Audio, a nano-texture glass option that cuts down on reflections and glare, one Thunderbolt 3 slot and three USB-C ports, plus two different stand options. There’s a bit of confusion surrounding the date we can expect a new version of the Studio Display. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes we could see it in 2025 or 2024 (the latter date being very unlikely now), whereas display industry expert Ross Young thinks Apple has suspended its plans for a Studio Display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Aside from that, not much else is known about what we might see in the next Studio Display. Pro Display XDR Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends We first saw the Pro Display XDR in 2019, when it launched alongside the then-redesigned Mac Pro. It’s Apple’s most capable monitor, and it comes with a 32-inch 6K screen, up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness (for HDR content only), 576 local dimming zones, a nano-texture glass option, one Thunderbolt 3 and three USB-C ports, and two stand options. Out of all the products in this article, the Pro Display XDR has gone the longest without an update, as it hasn’t been changed since it launched in 2019. Seeing as it was released in tandem with the Mac Pro, we’d expect the same to happen this time around, and with the Mac Pro slated for a 2025 refresh, the Pro Display XDR might be updated at the same time. Rumors have suggested that it will get an onboard chip just like the Studio Display, which should bring a few more software features to the table. Other than that, not much else is known at this point. Source link #Mac #buy #buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Charity calls for prostate-******* testing of high-risk men Charity calls for prostate-******* testing of high-risk men Getty Images Screening men born with a high risk of developing prostate *******, once they reach the age of 45, makes financial sense, a ******* charity says. But Prostate ******* Research also acknowledges more accurate tests would be needed to justify screening all men. There is no prostate-******* screening programme in the ***, unlike those for *******, bowel and cervical *******. Instead, the onus is on men to request a blood test from their GP once they are over 50. Men dying The debate around prostate screening revolves around an imperfect test and the trade-off between finding some men’s aggressive cancers earlier and the harms of diagnosing and treating slow-growing tumours that would never have affected a man’s health or lifespan. The case for and against is constantly reviewed in the ***, with the most recent report from the National Screening Committee, in 2020, saying the harms were too great. Further updates are expected this year. Despite more men dying from prostate ******* than women from ******* *******, there is no reliable test for the ********. The blood test men over 50 can request from their GP measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA), released by the prostate, a small ****** located below the bladder involved in the production of ******. But PSA levels can be high for a variety of reasons – including an enlarged prostate, inflammation or infection, recent vigorous exercise or **** – or remain normal despite *******. And there are many different kinds of prostate ******* – not all deadly. “There are prostate cancers that are so slow-growing that they will not affect a man’s lifespan,” GP Dr Margaret McCartney says. These are found in one in three men over 50. “And then you have a small number of very aggressive prostate cancers which do move quickly and cause harm,” Dr McCartney says. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and a tissue biopsy can help narrow down which men have ******* and need treatment – but some still end up being treated for something that would never cause a problem. “Far more men have tests done to try to work out what kind of prostate ******* it is, than are going to benefit from it – there’s the problem,” Dr McCartney says. Followed up Clinical trials have produced conflicting results about screening. One, in Europe, says it saves lives. Another, in the ***, shows a more marginal benefit. And a third, in the US, says it does not. Prof Hashim Ahmed, chair of urology at Imperial College London, says: “We need to screen 570 men to prevent one ****** – that’s a lot of men to counsel.” Screening means aggressive cancers can be treated before symptoms appear. But trials show there are harms to testing large numbers of healthy men – and once a ******* is spotted, even a low-risk one, it needs to be followed up. ***** ****** Many men with a low-risk ******* are simply monitored or begin “watchful waiting” – but a ******* diagnosis and the invasive tests it involves have a psychological impact. One in 10 of these men opts for ******** surgery rather than live with the anxiety of wondering whether their ******* will grow, Prof Ahmed says. But this can leave them unable to maintain an ********* – and a third spend the rest of their life needing a pad because they ***** ******. “At the age of 47-48, if we’re talking about testing and diagnosing men at that age, that’s two or three decades of those kinds of symptoms,” Prof Ahmed told BBC Radio 4’s Inside Health programme. “So I would rather avoid finding low-risk ********.” Getty Images Much research in the field has focused on refining the process to minimise the harms of screening. And Prof Ahmed is running the Transform trial, starting next year, to compare the most promising technologies. But the results could be 10 years away. In the meantime, Prostate ******* Research’s report says, screening 45-69-year-olds at high risk – ****** men and those with a family history of the ******** or particular gene mutations – would deliver an economic benefit, after factoring in the cost of treatment and the impact on working lives and carers. “Finding and treating cancers early outweighs the harms of over-treatment by four times,” the charity’s chief executive, Oliver Kemp, says. And another charity, Prostate ******* ***, says the report supports its call to overhaul “dangerously outdated NHS guidance that is leading to too many men receiving a late, incurable diagnoses”. ‘Very difficult’ Prof Frank Chinegwundoh, a consultant urological surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust, says: “It’s very difficult to weigh up the risks and benefits.” But he often sees men who could have been diagnosed earlier – and they can be relatively young, he says. “We can do a lot better than we are currently doing,” Prof Chinegwundoh told Inside Health. And he says ****** men – who have double the risk of the ******** – should consider having a PSA test at 40, particularly if they have a strong family history of the *******. But earlier this year, concerns were raised ****** men were at greater risk than other men of being harmed by a ******* diagnosis that did not need to be treated, because they have naturally higher PSA levels. ‘Tough question’ While the arguments rage, what should men do today? “It’s a really tough question,” Prof Ahmed says. And the NHS needs to give men better information. The trade-off between the risks and benefits of being tested is “very nuanced, very personal”, Prof Ahmed says, and what is acceptable to one man will be unacceptable to another. Source link #Charity #calls #prostatecancer #testing #highrisk #men Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Wednesday, November 13 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Wednesday, November 13 Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “We’re walking” Here’s a hint that might help you: animals that walk on two legs. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers HUMAN OSTRICH GIBBON KANGAROO PANGOLIN MEERKAT Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Wednesday #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, November 14 (game #256) NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Thursday, November 14 (game #256) Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. Your Strands expert Your Strands expert Marc McLaren Social Links Navigation Global Editor in Chief NYT Strands today (game #256) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Name of the game NYT Strands today (game #256) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. CART CARD CARDS LUMP LUMPS LOCK NYT Strands today (game #256) – hint #3 – spangram What is a hint for today’s spangram? • It’s a mystery NYT Strands today (game #256) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First: top, 3rd column Last: bottom, 5th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #256) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #256, are… PLUM GREEN PEACOCK MUSTARD ORCHID SCARLET SPANGRAM: CLUESUSPECTS My rating: Moderate My score: 2 hints I have mixed feelings about today’s Strands puzzle. On the one hand, it’s a nicely challenging instalment that I had to use my brain (and memory) to solve. On the other, it has a couple of anomalies that slightly detract from the experience. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. The theme here is CLUESUSPECTS, as the spangram has it, and setting aside the fact that it’s called CLUEDO in the ***, I have no issue with it as a concept. However, I am a little miffed about the fact that one of the answers is ORCHID. I’m not an expert, but my online research has led me to understand that ORCHID was only added as a character, in place of Mrs (or Chef) White in 2016, and was removed again in 2023. Given that CLUE/CLUEDO has been around since the 1940s, that seems an oddly short change to reflect here. Plus, Mrs SCARLET was called Mrs SCARLETT with two Ts from 1949 until 1963, then lost the second T in the US, then regained it in 2016. Which is fine – but then you have the SCARLET spelling from one era and the ORCHID character from another. It’s all just a little messy. On the other hand, I’m being petty. This Strands puzzle is fine, though I needed two hints to establish what the concept actually was. Once I had it, it was easy enough to solve, even allowing for the slight weirdness around a couple of the answers. Anyway, it made me want to play it again for the first time in several decades, so that’s no bad thing. How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 13 November, game #255) HUMAN GIBBON KANGAROO PANGOLIN MEERKAT OSTRICH SPANGRAM: BIPEDAL What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #answers #spangram #Thursday #November #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

********** outside Brazil Supreme Court leads to evacuation, 1 *****: officials – National ********** outside Brazil Supreme Court leads to evacuation, 1 *****: officials – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size At least one ********** outside Brazil’s Supreme Court ******* one person and forced the justices and staff to evacuate the building in the capital of Brasilia, police and firefighters said. A police statement said an artifact exploded outside the court without providing more details. Local firefighters confirmed that one person ***** at the scene, but did not identify the victim. The court’s justices and staff safely left the building after the incident, which took place at about 7:30 p.m. local time, shortly after Wednesday’s session finished. Jorge Macedo, a staffer at Brazil’s top court, confirmed the evacuation to The Associated Press. Local media showed footage suggesting two blasts outside the court, with 20 seconds between the first and the second explosions. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. The Supreme Court in recent years has become a target for threats due to its crackdown on the spread of false information amid Brazil’s deep polarization. Story continues below advertisement 1:52 Brazil shuts down access to Elon Musk’s X José Chrispiniano, a spokesman for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said the 79-year-old leader was not in the neighboring presidential palace at the time of the blast. Trending Now Kate Middleton fans slam TV star for ‘vile’ comment about princess’s looks Trump’s appointees have criticized Trudeau, Canada’s border security Police blocked all access to the area where Brazil’s Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace are located. The presidential security bureau was conducting a sweep of the grounds around the presidential palace, local press reported. Earlier, another ********** was heard outside Brazil’s Congress, but it apparently did not cause damages. 2:15 Over 1,200 arrested after pro-Bolsonaro riot at Brazil’s Congress &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #********** #Brazil #Supreme #Court #leads #evacuation #***** #officials #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

12,000-Year-Old Stones Reveal Possible Early Use of Wheel-Like Technology 12,000-Year-Old Stones Reveal Possible Early Use of Wheel-Like Technology In an exciting discovery from *******’s Nahal-Ein Gev II archaeological site, a collection of perforated, donut-shaped stones may represent some of the earliest evidence of wheel-like technology in human history. According to a study published in PLOS ONE by researchers Talia Yashuv and Leore Grosman from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, these 12,000-year-old stones likely served as spindle whorls, essential tools for spinning fibers into yarn. This discovery suggests that early humans may have ***** the groundwork for rotational technology long before the invention of the cartwheel. Spindle Whorls: A Key Step in Rotational Technology Spindle whorls are small, weighted objects that attach to a spindle stick, allowing it to spin more efficiently. These devices, when connected to a spindle, mimic the structure of a wheel and axle by rotating around a central axis, creating a steady motion used to twist fibers like flax or wool into yarn. This ancient technology resembles the more well-known wheel-and-axle system used in transportation but on a smaller scale and with a different purpose. Spinning methods. (a) Manual thigh-spinning [64]; (b) Spindle-and-whorl “supported spinning” [68]; (c) “drop spinning” [66]. The bottom pictures show Yonit Kristal experimenting spinning fibers with replicas of the perforated pebbles, using supported spinning and drop spinning techniques (photographed by Talia Yashuv/PLoS ONE). The perforated stones were discovered within the context of a significant transitional ******* for early humans, as communities shifted towards agriculture and settled life. The find dates to approximately 12,000 years ago, during the Neolithic *******. Researchers believe these spindle whorls might have enabled more productive textile-making processes, helping Neolithic communities to clothe themselves, store goods, and trade. Reconstructing Ancient Spinning Techniques To test their theory, Yashuv and Grosman examined the stones in detail using digital 3D models, analyzing the dimensions of the stones and their perforated centers. These digital reconstructions allowed the researchers to delve into the craftsmanship of early humans, uncovering what may be one of the earliest uses of rotational technology. As part of the study, the researchers created replicas of these ancient spindle whorls to spin fibers and evaluate the stones’ functionality. They found that the whorls, when paired with a spindle, could indeed gather yarn efficiently, supporting their hypothesis that the stones served as spinning tools. Techniques such as “drop spinning” and “supported spinning” were used in experiments, giving the researchers and the public a unique glimpse into prehistoric textile-making practices. The experimental spindles and whorls, the 3D scans of the pebbles and their negative perforations. (Talia Yashuv/PLoS ONE). Prehistoric Craftsmanship and Modern Reflections The stones’ resemblance to early wheel-and-axle systems connects ancient textile production to later technological innovations like the potter’s wheel and, ultimately, the cartwheel. The researchers suggest that this early use of spindle whorls may reflect a larger trend in human history where rotational tools, initially designed for one purpose, paved the way for further advancements that would eventually transform human civilization. “This study not only highlights the innovativeness of prehistoric artisans but also bridges ancient technologies with our present-day capabilities,” Yashuv explains. She adds that by reconstructing and testing these tools, researchers are able to connect modern technology with the resourcefulness of our ancient ancestors, revealing a continuous link between early invention and current-day scientific methods. Implications for Understanding Human Innovation While spindle whorls themselves were not wheels, they reveal a fundamental understanding of controlled rotational movement—an essential concept behind one of humanity’s greatest inventions. The findings open the door for future studies into other small, round, perforated objects that may have been overlooked or misclassified in archaeological contexts. This discovery encourages a reevaluation of how and when humans first began using rotation to enhance their crafts, a practice that would eventually lead to technological milestones shaping the course of human history. For more details on the study, visit PLOS ONE’s website. Top image: Left; Talia Yashuv of the Hebrew University at the excavation site of Nahal Ein Gev II in northern *******. Right; the experimental spindles and whorls. Source: Left, Naftali Hilger; Right, Talia Yashuv /PLoS ONE Source link #12000YearOld #Stones #Reveal #Early #WheelLike #Technology Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Resident Evil 2 remake will shuffle its way to Apple devices in December The Resident Evil 2 remake will shuffle its way to Apple devices in December Now you’ll be able to play one of the greatest zombie survival games of all time on your iPhone or iPad. is headed to the Apple and Mac App Store on December 10. The game won’t be available on every Apple device. You’ll need any iPhone 16 model, an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad or Mac with the M1 chip or later. You’ll also be able to try a small portion of the game before purchasing the full experience. The game comes with “universal purchase” and “cross-progression” for all your eligible devices, according to a Capcom statement. The Resident Evil 2 remake will offer advanced controls for touchscreens and the Mac version. Both Leon and Claire will also have “a new Auto ***** feature” so you can unload your clip into whatever’s shuffling towards you. This is just one of four Resident Evil games available for Apple devices and computers. Capcom and Apple have released versions of and Resident Evil 4 on the App Store and Resident Evil: Village on the App and Mac App Store. Source link #Resident #Evil #remake #shuffle #Apple #devices #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple defends the M4 Mac mini’s power button Apple defends the M4 Mac mini’s power button Apple Apple announced a new wave of product refreshes recently, and not only does the charging port for the Magic Mouse remain on the bottom of the device — the M4 Mac mini’s power button has been moved to the bottom, too. These design choices have riled up plenty of people, but it seems Apple stands by its new power button placement for the Mac mini. In a video posted on ******** social media platform Bilibili, Apple’s Greg Joswiak not only defends the decision but praises it. He calls it a “kind of optimal spot for a power button,” claiming that you just need to “kinda tuck your finger in there and hit the button.” According to our M4 Mac mini review and many others, however, there isn’t enough room to reach the button without lifting the entire PC — and there’s no way to tell which side the button is even on. Things like that don’t just magically stick in everyone’s heads. Joswiak also comments that “you pretty much never use the power button on your Mac,” so even if the button isn’t that easy to access, it seems Apple believes it doesn’t matter that much. Whether people should turn their computers off regularly or not is a topic of much debate — but at least we now know what Apple thinks. Who’s ******** someone somewhere is now going to run a test to find out what happens when you turn a Mac mini off every night versus never turning it off at all. Chris Hagan / Digital Trends In terms of the actual reason for the button placement, Joswiak implies that it’s due to the size reduction. If that’s true, it does seem like a decent trade-off — but some people are pretty convinced that Apple likes to sacrifice practicality just to achieve the most minimal design possible. If you can deal with the power button, it’s worth noting that the power the M4 Mac mini provides is fairly amazing for the price. Source link #Apple #defends #Mac #minis #power #button Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kevin Rudd: Peter Dutton questions PM’s judgement as latest Trump appointment clouds ambassador’s future Kevin Rudd: Peter Dutton questions PM’s judgement as latest Trump appointment clouds ambassador’s future Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese’s decision to send Kevin Rudd to Washington raises questions about his political judgement as the future of Australia’s ambassador to the US ******** under a cloud after Donald Trump’s election win. Mr Dutton said Labor was in a “difficult position” given the past criticisms of Mr Trump from senior figures including Mr Rudd, Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who in 2021 said Mr Trump was prepared to “trash alliances” for his own interests. “I guess the difficulty that the Prime Minister is in at the moment is that if he sacks Kevin Rudd then what does he do with Penny Wong?” Mr Dutton said. “And if he sacks Penny Wong what does he do given he’s made his own disparaging remarks about president-elect Trump?” Mr Dutton and senior colleagues are publicly backing Mr Rudd to continue in the post after his success during Joe Biden’s presidency, where he was credited with shepherding crucial AUKUS legislation through US Congress. But there are questions as to whether Mr Rudd – who once described Mr Trump as a “traitor to the West – can remain an influential player in Washington. Speculation about his future intensified on Wednesday after senior Trump advisor Dan Scavino posted a GIF of sand running through an hourglass in response to a tweet from Mr Rudd congratulating Mr Trump on his election win. The message was widely interpreted as a sign Trump’s inner circle believes the ambassador is on borrowed time in Washington. Mr Scavino was overnight appointed White House deputy chief of staff. Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese’s decision to appoint Mr Rudd in 2023 raised questions about his political judgement. “The Prime Minister has made a number of captain’s calls, and they’ve been at odds with the advice that he’s received from his closest advisors and colleagues. And I suppose that’s a question about the Prime Minister’s judgment,” he said. Senior Labor ministers Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek rallied around Mr Rudd on Thursday morning, insisting he remained the best man for the job. In a subtle message to the incoming Trump administration, Mr Butler said Australia chooses who its ambassador is. “The point I think I’ve tried to make, and many others on both sides of politics here in Australia have made, is that Kevin Rudd is a very serious ambassador,” Mr Butler told RN Breakfast. “We’re very convinced that Kevin is the right person for this job.” Ms Plibersek said Mr Rudd has demonstrated his skill as an ambassador. “He’s widely recognised as one of the world’s preeminent experts on China and particularly on the time of Xi Jinping as leader,” she told Sky News. “We know that people like Malcolm Turnbull, a former ******** prime minister, and other prominent Liberals, including former ambassadors, have said that it’s important for Kevin Rudd to remain as ambassador and it shows Australia’s strength.” Source link #Kevin #Rudd #Peter #Dutton #questions #PMs #judgement #latest #Trump #appointment #clouds #ambassadors #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

All-MLB team 2024: Ohtani, Soto only repeat winners as Bowden picks the best at each position All-MLB team 2024: Ohtani, Soto only repeat winners as Bowden picks the best at each position The league’s 2024 All-MLB team will be announced on Thursday, so it’s the perfect time to make my own picks for the best in baseball at each position. I’ve chosen an All-MLB team for years and it’s always interesting to see how much turnover there is from season to season. Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto were the only players selected this year who also made my team in 2023. Ohtani, of course, is in his own category; he’s the only one to make the team in each of the past three seasons. Also noteworthy: The Dodgers, Yankees and Guardians were the only clubs with two players on my All-MLB team this year. As always, I have included my choices for top owner, front office executive and manager, but I suspect my player selections will generate the most interest and debate. Let me know in the comments section what you think I got right and wrong. Note: Player selections were made based on the regular season; postseason performance was not considered. WAR, OPS+ and ERA+ are according to Baseball Reference. MLB advanced stats and percentiles are according to Statcast. Players William Contreras has become one of the top catchers in the league. (Benny Sieu / Imagn Images) Catcher: William Contreras, Brewers WAR: 4.9 OPS+: 129 William Contreras batted .281/.365/.466 with 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 99 runs scored and 92 RBIs. The 26-year-old catcher won a Silver Slugger Award for the second year in a row and made his second All-Star team. He finished in the 92nd percentile in batting run value, the 94th percentile in average exit velocity and the 91st percentile in hard-hit rate. He graded out above average in framing and pop time as well. Also considered: Salvador Perez, Yainer Diaz First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays WAR: 6.2 OPS+: 166 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slashed .323/.396/.544 with 44 doubles, 30 home runs, 98 runs scored and 103 RBIs. He won his second Silver Slugger Award and made the All-Star team for the fourth consecutive year. He finished in the 98th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG and average exit velocity, and in the 100th percentile in xBA. Also considered: Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, ********** Walker Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks WAR: 6.8 OPS+: 155 Ketel Marte was the MVP of the Diamondbacks this year and should finish third in the National League MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Marte slashed. 292/.372/.560 with 23 doubles, 36 home runs, 93 runs scored, 95 RBIs and seven stolen bases in eight attempts. He made his second All-Star team (but first since 2019) and won his first Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 96th percentile in batting run value, xBA, xSLG and hard-hit percentage; the 97th percentile in xwOBA; and the 98th percentile in average exit velocity. Also considered: Jose Altuve Bobby Witt Jr. had a breakout season this year. (Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images) Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals WAR: 9.4 OPS+: 171 Bobby Witt Jr. is expected to finish second in the ********* League MVP voting behind Aaron Judge. The 24-year-old phenom slashed .332/.389/.588 with 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 125 runs scored, 109 RBIs and 31 steals. He led the majors in hits and batting average. He became the first shortstop in MLB history with two 30-30 seasons (home runs, steals). He made his first All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove Award. He finished in the 99th percentile in batting run value, base running value and outs above average (defensive range). He was in the 100th percentile in xBA and sprint speed. Also considered: Francisco Lindor Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians WAR: 6.8 OPS+: 143 José Ramírez is expected to finish in the top five in the AL MVP voting for the fifth time in his career. (It would be his seventh top-10 MVP finish through his age-31 season.) He batted .279/.335/.537 with 39 doubles, 39 home runs, 114 runs scored, 118 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. He made his fourth consecutive All-Star team (sixth overall) and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 96th percentile in batting run value, the 98th percentile in K% and the 83rd percentile in outs above average. He’s fundamentally sound and always hustles, even on routine groundouts. His intangibles are off the charts. In my opinion, he’s a future Hall of Famer. Also considered: Rafael Devers, Manny Machado, Matt Chapman Right field: Juan Soto, Yankees WAR: 7.9 OPS+: 178 Juan Soto was my preseason pick for AL MVP; he won’t end up winning the award, but he’s expected to be third or fourth in the voting. Soto slashed .288/.419/.569 with 31 doubles, 41 home runs, a league-leading 128 runs scored, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He made his fourth All-Star team and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 100th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA and BB%. He was in the 98th or 99th percentile in xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit rate and chase rate. He’s about to become the highest paid player in MLB history based on net present value. (Note: Soto made my All-MLB team last year as a left fielder with the Padres.) Center field: Aaron Judge, Yankees WAR: 10.8 OPS+: 223 Aaron Judge was the best overall player in MLB this year. He led the league in WAR, home runs (58), RBIs (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392). He made his sixth All-Star team, won his fourth Silver Slugger Award and soon will win his second AL MVP Award. He finished in the 100th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit rate and walk rate. He was in the 83rd percentile in arm value and the 75th percentile in arm strength despite being below average overall defensively in center field. Left field: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers WAR: 4.3 OPS+: 137 Teoscar Hernández had arguably the best year of his career, batting .272/.339/.501 with 32 doubles, 33 home runs, 84 runs scored, 99 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. He made his second All-Star team, won his third Silver Slugger Award and even won the Home Run Derby to boot. He finished in the 90th percentile in batting run value, the 91st percentile in xSLG and the 94th percentile in barrel rate. He was in the 70th percentile in arm strength and the 83rd percentile in sprint speed. He’s a below-average defender in left field but a strong presence in the clubhouse and a player who posts every day with high energy and enthusiasm. Also considered: Jurickson Profar, Riley Greene, Steven Kwan, Jackson Chourio, Bryan Reynolds Shohei Ohtani had quite a year. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images) Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers WAR: 9.2 OPS+: 190 Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third MVP Award and first in the NL. He batted .310/.390/.646 and led the league with 731 plate appearances, 134 runs scored, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and 411 total bases. (He also led the league in OBP, SLG and OPS.) He stole 59 bases in 63 attempts. He opened the 50-50 Club as only he could, with one of the best single-game offensive performances ever. He made his fourth All-Star team and won his third Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 99th percentile in batting run value and xBA and in the 100th percentile in xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage and hard-hit rate. And despite all those amazing numbers and accomplishments, he surely cares most about one I haven’t even mentioned yet: winning his first World Series. (Note: Marcell Ozuna deserves a special mention for his strong season, but Ohtani was the only player “considered” here, for obvious reasons.) Starting pitcher: Tarik Skubal, Tigers WAR: 6.3 ERA+: 170 Tarik Skubal led the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39), strikeouts (228) and FIP (2.50). He made his first All-Star team and soon will win the AL Cy Young Award. Batters hit .197 against his four-seam fastball, .216 against his changeup, .207 against his two-seamer, .169 against his slider and .158 against his knuckle curve. He finished in the 100th percentile in pitching run value, the 99th percentile in fastball run value and the 93rd percentile in offspeed run value. Also considered: Chris ***** Closer: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians WAR: 4.4 ERA+: 674 Emmanuel Clase will soon win the Mariano Rivera Award, given to the best reliever in the AL, and he dominated like Rivera in the regular season. Clase led the AL in games finished (66) and saves (47) for the third consecutive year. He made the All-Star team for the third straight year. He posted an astounding 0.61 ERA, allowing only 39 hits in 74 1/3 innings. He finished in the 98th percentile in pitching run value and the 99th percentile in fastball run value. Also considered: Ryan Helsley, Kirby Yates, Raisel Iglesias Front office and field staff Owner: Mark Walter, Dodgers Mark Walter approved more than a billion dollars in future payroll commitments last offseason. He allowed president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts to make all the baseball decisions without interference. He always provides the necessary resources so this franchise can pursue World Series titles. He deserves more credit for the Dodgers’ success than he’s received. Executive: Andrew Friedman, Dodgers Andrew Friedman not only landed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency but also signed Teoscar Hernández to a one-year “pillow” contract that was a big success for the team and player. However, Friedman’s pivotal in-season moves — including a lopsided three-way trade that netted shortstop/center fielder Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech and his deadline day deal for starter Jack Flaherty — made him the pick here. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and Royals GM J.J. Picollo deserved consideration as well. Manager: Dave Roberts, Dodgers Dave Roberts secured his place as a future Hall of Fame manager with an outstanding postseason, winning his second World Series title in four years. In nine years as manager of the Dodgers, Roberts has an 851-506 record (.627 winning percentage). The Dodgers have made the playoffs in all of those nine seasons and won the NL West in eight of nine. Roberts now has four pennants and two world championships to his name, but this was his best year as a manager as he had 12 starting pitchers spend time on the injured list and still found a way to lead his team to the best regular-season record followed by an outstanding postseason run. So many managers had impressive seasons — including Matt Quatraro, Stephen Vogt, A.J. Hinch, Pat Murphy, Carlos Mendoza and Mike Shildt — but Roberts gets the nod here. He’s one of the game’s best motivators and best human beings as well. My past All-MLB teams 2023 Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Orioles First base: Matt Olson, Braves Second base: Marcus Semien, Rangers Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers Third base: Austin Riley, Braves Right field: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves Center field: Julio Rodríguez, Mariners Left field: Juan Soto, Padres Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Yankees Closer: Félix Bautista, Orioles Owner: Steve Cohen, Mets Executive: Alex Anthopoulos, Braves Manager: Bruce Bochy, Rangers 2022 Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros Shortstop: Carlos Correa, Twins Third base: Manny Machado, Padres Right field: Aaron Judge, Yankees Center field: Mike Trout, Angels Left field: Steven Kwan, Guardians Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels Starting pitcher: Justin Verlander, Astros Closer: Edwin Díaz, Mets Owner: Peter Seidler, Padres Executive: Andrew Friedman, Dodgers Manager: Terry Francona, Guardians (Top image: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic. Photos: Nic Antaya / MLB Photos / Getty Images; Mary DeCicco / MLB Photos / Getty Images; Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images) Source link #AllMLB #team #Ohtani #Soto #repeat #winners #Bowden #picks #position Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

****** Ops 6 BlackCell Trailer Shows Off One Of COD’s Most Impressive Operators Yet ****** Ops 6 BlackCell Trailer Shows Off One Of COD’s Most Impressive Operators Yet Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6’s in-game store gets stocked with all manner of microtransactions tomorrow, November 14, to kick off the game’s Season 1. And included among them is the BlackCell bundle, which features Goliath as its headlining hero. Goliath is one of the most unique Call of Duty operators to date. Goliath has a “molten, crystalized skull” whose armor emits flames. As you can see in the trailer below, Goliath is a menacing force to be reckoned with. BlackCell bundles are Call of Duty’s most expensive in-game offerings, coming in at around $30. For that price, purchasers get a new Operator, along with 20 Battle Pass tier skips, an allotment of 1,110 COD Points to spend on other stuff, and exclusive guns. For the Season 1 BlackCell DLC, this includes the “Boiling Point” ******** rifle that is actually dripping with *****. It also comes with the “Who’s Laughing Now” finishing move in which Goliath’s hyena companion comes in and tears your ****** apart. The bundle also includes a special BlackCell clan tag to show off in lobbies and winner’s cricles. Beyond all of this, BlackCell owners get BlackCell-exclusive skins for Sev, Bayan, Bailey, Carver, Alvarez, and Stone, along with six BlackCell-exclusive ******* blueprints. People who buy the BlackCell DLC can also unlock any single page of the Battle Pass and bypass the normal requirements. What’s more, there are more than 130 rewards that BlackCell owners can unlock throughout Season 1. The new BlackCell bundle goes live on November 14 If you don’t want to spend $30 on the BlackCell bundle, ****** Ops 6’s in-game store will receive many other bundles for the Season 1 launch, including one that turns you into a shark. Check out the gallery below to see more of what’s included during Season 1. November 14 also marks the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone’s new map, Area 99, and it’s also when ****** Ops 6 content integrates into Warzone. Source link #****** #Ops #BlackCell #Trailer #Shows #CODs #Impressive #Operators Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, November 14 (game #1025) Quordle today – hints and answers for Thursday, November 14 (game #1025) Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. Your Quordle expert Your Quordle expert Marc McLaren Social Links Navigation Global Editor in Chief Quordle today (game #1025) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1025) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1. Quordle today (game #1025) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1025) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1025) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • E • T • C • C Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Quordle today (game #1025) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1025, are… Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. I’m on a bit of a roll with Quordle at the moment. Having suffered a couple of losses a few months ago, I now have a 55-game streak and even seemingly tough games are proving no match for my three-start-word-strategy. This, obviously, is the kiss of ****** and I wouldn’t be surprised if my luck changed tomorrow, but for now at least I’m on easy street. EXALT and TASTE are the two potentially difficult words today, on account of the uncommon X and the repeated T respectively. But my start words gave me the other 18 letters I needed, so adding in that X and T was a simple task. ******* challenges no doubt await. How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know. Daily Sequence today (game #1025) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1025, are… Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1024, Wednesday 13 November: YEARN, ELBOW, SURGE, PINEY Quordle #1023, Tuesday 12 November: CHORD, ATTIC, OLIVE, EIGHT Quordle #1022, Monday 11 November: COPSE, REGAL, GRUNT, GOODY Quordle #1021, Sunday 10 November: GROIN, FAULT, FERRY, SUITE Quordle #1020, Saturday 9 November: FLUME, THERE, ATOLL, SANER Quordle #1019, Friday 8 November: DELAY, NAVAL, MOLAR, SWARM Quordle #1018, Thursday 7 November: REPAY, SYNOD, LOATH, PITHY Quordle #1017, Wednesday 6 November: SASSY, DRUID, THREW, SLOSH Quordle #1016, Tuesday 5 November: BEGET, AMUSE, STONY, LOUSY Quordle #1015, Monday 4 November: CHILL, TACKY, GRAPH, PLAZA Quordle #1014, Sunday 3 November: QUIRK, HEART, ELBOW, KNOWN Quordle #1013, Saturday 2 November: SWUNG, FLOOR, PARER, CRUST Quordle #1012, Friday 1 November: FIFTY, GULCH, RECUT, TWEET Quordle #1011, Thursday 31 October: TWINE, RIGID, BELCH, AMEND Quordle #1010, Wednesday 30 October: SLOOP, BRINE, BROOD, FLUID Quordle #1009, Tuesday 29 October: CLIFF, BURNT, SNAKY, POLYP Quordle #1008, Monday 28 October: MACAW, LIEGE, GOUGE, CARGO Quordle #1007, Sunday 27 October: STUNG, CLOUT, SOWER, BASIS Quordle #1006, Saturday 26 October: DUCHY, CANNY, BLOCK, SMART Quordle #1005, Friday 25 October: PRANK, EXIST, RUDDY, PICKY Source link #Quordle #today #hints #answers #Thursday #November #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 target, outlook on Trump-Musk DOGE cuts: Market Domination S&P 500 target, outlook on Trump-Musk DOGE cuts: Market Domination US stocks (^DJI, ^IXIC, ^GSPC) are reacting to this morning’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) print, which saw prices rising in line with economist projections for October. Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton tackle the day’s biggest market stories on today’s Market Domination. Oppenheimer Asset Management chief investment strategist John Stoltzfus outlines the catalysts he is seeing that could push the S&P 500 (^GSPC) to 6,200 by 2024’s end. Citi chief US economist Andrew Hollenhorst and Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy professor Gautam Mukunda both comment on what President-elect Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative could look like under the helm of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. Other top trending stocks on the Yahoo Finance platform include Rocket Lab USA (RKLB), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), Amazon (AMZN), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Caterpillar (CAT), and Snowflake (SNOW). This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan. Source link #target #outlook #TrumpMusk #DOGE #cuts #Market #Domination Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce’s Kansas City-area homes burglarized last month Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce’s Kansas City-area homes burglarized last month The homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized last month, the team confirmed Wednesday. Officers responded to a reported burglary shortly after midnight on Oct. 6 at Mahomes’ estate in Belton, Mo., according to a police report from the Cass County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Office. Mahomes is not identified in the report, but the address listed matches public records for the three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback. There was no forced entry, according to the police report, which characterizes the offense as first-degree burglary. A spokesperson for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Mahomes addressed the incident Wednesday, calling it “frustrating” and “disappointing.” “I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing,” he told reporters. “But obviously something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself.” A day after the reported burglary at Mahomes’ home, another reported burglary occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 at a residence in Leawood, Kan., believed to belong to Kelce, according to a Leawood Police Department offense report. The Chiefs beat the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium in a “Monday Night Football” matchup that night with pop star Taylor Swift, Kelce’s girlfriend, in attendance. The police report for the incident indicated $20,000 in cash was taken and there was $1,000 worth of damage to a rear door. A Leawood Police Department spokesperson declined to provide additional details, saying the department does not release victim information except in cases of fatalities, crashes and homicides. TMZ first reported the news of the reported burglaries at Mahomes’ and Kelce’s homes. — Nate Taylor contributed to this report. (Photo: David Eulitt / Getty Images) Source link #Chiefs #Patrick #Mahomes #Travis #Kelces #Kansas #Cityarea #homes #burglarized #month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Activision Cracking Down on Call of Duty VPN Users Activision Cracking Down on Call of Duty VPN Users Activision’s Team RICOCHET has published changes on ****** Ops 6 and Warzone to combat account boosting and VPN users. For the longest time, gamers worldwide have accused streamers of abusing ‘VPN lobbies’ to get better clips while playing in regions with a less talented pool of players. In the latest round of changes, RICOCHET has confirmed how it’s tackling that practice, and while it’s not eradicating the use of VPNs, it’s ‘cutting down’ VPN ******. Wherever You Will Go Using a VPN in Call of Duty has been a thing for several years. Typically, players will use a VPN to get away from highly competitive regions like the ******* Kingdom, North America, and some ********* countries. It reached a point where some VPN providers were marketing their products directly at Call of Duty players trying to circumvent ‘tougher lobbies’. In a recent update, it was confirmed that Team RICOCHET (and Treyarch) has deployed two new changes: Enhanced AFK detections to battle against account boosting Adjusting ping thresholds to require players to play matches in their region to cut down on VPN ****** If you’ve got awful internet, then the latter change might impact you regardless of whether you have a VPN active or not. One thing that users insist Activision needs to address is the number of players taking part in the practice of ‘2 boxing’. ****** Ops 6 is yet to have a serious issue with cheaters, so something is being done right at Team RICOCHET. In the latter months of its lifecycle, Modern Warfare III was plagued by cheaters, particularly the Ranked Play platform. In the coming days, Ranked Play will hit ****** Ops 6, so it could just be a matter of time before this game also suffers. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that World of Warcraft is getting player housing Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Activision #Cracking #Call #Duty #VPN #Users Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Daisy the AI granny is here to answer calls from scammers and waste their time Daisy the AI granny is here to answer calls from scammers and waste their time O2 has created an AI granny that will trap scammers in meandering conversations to waste as much of their time as possible Daisy is trained on real anonymized scammer data in partnership with well-known scambaiter Jim Browning of the YouTube channel Tech Support Scams New survey reveals that 7 in 10 (71%) of Brits would like to get their own back against scammers that have tried to trick them or their loved ones. You might not have thought it possible, but grannies will be leading the AI revolution and fighting back against scammers. We’re talking about Daisy (also written dAIsy), the AI granny created by O2 to trap scammers into a long and futile conversation, so they waste as much time as possible on the phone as they try to get her to input her bank details into her computer. If you listen to dAIsy working her AI-magic on scammers in the video below you’ll be able to hear that she is indistinguishable from a human and responds to the scammers by playing into people’s preconceptions about senior citizens not being comfortable with technology. Scammers become increasingly frustrated as they try and try to get her to enter a fake web address into her browser, or enter her personal information, only to have to endure long and meandering conversations that ultimately lead to nowhere. AI Scambaiters: O2 creates AI Granny to waste scammers’ time – YouTube Watch On Thanks Grandma Daisy isn’t an AI feature you can add to your personal phone account, rather it is a phone number that O2 ******* Media has managed to get added to a list of online ‘mugs lists’ used by scammers targeting *** consumers. dAIsy is available to answer the phone to scammers no matter what time they call, 24/7. Her goal is to keep the scammers on the phone for as long as possible so that they have less time to ply their treacherous trade against real people. Murray Mackenzie, Director of ****** at ******* Media O2, said: “We’re committed to playing our part in stopping the scammers, investing in everything from firewall technology to block out scam texts to AI-powered spam call detection to keep our customers safe. But crucially, Daisy is also a reminder that no matter how persuasive someone on the other end of the phone may be, they aren’t always who you think they are.” O2 ******* Media has set up a webpage offering tips, tricks, and advice on dealing with scammers. A recent survey by the company revealed that 7 in 10 (71%) of Brits would like to get revenge on scammers who have tried to trick them, or their loved ones. But why waste your own time when a convincing chatbot with all the time can help ****** back against scammers? You might also like… Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Source link #Daisy #granny #answer #calls #scammers #waste #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GOP senators brush off concerns about Thune’s relationship with Trump GOP senators brush off concerns about Thune’s relationship with Trump John Thune triumphed in his campaign for GOP leader by laser-focusing on two things: *********** senators and mending his relationship with Donald Trump. He spent the last few months donating heavily to colleagues and joining them on their campaigns. He spoke frequently with Trump directly, including after the general election last week. And he ignored a ************* and MAGA-world pressure campaign to elect Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) as the GOP leader. “I’ve been focused on my colleagues,” Thune said. He narrowly defeated Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on the second ballot by a vote of 29-24. Scott fell on the first ballot. His ability to navigate his way to victory in this political environment is an early signal of how Thune plans to try to balance leading a historically bipartisan institution and appeasing Trump when Republicans control all branches of the government. An institutionalist like his predecessor, current ********* Leader Mitch McConnell, Thune has worked to stay in touch with Trump while keeping his focus heavily on the senators who will actually keep him in power. Senators ultimately backing Thune indicates they remain interested in holding tight to their congressional powers, even as they look to greenlight much of Trump’s agenda — many Thune backers cited holding firm to separation of powers as one of their motivations heading into the vote. Still, it was important to senators that Thune ended his rift with Trump, after a series of public criticisms against the former president. Thune said after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol ******* that Trump’s actions were “inexcusable.” He was also the first member of congressional GOP leadership to call on Trump to withdraw from the presidential race after the infamous Access Hollywood tape was made public. But even ************* senators aren’t worried about that history, at least right now. “J.D. Vance once referred to him as *******, and he’s vice president,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told POLITICO of Thune’s past criticism of Trump. “So, one thing I know about Donald Trump: he’s got that sort of jocular, masculine ability to let the past be the past and embrace and pray in the middle of the 50-yard line after the game.” Cramer, a Thune backer, called Trump “not an irrelevant factor, but not the main factor” for most senators’ votes on the leadership slate. “They’re in a good place with each other,” added Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who’s spent recent time with Trump and is a Thune ally. “There’s no rift between them. There are no concerns about their relationship at all.” Still, there are major potential areas of disagreement looming over the next two years, particularly the fate of the Senate filibuster. The president-elect has at times called to abolish the 60-vote threshold, including pushing hard on then-Majority Leader McConnell during Trump’s first term in the White House, while Thune has publicly confirmed he plans to keep the current threshold in place. And there are still moderates in the chamber who could be a thorn in Thune’s side on nominees or other ************* priorities. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) have been vocally outspoken against the president at times. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, is still in the chamber. Trump, in Washington for meetings with the House *********** conference and President Joe Biden, did not immediately comment following the approval of the new Senate GOP leadership slate. But Thune and Trump have spoken regularly over the past few months, including a phone call after Thune won on Wednesday. “[Thune] said over and over and over and over that he was going to make President Trump’s agenda his agenda, and so I feel good about that,” prominent ************* Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who supported Cornyn, said after the vote. Multiple senators pointed out that Thune’s voting record aligned with Trump’s more than 90 percent of the time during the president-elect’s first term in office, according to a FiveThirtyEight average, a point that was underscored during a candidate forum Tuesday and during nomination speeches Wednesday. “President Trump and Sen. Thune I think will do a great job working together,” said Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). “Sen. Thune is ready for change, and he knows that America is expecting results.” That voting record is not reflective of some of Thune’s prior dust-ups with Trump, though. In addition to comments on Jan. 6 and the Access Hollywood tapes, Thune more recently backed Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) initially in the 2024 *********** primary before shifting to Trump after the South Carolinian withdrew from the race. Trump even sought to recruit a primary challenger against Thune for his 2022 reelection bid, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Despite that history and their losses, Cornyn and Scott both expressed support for Thune’s leadership and vowed Republicans would stick together to enact their agenda. “There’s no division,” Cornyn insisted. “I think it’s really important for our conference to stay together, to be as effective as we can be. … It was a secret ballot so, I don’t think any of us know exactly who voted for who.” That dynamic is something Thune tacitly acknowledged after the vote, vowing to “be a leader who serves the entire *********** conference.” “This *********** team is *******. We are on one team,” Thune said. “We have a mandate from the ********* people.” Eleanor Mueller, Meredith Lee Hill and Caitlin Emma contributed to this report. Source link #GOP #senators #brush #concerns #Thunes #relationship #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How AI is helping brands identify consumer trends faster How AI is helping brands identify consumer trends faster Supermarkets are a hotbed of competition. The aisles are lined with thousands of products vying for your attention and money, so how does a new player stand out in the crowd? The answer may sit with artificial intelligence. Supermarkets are a hotbed of competition. The aisles are lined with thousands of products vying for your attention and money, so how does a new player stand out in the crowd? This is where $88 billion market research industry comes into play. Traditionally, this would involve hands-on surveys of small groups of people, but the results are not fool proof – often only seeing trends in the near term, which can be a problem when launching a new product can take one to two years. But companies like AI Palette are looking to use new technologies like artificial intelligence to transform the market. “The challenge that they always have is that consumer preferences are changing faster than ever before, and they are not able to understand and predict what will be popular one year or two years from now,” Somsubhra Gan Choudhuri, Co-founder and CEO, AI Palette, told CNBC Tech: The Edge. So how does AI Palette use large language models to predict trends? Watch the video above to find out. Source link #helping #brands #identify #consumer #trends #faster Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Heisman straw poll: Cam Ward plummets so … are the quarterbacks actually out of it? Heisman straw poll: Cam Ward plummets so … are the quarterbacks actually out of it? The Athletic’s Heisman straw poll is grasping at, um, ideas. Throwing stuff at the wall. Darts, even. Jaxson Dart, welcome. The Ole Miss quarterback makes his debut this week with a second-place vote after throwing for 199 yards and running for 50 on a **** ankle in a program-defining win over Georgia. Bryson Daily, welcome. The Army quarterback also appears, grabbing a pair of third-place votes after running for 153 yards and two touchdowns at North Texas to keep his team unbeaten and in the College Football Playoff race. That makes five quarterbacks among the nine players who received votes this week, and that sounds about right. Except that none of them rate as serious contenders for the award, not based on our voting, not at this point. You’ve got to go back to 2015, the year Alabama running back Derrick Henry won it over Stanford running back ********** McCaffrey, to find a pre-Thanksgiving pool of contenders without a quarterback making a serious push. The only other non-quarterback winner since then was Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith in 2020, and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was in there until the end (ultimately losing 1,856 to 1,187). We’re on the cusp of a third non-quarterback winner in the past 10 years. And for this era of football? That’s a pretty good decade for non-quarterbacks. Miami’s upset loss at Georgia Tech did serious damage in the straw poll to Miami quarterback Cam Ward’s momentum. He was the one signal caller hanging with Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter — the poll leader by a growing margin — and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. That loss dropped Ward from 41 points to 13, from 25 ballots to 10, from third place to fourth, behind Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel (one first-place vote, 14 points). The Athletic follows the same voting protocol as that of the Heisman: 3 points for a first-place vote, 2 points for a second-place vote, 1 point for a third-place vote. Hunter overtook first place a week ago and had a slim 57-51 lead over Jeanty, but that’s up to a margin of 69-54. Hunter went up from 12 first-place votes to 18, and Jeanty went down from 11 first-place votes to eight — even after Jeanty ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns against Nevada. Player Team Pos 1st 2nd 3rd Pts Travis Hunter WR/CB 18 7 1 69 Ashton Jeanty RB 8 13 4 54 Dillon Gabriel QB 1 1 9 14 Cam Ward QB 0 3 7 13 Kurtis Rourke QB 0 2 2 6 Bryson Daily QB 0 0 2 2 Jaxson Dart QB 0 1 0 2 Kaleb Johnson RB 0 0 1 1 Tyler Warren TE 0 0 1 1 Hunter had nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in a comeback win at Texas Tech, and he reminded everyone of his dominance on defense with an acrobatic interception, taken off the board by a Colorado offsides penalty. The Buffs are in a serious hunt for the Big 12 title — and a top-four seed and College Football Playoff bye that would likely come with it — and that should be a major boost for Hunter. A boost completely unforeseen just a few weeks ago. Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke is the fifth quarterback in the poll, and he gained slightly from last week, sitting in fifth place with 6 points. Rourke and the Hoosiers were their dominant selves Saturday in the first half of a win over Michigan, then sputtered for the first time all season and held on for a 20-15 win. A gaudy stat line and rout would have helped him more, of course. He does have Nov. 23 at Ohio State ahead. Daily has Nov. 23 against Notre Dame. Gabriel has an expected Big Ten title game. Ward has a hopeful ACC title game. And Dart is like most quarterbacks in the SEC in that it’s possible he could play in the league title game. Opportunities are scarce. The quarterbacks are about done. So The Athletic voters are throwing names around. How about Penn State tight end Tyler Warren? He got a third-place vote, just like Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and those two come in tied for eighth. BYU kicker Will “Big Game Bill” Ferrin got an honorable mention after his clutch performance to keep BYU unbeaten at the expense of rival Utah. Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins was under consideration for a vote, didn’t get it, but he deserves a mention, too. Plenty of others have earned that, at least. How about Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson? Or Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, a guy who got a lot of votes early, after what he did to LSU? The pool of players with a shot at New York may be expanding. The list of true contenders appears to be down to two, on its way to one. (Photo of Ashton Jeanty: Loren Orr / Getty Images) Source link #Heisman #straw #poll #Cam #Ward #plummets #quarterbacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Blizzard has released remastered versions of Warcraft 1 and 2 Blizzard has released remastered versions of Warcraft 1 and 2 Blizzard has simultaneously announced and released “fully remastered versions” of Warcraft 1 and 2. The titles were revealed during an ongoing Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct stream. “These remasters have brand new hand drawn visuals that capture the original art style from each game, and you’ll be able to swap between the original graphics and the remastered versions in real time,” said Brad Chan, senior manager of Warcraft RTS. Blizzard has “added modern controls” for Warcraft 1, while both games include various UI and UX improvements. The studio is also releasing Warcraft 3: Reforged Patch 2.0, which “overhauls the environments and lighting and revamps the user interface”, according to Chan. “In addition, we are uprezzing all classic Warcraft 3 assets to HD.” All three titles are available as part of the Warcraft Remastered Battle Chest, which is priced at $39.99. Source link #Blizzard #released #remastered #versions #Warcraft Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]