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The best Apple Watch in 2024 The best Apple Watch in 2024 Apple sells just three models of smartwatches — the Series 10, the Ultra 2 and the SE — and they fall pretty neatly into the categories of flagship, premium and budget, respectively. But if you’re wondering whether the adventure-ready features of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are worth the price bump, or if the just-the-basics tools of the Apple Watch SE will be enough, Engadget is here to help. We’ve been testing and reviewing Apple wearables since the beginning and we have lots to say about them. Ultimately we think the Apple Watch Series 10 is the best Apple Watch for most people — in fact, it’s our pick for the best smartwatch you can buy from any brand — but read on to ***** deeper into the chips, sensors, displays and fitness tracking features each Apple Watch model offers. What to look for in an Apple Watch Chips and sensors The new Apple Watch Series 10 has an S10 SiP (system in a package) chip with a four-core Neural Engine. The Ultra 2 was updated last September with Apple’s S9 SiP. Both chips allow for on-device processing of Siri requests as well as dictation, translation, automatic workout detection and the Double Tap gesture that lets you answer calls or stop an alarm by tapping your thumb and forefinger together twice. It also enables faster machine learning performance for interpreting sensor data, speech recognition and performing other “thinking” tasks. The Apple Watch SE still relies on the S8 SiP, which was also used in the Series 8 and the original Ultra. Both the Series 10 and Ultra 2 can take an ECG and have temperature sensors to help track ovulation and both support fall-detection and ******-detection as a safety feature. All three models have a compass and altimeter. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an onboard **** siren, as well as ***** features like a depth gauge. Water features were added to the Apple Watch Series 10, but with a shallower depth rating (just six meters, as compared to 40 meters on the Ultra). The Ultra includes sensors to measure blood oxygen, but a recent patent dispute has forced Apple to disable that health feature on new models sold in the US and the hardware isn’t present in the new flagship model. All three models support near field communication (NFC), the chip that enables Apple Pay. Once you set it up using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, you can pay for stuff at any store that accepts Apple Pay, even if you don’t have your phone with you. Displays and case sizes The wide-angle OLED display on the Apple Watch 10 lets you see the always-on display from more angles. The Ultra 2 also has an always-on display, but you’ll have to lift your wrist to tell time or read notifications on the SE. The SE can reach a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, the Series 10 can get as bright as 2,000 and the Ultra 2 hits 3,000 nits. Both higher-end screens can dim to a single nit, making them less distracting in the dark. The Apple Watch Series 10 came with a new finish and case material — a glossy anodized jet ****** finish on the aluminum model and the option for a titanium case. The Ultra 2 also got a new finish, satin ******, that utilizes a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process to apply the ******. As for case sizes, the SE is available in 40 or 44mm. The Series 10 increased in size from the prior generation and now has a choice of a 42 or 46mm case. The Ultra 2 comes in just one size measuring 49mm. You also get the opportunity to pick the length and style for watch bands. The SE and Series 10 come in small/medium or medium/large and the Ultra 2 gives you the choice of small, medium or large. Battery life Since it’s the largest wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sports the biggest battery and can last for a claimed 36 hours on a charge. That number jumps up to 72 hours if you turn on low power mode. Both the Apple Watch 10 and the SE are rated by Apple to go for 18 hours before they need a visit to the charger, and longer when using battery saver mode. The Series 10 (left) and Series 9 (right). (Cherlynn Low for Engadget) Fitness features Believe it or not, all three Apple Watches have similar fitness tracker chops. The Activity app uses three “rings” to keep tabs on how much you’re moving in a day: The Move ring tracks your active calories; the Exercise ring monitors the minutes you’ve spent walking, running, doing yoga and so on; and the Stand ring tells you how many hours in a day you’ve stood up and moved around for at least one minute. Different internal sensors detect those activities, for example the accelerometer senses when you’re moving versus sitting still, and the optical heart rate sensor judges how hard you’re working out and how many calories you’ve burned. You can set your goals for each ring and you’ll earn badges and animations when you hit them. The Workout app lets you start and track an exercise session. The sensors can even auto-detect when you’re working out, tapping your wrist to suggest you track the activity. Apple Watches will integrate with Apple’s Fitness+ subscription, displaying real time heart rate and calorie ***** data on your iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV 4K as you take a class. Fitness+ also includes audio-guided walks and runs with just your watch and Bluetooth earbuds. All three models support the Activity and Workout apps for free. The Fitness+ app also works with all Apple Watches, but costs $10 per month. New features enabled with watchOS 11 include Training Load that gauges your body’s response to workouts over time, which could help athletes better prepare for events like marathons. Users can also now skip a day (or more) from fitness tracking metrics when they need to rest or aren’t feeling up to the challenge of closing their rings. Siri You can get the weather, start a workout, identify a song and dictate a text just by asking Siri. All Apple Watch models support the Raise to Speak feature that bypasses the need to say “Hey Siri” and will instead listen for your request when you lift your wrist near your mouth. Both the Series 10 and the Ultra 2 utilize onboard processing of Siri requests. That means executing simple requests like starting workouts and timers are quicker, as they won’t need to access external networks. However, requests like sending texts or getting weather forecasts still need to communicate with Wi-Fi or cellular, so you’ll need to have your phone nearby if you have a GPS-only model. Price There’s a $550 difference between the cheapest and most expensive Apple Watches. For $250, you can get the 40mm Apple Watch SE with GPS-only connectivity; adding cellular connectivity ups the price by $50. The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for the 42mm, non-cellular model in aluminum and goes as high as $749 for the 46mm titanium case (which is only available with GPS and cellular). The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has just one price: $799 for a titanium 49mm case with both GPS and cellular power. Best Apple Watch in 2024 Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S10 SiP | Sensors: ECG, heart rate, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection | Display: Always‑on Retina wide-angle OLED display, max 2,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case size: 42mm or 46mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10 Last year, the big news for Apple’s flagship wearable was the new Double Tap gesture. This time, the most notable update for the Apple Watch Series 10 comes on the outside, with a ******* screen matched with a thinner overall design. Instead of 41 and 45mm case sizes, you can now get the watch in either 42mm or 46mm. And, thanks to a redesigned metal back that integrates the antenna into the housing, it’s now just 9.7mm thick, a full millimeter thinner than the Series 9. In her review, Engadget’s Cherlynn Low said the new watch was noticeably thinner and lighter, though that didn’t make a huge difference in comfort between the new version and its predecessor. The larger screen did make some things clearer, such as road names in Maps. The wide-angle OLED display also made it easier to read the face when not looking directly at it. The Series 10 delivers more powerful speaker output, too. Cherlynn noted that the speakers are probably not something you’ll want to rely on for extended listening, and they definitely work better in quiet environments. But if you need to hear a song or a bit of a podcast at some point, your watch will be better equipped to do so. Another hardware upgrade comes with the addition of a depth gauge. It’s not meant for diving, as the gauge is only rated to six meters, but it could give you insights when snorkeling or swimming. The watch now supports sleep apnea detection, a condition that’s seriously under-diagnosed. While it’s not intended for people who already know they have the disorder, it could help identify certain breathing patterns during sleep that should be checked out by a doctor. That feature will also be available on the Apple Watch Series 9 with watchOS 11. Battery life didn’t change drastically — Apple still promises an 18-hour stretch per charge — and that comparatively short span has always been our biggest complaint with the watch. The charging speed, however, did get a boost. You should now be able to get your watch up to 80 percent in just a half an hour using a fast-charge-certified charger. Of course, the new features aren’t the only reason to buy an Apple Watch Series 10. It just happens to be the best companion you can get for an iPhone. The watch will keep you on top of your notifications (presenting fewer distractions than your phone), while the activity tracking and fitness features can help keep you motivated, if that’s something you’re into. It can also remind you to take your meds, track your mood and log/predict your ******* depending on how you set things up. Ultimately, we think the Apple Watch Series 10 is a great buy for anyone with an iPhone who is either new to Apple Watches or coming from a Series 8 or older. If you’ve got a Series 9, you can probably wait on an upgrade. ***** Thinner and lighter build Potentially helpful sleep apnea detection The best companion for an iPhone Useful new water sports features ***** Still only has an 18-hour battery life $349 at Amazon Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S8 SiP | Sensors: Heart rate, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection | Display: Retina display, max 1,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 18 hours | Case size: 40mm or 44mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch SE Yet again, Apple didn’t come out with a new generation of the Apple Watch SE when it announced the Apple Watch 10 in September. A new plastic version is reportedly in the works, but for now, this $250 smartwatch is Apple’s budget option. Cherlynn also reviewed the SE when it came out in 2022, calling it “the best smartwatch for the money.” It uses the same chip as the original Ultra and the Series 8, and in our review of the new Series 9, Cherlynn “barely noticed a difference in performance” compared to the older Apple Watch. That said, there are some trade-offs. You won’t get an always-on display, blood oxygen monitoring or a temperature sensor. The SE also can’t support the new Double Tap feature and requires your phone to be nearby for Siri requests (if you don’t have a cellular-enabled model). Materials-wise, the SE face is covered in Ion-X glass, which is less robust than the sapphire crystal on either the stainless steel Series 9 or the Ultra 2. But the SE has more in common with its pricier sibling than not, including ****** detection, heart rate monitoring, emergency calling, and 50 meters of water resistance. Though the screen isn’t quite as bright as the pricier models, we thought it was crisp and easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The fitness tracking is accurate, the design is lightweight and comfortable and the processor is snappy. If you’re looking for a starter smartwatch and don’t mind the few missing features, the SE is still the way to go. ***** Affordable price Great health and fitness tracking Extends the utility of an iPhone ***** Lacks blood oxygen and temperature sensors Doesn’t support Double Tap No always-on display $149 at Amazon Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget Chip: S9 SiP | Sensors: ECG, heart rate, temperature, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, fall/****** detection, depth gauge | Display: Always-on Retina display, max 3,000 nits brightness | Battery life: 36 hours | Case size: 49mm Read our full review of the Apple Watch Ultra Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at the same as the Series 9 but, the following year, we did not get an Apple Watch Ultra 3. , Apple announced a new satin ****** colorway created with a “diamond-like carbon physical vapor deposition” process that you’ll sometimes find used on high-end ****** blades. Engadget’s Cherlynn Low took the previous model Ultra out on a hike to take advantage of its outdoor-specific features and the Backtrack function actually saved her and our video producer Brian from taking an unintended detour in the wrong direction. The function lives within the Compass app and lets you set waypoints such as marking the parking lot before you set out. There’s an onboard siren that’s loud enough to alert passersby or emergency personnel to your whereabouts if you should need it. For water-based activities, the Ultra 2 packs diving features that can measure water temperature, ***** duration and gauge up to 40 meters of depth. For workouts closer to home, the dual-frequency GPS gives you more accurate route tracking and pace calculations. And the action button can be programmed to start a workout, control the stopwatch, trigger the flashlight, set a waypoint and more. Just note that we found it pretty easy to accidentally trigger the action button when trying to press the crown, so it may take a little practice. The S9 SiP chip enables Double Tap and on-device Siri processing. The screen has been bumped up to 3,000 nits and while we didn’t get to take the new model on a hike, the original at 2,000 nits was plenty bright enough in direct sunlight. We like how the new Modular Ultra watch face makes great use of the oversized screen (though that’s also available on the original AWU.) The battery life ******** the same at 36 hours, and we got about three days of moderate use out of the Ultra before needing a recharge. The low power mode is particularly impressive, squeezing out many extra hours from a near-empty watch. ***** Robust build Specialized features for outdoor activities Large screen displays a lot of info ***** Expensive Large case can feel bulky on smaller wrists $799 at Amazon How we tested Apple Watches Engadget has been reviewing Apple Watches since the first one came out in 2015. Since then, we’ve tested every subsequent model Apple has released, including the Ultra and SE models, spending at least a few days or even a couple weeks with one strapped to our wrists. During that time, we run, hit the gym, go on hikes and wear it while sleeping, all the while gauging how it tracks various metrics, integrates with the iPhone and performs every other trick Apple claims its smartwatches can do. Since we also review smartwatches from other companies, such as Samsung and Google, our editors can compare Apple Watches not just to previous generations, but also to other wearables on the market. Source link #Apple #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former chief medical officer had nightmares after spy poisoning Former chief medical officer had nightmares after spy poisoning PA Media Dame Sally Davies said she had worried about someone picking up Novichok from the moment she knew “Russian agents had been involved” in the incident The former chief medical officer for England said she had experienced nightmares about someone picking up discarded nerve agent after the poisoning of a former spy. Sergei Skirpal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned by Novichok in Salisbury in March 2018. The attempted murders were followed by the ****** of Dawn Sturgess, 44, in July of that year, after she was exposed to the chemical ******* which was left in a discarded perfume bottle. The inquiry into Ms Sturgess’ ****** heard how Dame Sally Davies had worried about someone picking up Novichok from the moment she knew “Russian agents had been involved” in the incident. Dawn Sturgess ***** after being exposed to Novichok in July 2018 In her witness statement, read to the inquiry by Francesca Whitelaw KC, Dame Sally said she had been concerned “about the disposal by the foreign agents of any residual nerve agent”. She also said she had raised her concern during at least one meeting, before becoming reassured that the police were hunting for a discarded vial, including by the river in Salisbury, and by the Environment Agency, who would “monitor the unusual numbers of ***** fish appearing in the river”. “This led to me later saying publicly that no one should pick anything up which they had not dropped,” she added. Dame Sally said she had later attended a meeting where concerns about the statement and whether it would “panic the public” were raised. ‘No cover up’ She said the discussion had ended with the agreement that she was independent and experienced and could say what she felt mattered, but she added the only record of her making this statement is her own statement in September when she referred to advice she gave in March. However, the counsel for Ms Sturgess’ family, Jesse Nicholls, said Dame Sally had said she had given the advice publicly, “because that obviously should have happened but it didn’t”. She replied: “No, you are trying to suggest there was a cover-up, there was no cover-up.” The inquiry also discussed a letter, dated 16 March, from Dame Sally to Sir Jeremy Heywood which said that on March 7, at the request of No 10 and the Metropolitan Police, she had issued a statement alongside Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley announcing the risk to public health as a result of the incident was “low, based on the current evidence available”. The inquiry continues. Source link #chief #medical #officer #nightmares #spy #poisoning Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vinyl and plush figure company Youtooz is teasing a PlayStation collaboration Vinyl and plush figure company Youtooz is teasing a PlayStation collaboration Youtooz, a brand known for making statues of popular online content creators, has released a teaser image of four upcoming PlayStation-themed statues featuring Kratos, Sly Cooper, Astro, and Ratchet. The images were teased in a social media post that shows the four characters back-lit by the four PlayStation controller symbols. “Live in your own world, play in ours @PlayStation,” read the post. The brand has collaborated with other gaming properties in recent years. A Baldur’s Gate 3 collection is now available for pre-order, with plush characters retailing for $29.99 and statues also costing $29.99. It seems that the PlayStation collaboration will feature just statues to begin with. No release details on the four characters are currently known. live in your own world, play in ours @PlayStation pic.twitter.com/xga25lrzlo — youtooz (@youtooz) November 8, 2024 Earlier this year, Sony released a new line of collectable PlayStation action figures featuring some of its biggest franchises. Created in collaboration with toy company Spin Master, The Shapes Collection is a line of collectibles based on PlayStation Studios franchises including **** of War, Horizon and Ghost of Tsushima. “The highly detailed figures deliver the interactive storytelling element of these titles in an all-new way, extending the gaming experience from digital to physical,” said Grace Chen, vice president, global marketing at PlayStation. A Nendoroid figure of Astro, which was originally released in 2021, is also being re-released next year. Source link #Vinyl #plush #figure #company #Youtooz #teasing #PlayStation #collaboration Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Starving ballerina’s mum sobs telling neglect trial her own dad forced her and girl onto scales, mocking both Starving ballerina’s mum sobs telling neglect trial her own dad forced her and girl onto scales, mocking both The mother of a Floreat teenager hospitalised for severe malnourishment has broken down in court, revealing her own dad had lampooned them both while weighing them. Source link #Starving #ballerinas #mum #sobs #telling #neglect #trial #dad #forced #girl #scales #mocking Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other Ken Griffin is the founder and CEO of Citadel, the most profitable hedge fund in history as measured by net gains since inception, according to LCH Investments. That makes him an excellent case study, and investors can track which stocks Citadel buys and sells using Forms 13F filed quarterly with the SEC. Interestingly, while Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) play important roles in the burgeoning artificial intelligence economy, Griffin bought one stock and sold the other throughout the first half of 2024, as detailed below. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » In the first quarter, Griffin sold 2.4 million shares of Nvidia, reducing his stake by 68%. He also bought 352,453 shares of Amazon, increasing his position by 6%. In the second quarter, Griffin sold 9.2 million shares of Nvidia, reducing his stake by 79%. He also bought 1.1 million shares of Amazon, increasing his position by 17%. Importantly, excluding options contracts and index funds, Amazon was the largest position in Citadel’s portfolio as June 30. So, Griffin clearly has a great deal of confidence in the company. Here’s what investors should know. Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) are the gold standard in data center accelerators, particularly where artificial intelligence (AI) is concerned. Indeed, Forrester Research recently wrote, “Without Nvidia’s GPUs, modern AI wouldn’t be possible.” But the company has a durable competitive moat because it pairs superior GPUs with an unparalleled ecosystem of software development tools. To elaborate, Nvidia in 2006 introduced CUDA, a programming model that enables developers to write GPU-accelerated applications. The ecosystem has since expanded to include over 400 code libraries and 600 pretrained models that simplify software development across domains ranging from data science and machine learning to scientific simulation and augmented reality. More recently, Nvidia has integrated CUDA into subscription software and cloud services. Its AI Enterprise platform lets software developers build, deploy, and manage AI applications that span recommender systems to autonomous robots. Likewise, DGX Cloud is a full-stack service that brings together the supercomputing infrastructure and software businesses need for AI development workflows. Nvidia looked strong in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended in July 2024. Sales increased 122% to $30 billion and non-GAAP net income jumped 152% to $0.68 per dilute share. Investors have good reason to believe that momentum will continue. The production ramp of Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell GPU started in the current quarter, and demand is so strong that the chips are already sold out for 12 months. Story Continues On that note, Wall Street expects Nvidia’s adjusted earnings to row at 51% annually through fiscal 2026, which ends in January 2026. That makes the current valuation of 66.5 times adjusted earnings look reasonable, but not cheap. Despite Ken Griffin selling Nvidia stock, long-term investors should consider buying a position today, with the understanding that shares could move sharply when the company reports earnings on Nov. 20. Amazon has three important growth engines in e-commerce, digital advertising, and public cloud services. The company has a strong position in all three markets, and is using artificial intelligence to boost revenue and improve efficiency across its different businesses. For instance, as the most visited online marketplace, Amazon applies troves of data to machine learning models that optimize inventory levels and delivery routes. Additionally, the same marketplace data powers Amazon’s new shopping assistant Rufus, and it informs machine learning models that help advertisers reach consumers with relevant content. In fact, Amazon’s ability to engage shoppers and source data has made it the third-largest ad tech company worldwide, and its ad revenue is growing faster than that of industry leaders Alphabet and Meta Platforms. Beyond retail and advertising, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest public cloud. It accounted for 31% of cloud infrastructure and platform services spending last quarter, nearly as much as Microsoft and Alphabet combined. Moreover, AWS is well positioned to gain market share as AI makes cloud computing more popular. Consultancy Gartner has recognized its leadership in AI developer services and machine learning platforms. Amazon reported encouraging financial results in the third quarter, beating estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue increased 11% to $159 billion because of particularly strong sales growth in advertising and cloud services. Meanwhile, its operating margin expanded more than 3 percentage points and GAAP net income jumped 52% to $1.43 per diluted share. Going forward, Wall Street expects Amazon’s earnings to increase at 24% annually through 2025. That makes the current valuation of 44.5 times earnings look tolerable, though I would not call it cheap. Long-term investors should feel comfortable buying a small position today, with the understanding that the stock could easily fall 20% from its current level. However, such a pullback would likely be a buying opportunity. Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $904,692!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Nvidia Stock vs. Amazon Stock: Billionaire Ken Griffin Buys One and Sells the Other was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Billionaire #Ken #Griffin #Buys #Sells Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Beleaguered Country Road Group blames struggling economy for sales tumble Beleaguered Country Road Group blames struggling economy for sales tumble Sales at Country Road Group have tumbled further, with the beleaguered fashion retailer blaming sustained effects of higher interest rates and elevated living costs. In its latest trading update to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the retailer’s South *******-based parent company, Woolworths Holdings, said operating conditions in Australia and New Zealand continued to prove more challenging than anticipated. Sales for Country Road Group — behind brands Mimco, Witchery, Politix, Trenery and the eponymous parent — declined 8.8 per cent in the 18 weeks ended November 3, and 13.8 per cent on same-store basis. This follows a 6.8 per cent fall in Country Road Group’s annual revenue for the 2024 financial year. Woolworths Holdings said the retail sector in Australia and New Zealand faced further declines in footfall, intense promotional activity and the shift of spend towards value brands. “Notwithstanding the challenging macroeconomic backdrop, the Country Road brand ******** resilient, and Trenery is delivering strong top-line growth, following the repositioning and re-branding of its offering,” the group said. “We remain focused on improving the positioning and performance of the other brands, particularly Witchery.” Country Road Group earlier this year was engulfed in ******* harassment and workplace bullying claims at its Melbourne headquarter. It commissioned an independent investigation in April after receiving feedback from team members about the handling of their complaints. Source link #Beleaguered #Country #Road #Group #blames #struggling #economy #sales #tumble Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump transition ‘already breaking the law’ Trump transition ‘already breaking the law’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said on Monday that President elect-Trump “and his transition team are already breaking” a law on presidential transition. “Donald Trump and his transition team are already breaking the law,” Warren said in a post on the social platform X. “I would know because I wrote the law. Incoming presidents are required to prevent conflicts of interest and sign an ethics agreement.” “This is what ******** *********** looks like,” she added. Warren was responding to a report from CNN on Saturday that said a conflict of interest pledge included in the Presidential Transition Act was, in part, keeping multiple transition agreements from being submitted by the president-elect’s team to the Biden administration. The Presidential Transition Act instructs candidates from major parties to join in memorandums of understanding with the current president as well as the General Services Administration (GSA) so staff may get their hands on relevant resources like facilities, documents, executive branch employees and national security information in the ******* between the election and the inauguration. Those agreements also feature an ethics plan. Last month, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) raised concerns in a letter to Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance over their campaign’s ******** to enter into presidential transition agreements with the federal government. Raskin warned that the delay could have an unfavorable impact on the transfer of power in the upcoming year. “Breaking the precedent set by every other presidential candidate since 2010, you have rejected these resources and refused to commit to a smooth transition,” Raskin wrote. “Your actions depart from well-established norms of the federal government and demonstrate a spectacular disregard for the successful continuation of the essential institutions of ********* democratic government,” he added. The Hill has reached out to a spokesperson for Trump, the White House and the GSA for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Source link #Trump #transition #breaking #law Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Consumer, businesses outlook improves on expectations of a rate cut Consumer, businesses outlook improves on expectations of a rate cut Aussie consumers and businesses are seeing through the high cost of living as sentiment and spending improve, new reports show. Source link #Consumer #businesses #outlook #improves #expectations #rate #cut Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town It was dinnertime on October 30, 2024, when police handcuffed Brittany Patterson in front of three of her four children and drove her to the station in Fannin County, Georgia. She was then fingerprinted, photographed, and dressed in an orange jumpsuit. Hours earlier, around noon, Patterson had driven her eldest son to a medical appointment. Her youngest son, 11-year-old Soren, intended to come along but wasn’t around when it was time to leave. “I figured he was in the woods, or at grandma’s house,” says Patterson, who lives on 16 acres with her kids and her father. (Her husband works out of state). There is no shortage of family in the vicinity. Patterson’s mother and sisters live just two minutes away. Soren, however, was not playing in the woods. He had decided to walk to downtown Mineral Bluff, a town of just 370 people. It’s not quite a mile from his house. A woman who saw him walking alongside the road—speed limit: 25 in some places, 35 in others—asked him if he was OK. He said yes. Nevertheless, she called the police. A female sheriff picked up the boy and called Patterson. “She asked me if I knew he was downtown and I said no,” says Patterson. Patterson was upset that Soren had gone to town without letting anyone know, but says there was hardly reason to worry. “I was not panicking as I know the roads and know he is mature enough to walk there without incident,” she says. The sheriff disagreed. “She kept mentioning how he could have been run over, or kidnapped or ‘anything’ could have happened,” recalls Patterson. The sheriff drove Soren home and left him with his grandfather. After returning to the house, Patterson scolded her son—and that, she thought, was that. But at 6:30 p.m. that night, the sheriff returned with another officer. They told Patterson to turn around and put her hands behind her back. As three of her kids watched, Patterson was handcuffed. The sheriff took her purse and phone, put her in the cruiser, and hauled her off to jail. To Patterson, none of this made sense. She had grown up in the area with plenty of unsupervised time to wander and play and was raising her kids that way, too. “The mentality here is more Free-Range,” she says. Patterson was soon released on a $500 bail. The next day, a case manager from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) came out for a home visit, and even went to interview Patterson’s oldest son at his school. The case manager told Patterson that everything seemed fine, but declined to comment to Reason. A few days later, DFCS presented Patterson with a “safety plan” for her to sign. It would require her to delegate a “safety person” to be a “knowing participant and guardian” and watch over the children whenever she leaves home. The plan would also require Patterson to download an app onto her son’s phone allowing for his location to be monitored. (The day when it will be ******** not to track one’s kids is rapidly approaching.) Patterson did not want to be compelled to track her son. Recalling a similar case, she contacted attorney David DeLugas. DeLugas is the head of ParentsUSA, a nonprofit that often provides pro bono legal help to parents wrongly arrested and prosecuted for child neglect. A GoFundMe has been established to help ParentsUSA cover the Pattersons’ legal expenses. As Patterson’s counsel, DeLugas called the assistant district attorney (ADA) to discuss the case. He recorded the conversation, which is legal in Georgia. The ADA told DeLugas that if Patterson would sign the safety plan, the ********* charges would be dropped. DeLugas responded that if Patterson had to sign a safety plan simply because her son walked someplace without her knowing his exact location, it would stop him from visiting friends or having any independence whatsoever. But the ADA maintained that Soren had been in danger, and thus a safety plan was necessary. The matter was left unsettled. With safety plans, the veiled threat is that if you don’t sign, your children could be taken away, says DeLugas. In this case, he says, the unspoken deal seems to be: Sign it and the state won’t prosecute. If the state does prosecute, Patterson could face a reckless conduct charge, a $1,000 fine, and a year in jail. DeLugas would like to see Georgia pass a law that permits the authorities to check up on kids and then leave them be as long as they aren’t hurt, in distress, or in actual, immediate danger from an identifiable source. Meanwhile, as if this case could not get weirder, DCFS just mailed Soren a birthday card signed by the case manager. Soren turned 11 over the weekend. Birthday greetings do not change the facts. Patterson knows that refusing to sign the safety plan could get her in trouble. But she is resolute. “I will not sign,” she says. The post Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town appeared first on Reason.com. Source link #Mom #Jailed #Letting #10YearOld #Walk #Town Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kratos Shouldn’t Have ******* This Tortured **** of War Character Kratos Shouldn’t Have ******* This Tortured **** of War Character The universe of **** of War has been intricately woven over the course of many years. There are multiple stories that one can track back from the latest addition, **** of War: Ragnarok, where Kratos is seen as a wiser version of himself. **** of War’s lore goes way too deep. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios Among the many story arcs, there is one from **** of War: Ghost of Sparta that seems a little unnecessary at this point. There is one character from that game who should not have *****, as he would have made a great recurring character, adding more depth to the story. **** of War Should Not Have Let Go of Kratos’ Brother Deimos was captured by Aries and tortured by Thanatos for years on end. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios **** of War: Ghost of Sparta reveals one of the most important aspects of Kratos. The game dives deep into his backstory and tells us all about what transpired for him to become this rogue and arrogant version of himself. The game is centered around Kratos’ journey to the underworld, where he finds his long-lost brother Deimos, who was abducted by Aries years ago. He sets out on a mission to ***** the **** of the underworld and bring his brother back from the land of shadows. However, during the last ****** between the brothers and Thanatos, Deimos gets *******, which fuels Kratos’ anger and turns him into a ******** machine. Some fans still wanted to see Deimos alive and the brothers reunited since many things could have been done with this aspect of the story. Comment byu/CancerTookMyLeftNut from discussion inGodofWar Comment byu/CancerTookMyLeftNut from discussion inGodofWar ******** Deimos was a convenient way of giving Kratos depth since it aligns perfectly with **** of War’s storyline. Everyone around Kratos seems to be ***** at this point, including his daughter and wife. We Could Have Seen More of Deimos Deimos had the potential to contribute a lot more to the story. Image Credit: Santa Monica Studios Deimos would have made an excellent recurring character who could appear time and again in various phases of Kratos’ life. There was a scope for building many storylines surrounding him, and he could even have had an amazing relationship with Atreus. He could have assisted Kratos in defeating the gods as well. It would have been cool to see the brothers reunited and ****** together once again. Having said that, it is also true that integrating him into the storyline would have made things a tad bit messier. It was important for Kratos to lose everyone to become a ****, and to let go of all the worldly attachments he was chained to within the mortal world. It was necessary for him to become a **** and then go on a ******** spree, avenging the deaths of his loved ones. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Kratos #Shouldnt #******* #Tortured #**** #War #Character Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Funding boost to tackle discarded needles and launch exchange program in Broome Funding boost to tackle discarded needles and launch exchange program in Broome Amid growing concerns surrounding discarded needles in WA’s North West, the State Government has announced funding for the shire of Broome to enhance clean-up efforts and establish a needle exchange program. Source link #Funding #boost #tackle #discarded #needles #launch #exchange #program #Broome Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40k Army Sounded Really Cool Until We Learned About His Co-star from The Witcher Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40k Army Sounded Really Cool Until We Learned About His Co-star from The Witcher It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone at this point that Henry Cavill is one of Warhammer 40K’s biggest fans out there, having frequently spoken about his love for the heroic Adeptus Custodes in particular. Henry Cavill at the 2019 San Diego Comic **** International – Image by Gage Skidmore, licensed under CC Attribution-Share Alike 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. But, if we’re being honest, as much as we love Cavill’s choice, we need to hand it to his ex-co-star Joey Batey, whose undead Necrons army sharply contrasts Cavill’s noble Custodes and just feels a lot more unconventional. Henry Cavill’s Custodes May Be Cool, but Joey Batey’s Necrons are Cooler Necrons and Aeldari fighting one another – Image Credit: Games Workshop. Back when The Witcher was airing its second season, Henry Cavill was rather expressive about his love for Warhammer 40K, and for any longtime fan of the guy, it wasn’t all too surprising when he revealed that he was running an army of Adeptus Custodes at the time. The Custodes, after all, are Warhammer’s ultimate guardians, elite warriors adorned in golden armor who defend the Emperor with unmatched loyalty and strength. Known as near-mythic defenders, they represent a higher calling to justice, making them the perfect fit for Cavill’s stoic and heroic on-screen roles when you think about it. From Superman to Geralt of Rivia, Cavill has portrayed characters who ****** to protect or redeem humanity, often sacrificing much to do so. So, his Custodes choice adds an almost poetic depth to his love for the series, aligning his real-life admiration for valor with his fictional roles. That said, we can’t help but love Joey Batey’s choice of running the Necrons a lot more, though. Necrons are ancient, remorseless conquerors driven by an unquenchable ******* to reclaim their lost dominion over the stars. Once mortal beings, they were transformed into deathless machines and are now fueled by a relentless, chilling ambition. These guys are the perfect representatives of the grittier side of 40K, and for that, we love them all the more. Custodes Vs. Necrons: Which army is more likely to come out on top in a battle? Custodes fighting the Gal Vorbak – Image Credit: Games Workshop Limited. Considering all that, though, it begs one to wonder which army actually holds the edge over the other. For starters, Custodes may be few in number, but their mythic strength, skill, and loyalty make them nearly unstoppable in direct combat. They are humanity’s last line of defense, with each warrior standing as a titan in battle. This smaller force of elite warriors can withstand even overwhelming odds, using tactical precision and sheer power to keep foes at bay. Necrons, on the other hand, thrive on numbers and persistence. While Custodes may have a temporary upper hand in short, intense confrontations, Necrons excel in longer battles. Their unique ability to reanimate gives them an almost unending advantage, allowing them to rise and return to battle even after significant losses. In a protracted engagement, Necrons wear down their enemies with their relentless onslaught, embodying the darker thrill of fighting an unstoppable force. At the end of the day, a matchup between Custodes and Necrons is an ultimate clash of quality versus quantity, of honor against unyielding darkness. So, keeping that in mind, which one do you support more? Do you find Cavill’s choice of running the Custodes better than Joey’s Necrons? Let us know in the comments below! Source link #Henry #Cavills #Warhammer #40k #Army #Sounded #Cool #Learned #Costar #Witcher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

China’s COMAC rebrands regional jet to C909 in marketing push China’s COMAC rebrands regional jet to C909 in marketing push ZHUHAI, China (Reuters) – ******** planemaker COMAC has rebranded its ARJ21 regional jet as the C909, aligning the plane with the state-owned firm’s naming convention for its other models as it seeks to present itself as an alternative to dominant Western planemakers. The rebrand, which was unveiled at China’s biggest air show in Zhuhai on Tuesday, features C909 painted in white on a blue tail. “After careful consideration, a long gestation and asking opinions of many involved parties, we chose to use C909 as a new commercial name to build the brand,” Zhang Xiaoguang, COMAC’s marketing director, told reporters. The C909 has also reduced weight, resistance and noise and made some improvements in flying costs compared to the previously marketed ARJ21, staff at COMAC’s air show booth told Reuters. COMAC has launched the rebrand with the English slogan “Old friend, New look”, and a ******** slogan that can be translated as “meeting an old friend for the first time”. COMAC’s ARJ21 regional jet was China’s first jet engine-powered plane to reach commercial production, entering service in 2016. Signs of the possible new name for the ARJ21 came in mid-October when one was spotted by aviation enthusiasts at a ******** airport with C909 painted on its blue tail. The tail design and C909 name correspond with the green tail and white lettering of COMAC’s C919 narrow-body jet that has been in service since 2023, and the red tail of its planned wide-body C929 which is under design. The change signals Beijing’s growing intention to present itself as a full-scale alternative to Airbus and Boeing, which are both struggling to keep up with demand. There are around 124 ARJ21s in operation, according to ch-aviation data, with various ******** airlines and also Indonesian carrier TransNusa, COMAC’s only overseas operator so far. A sign at its air show booth said COMAC had delivered 150 of the jets to 11 customers. Hainan Airlines, said on Monday its low-cost subsidiary Urumqi Air would order 40 ARJ21-700 jets for delivery between 2025 and 2032. Hainan said the basic list price of each ARJ21 is $38 million but substantial discounts will be applied, a process typical for aircraft purchases. (Reporting by Sophie Yu and David Kirton; Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Jamie Freed) Source link #Chinas #COMAC #rebrands #regional #jet #C909 #marketing #push Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mt Melville *****: Emergency crews extinguish bushfire near Albany Waste Facility Mt Melville *****: Emergency crews extinguish bushfire near Albany Waste Facility A bushfire that was raging uncontrolled and uncontained, burning bush in an area of 1000 metres by 1000 metres near Albany’s city centre has been extinguished. The bushfire raged out of control just 2km from Albany’s city centre before it was extinguished by attending ***** and rescue crews by 4.30pm. The ***** was first reported in a triple-0 call at 9.15am on Tuesday near Hanrahan Road and Frenchman Bay Road next to the Albany Waste Facility in Mt Melville. A Department of ***** and Emergency Services spokesperson said the cause of the ***** was unknown. Seven crews from Albany and Elleker were on the scene battling the *****. Camera IconFire and rescue crews from Albany and Elleker extinguished the uncontrolled blaze next to the Albany Waste Facility on Tuesday. Credit: Cameron Newbold Source link #Melville #***** #Emergency #crews #extinguish #bushfire #Albany #Waste #Facility Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NASA’s Chandra Telescope Observes Mysterious ‘Knots’ Blasting from Nearby ****** ***** Jets NASA’s Chandra Telescope Observes Mysterious ‘Knots’ Blasting from Nearby ****** ***** Jets A recent study of ****** ***** jets from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has identified bright formations or “knots” in these jets, with each showing unexpected variations in speed. This analysis, led by David Bogensberger, an astrophysicist at the University of Michigan, examined decades-old Chandra data on the supermassive ****** ***** at the heart of the Centaurus A galaxy, located around 12 million light-years from Earth. Observations of Bright ‘Knots’ Moving at Variable Speeds The findings, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal, reveal that the knots within these jets, which emit energy from the ****** *****, are moving faster in X-ray observations compared to radio wavelengths. For instance, some knots recorded speeds of 94 per cent of light in the X-ray band, which exceeded the 80 per cent speed of light observed in radio wavelengths. As per the study, these discoveries provide a unique view of ****** ***** jet mechanics, as the X-ray wavelengths reveal elements unseen in other spectral bands. Funding Challenges for NASA’s X-ray Programme This research arises as NASA faces potential budget cuts that could affect the Chandra Observatory’s operations. With the U.S. presidential election and government budget discussions ongoing, Chandra’s funding future ******** uncertain. Despite these challenges, the telescope—currently operating with 2024 funding levels—continues to provide crucial insights, highlighting its role in studying distant cosmic phenomena. Centaurus A Galaxy and ****** ***** Jet Mechanics First detected in the 1800s, Centaurus A’s jets were later mapped with radio telescopes in the 20th century. Of these, one jet points towards Earth, while the fainter “counterjet” extends away from it. The movement and brightness changes in Centaurus A’s knots echo findings from previous observations of M87 galaxy jets, where brightness increased before dimming over time. The study brings new insights into how magnetic fields and spin near ****** holes influence jet formation, offering astronomers fresh approaches for understanding such mechanisms across different galaxies. Future studies may further clarify whether the knot behaviour is due to internal jet dynamics or external forces such as interstellar materials. Source link #NASAs #Chandra #Telescope #Observes #Mysterious #Knots #Blasting #Nearby #****** #***** #Jets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tuskegee University president says campus is no longer open, a day after fatal ********* Tuskegee University president says campus is no longer open, a day after fatal ********* Tuskegee University president says campus is no longer open, a day after fatal ********* Source link #Tuskegee #University #president #campus #longer #open #day #fatal #********* Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tambellup’s Penny Squibb nets penalty ******* to seal fifth win and finals berth for Perth Thundersticks women Tambellup’s Penny Squibb nets penalty ******* to seal fifth win and finals berth for Perth Thundersticks women The Perth Thundersticks dominant Hockey One campaign has continued, securing a finals berth with a 3-1 win over NSW Pride on Friday. Source link #Tambellups #Penny #Squibb #nets #penalty #******* #seal #win #finals #berth #Perth #Thundersticks #women Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chipotle shareholders sue over fallout from skimping on portion sizes Chipotle shareholders sue over fallout from skimping on portion sizes By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – Chipotle ******** Grill was sued on Monday by shareholders for concealing how many of its restaurants were skimping on portions, forcing the chain to spend more on ingredients and hurting its stock price. In a proposed class action filed in Santa Ana, California federal court, shareholders said Chipotle ******* to disclose growing unhappiness among customers with inconsistent portion sizes for its burritos and rice bowls. They said the truth came out as customers voiced dismay on TikTok and other social media, prompting Chipotle to reemphasize what CEO Scott Boatwright and his predecessor Brian Niccol called “generous portions” at its more than 3,600 restaurants. Costs to repair the damage hurt margins, causing Chipotle’s stock price to fall after the company reported second- and third-quarter results, according to the complaint. The decline on Oct. 30 wiped out about $6.5 billion of market value. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for purchasers of Chipotle stock and options from Feb. 8 to Oct. 29, 2024. Chipotle did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit was filed a few hours after the Newport Beach, California-based company removed the “interim” tag from Boatwright’s job title. Niccol stepped down as chief executive in August to take the same job at Starbucks. Chipotle’s share price rose more than eightfold in Niccol’s nearly 6-1/2 years at the helm. Niccol and former Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung are also defendants in Monday’s lawsuit. Hartung became Chipotle’s president and chief strategy officer on Oct. 1. The case is Stradford v. Chipotle ******** Grill Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 24-02459. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Source link #Chipotle #shareholders #sue #fallout #skimping #portion #sizes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New electricity plant captures carbon dioxide for fizzy drinks New electricity plant captures carbon dioxide for fizzy drinks BBC Captured carbon dioxide from electricity generation is used for fizzy drinks A new gas-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire plans to turn planet-warming carbon dioxide into an ingredient for fizzy drinks. The 10-megawatt project at Rhodesia outside Worksop uses waste heat to capture and clean the gas which would otherwise contribute to climate change. The plant earns valuable carbon credits because the food grade carbon dioxide replaces manufactured gas. Investors say the modular plant is also designed to provide flexible power for the national grid when renewable energy fluctuates. Chief technical officer Roddy Elder says reusing carbon dioxide is better for climate change than releasing it into the atmosphere Chief technical officer Roddy Elder told the BBC two sets of cylinders capture the carbon dioxide using a liquid solvent. The solvent then releases the gas to be cleaned and tested to ensure it is pure enough to be used in the food industry. He explained the plant uses existing technology applied in a different way. “Using solvents to capture CO2 has been used for many years to purify the air in nuclear submarines on a long patrol,” he said. “It’s much better than burning gas in a traditional power station. We’re burning fuel, but the fuel itself is not contributing to global warming.” Founder Michael Avison says the plant is designed as part of a circular economy Co-founder Michael Avison says the plant will supply electricity for about 10,000 Worksop homes and the captured CO2 will end up in drinks at the local pub. “It’s about a circular economy,” he says. “There is nothing wrong with fossil fuels if we clean them up.” The plant is designed so it can be powered up to support renewables on the national grid when the wind does not ***** or the sun does not shine. Mr Avison first had the idea for a more sustainable power plant 15 years ago but carbon credits became too cheap to make it pay. Credits cost more now but it is the addition of a valuable by-product that has made the whole project financially viable. No money has come from the *** government – instead the £40m price tag has been met by private investors who specialise in energy transition. The company says its modular template can be adapted with the waste heat used for district heating or industrial processing. Carbon dioxide could also be transported for permanent storage underground. Investors now hope to attract interest from others to scale up their design for use around the world. Source link #electricity #plant #captures #carbon #dioxide #fizzy #drinks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tom’s Law passes Parliament, as novice drivers slapped with passenger restrictions Tom’s Law passes Parliament, as novice drivers slapped with passenger restrictions New restrictions on P-platers will come into force next month, after the State Parliament passed Tom’s Law on Tuesday afternoon. Source link #Toms #Law #passes #Parliament #novice #drivers #slapped #passenger #restrictions Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Avowed Won’t Copy a Hit Feature from Baldur’s Gate 3 Avowed Won’t Copy a Hit Feature from Baldur’s Gate 3 Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPG, Avowed, is breaking away from a trend in role-playing games by choosing to omit romance options. The game is set to hit the market next February and has been one of the more anticipated titles in recent years. This will set it apart from recent titles like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Baldur’s Gate 3 BG3 did romance well, but it wasn’t a highlight. | Image Credit: Larian Studios Game Director Carrie Patel clarified this decision, stating that it wasn’t made lightly. While romance can add depth to character interactions, Patel explained that the team chose to focus on creating proper platonic relationships. Avowed Won’t Just Be Another Hit RPG Clone In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Patel explained the challenges of creating romance systems, noting the extensive work required to make them truly impactful. “It’s a ton of work. You want to make sure you do it right. And part of that is also you want to make sure that a player who opts not to romance but still wants to have a very deep relationship with those companions gets to have just as thorough and meaningful an experience on a friendship or ally path. With this, fans will experience deep, well-rounded connections with their companions, regardless of whether they choose to pursue romance or not. The focus on platonic bonds will enable Obsidian to show the game’s world in a more neutral tone. And so we felt that we could best tell our companions’ stories and our players’ relationships with them without the romance option. While romance mechanics have become a beloved staple of role-playing games, Patel explains that the complexity of implementing them makes it an exhaustive feature to do justice. For both romantic and platonic paths to be equally fulfilling, Obsidian has to double its effort, particularly as player expectations continue to grow. Patel emphasized that they want non-romantic relationships to offer the same depth as romance, and that would require a lot of work. Let’s See What This Improved Resource Allocation Brings Us The devs for Avowed have their focus elsewhere. | Image Credit: Obsidian Entertainment Speaking to Windows Central, Patel also elaborated on the challenges of introducing romance in a game with limited resources and scope. While larger RPGs often have sprawling storylines and intricate romance paths, Avowed is designed to be a smaller, more focused game. We wanted to make sure that if we were going to do romance, we were going to really, really, really do it right — or not at all. For Avowed, we decided to focus on other aspects of our companions. For Obsidian, cutting out romance means they can allocate more resources to refine other aspects. This way the game can focus on what it wants to do instead of what it could do avoiding the bloat that can arise when trying to include too many features. Comment byu/ControlCAD from discussion ingamingnews This decision might even give players more genuine interactions with companions. While romance systems are popular, they can sometimes come across as immaterial or formulaic. The option to romance companions often ends up feeling more like a checklist than a properly thorough feature. Patel is aware that a romance system can add an extra layer of reality to RPGs. But she argues that this isn’t the only way to achieve emotional engagement. With companions who can build meaningful relationships with players outside of romance, Avowed intends to create memorable interactions that align more closely with its core themes and story. We’ll see if this decision pays off on February 18, 2025, when Avowed releases. In the meantime, let us know what you want from the game in the comments! Source link #Avowed #Wont #Copy #Hit #Feature #Baldurs #Gate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 Ways to Get More Benefits in 2025 3 Ways to Get More Benefits in 2025 Ideally, you’ll save well for retirement so you won’t have to deal with financial stress once your senior years arrive. But there’s a good chance you’ll also end up dependent on Social Security to some degree. That’s why it’s so important to do what you can to score the highest Social Security paycheck. And if you play your cards right in the new year, you can set yourself up for a larger benefit once you retire. Here are three key moves to make in 2025. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Image source: Getty Images. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your monthly retirement benefit based on the amount of income you earned. So the more you earn during your career, the higher a payday you might get down the line. That’s why it pays to try to boost your earnings in 2025. Of course, a higher paycheck also means more financial wiggle room in the near term to not only cover your bills, but do things like fund your 401(k) or IRA. But it could also lead to more Social Security in retirement. So to that end, work on growing your job skills, as that could land you a promotion that comes with a raise. You should also know that it’s not just earnings from a salaried job that could set you up for more Social Security. Side hustle income counts, too. So even if your salary stays the same all year long, if you manage to earn an extra $5,000 from a lucrative side gig, it could help you increase your Social Security checks in retirement. It’s not a given that the SSA will have accurate earnings data for you on record. And if your income is underreported, it could lead to a smaller monthly benefit down the line. Make sure to check your earnings record at some point in 2025 to ensure that it’s accurate. You can do so by creating an account on the SSA’s website and accessing your most recent earnings statement. That statement will contain helpful a host of information, like an estimate of your future monthly Social Security benefit. If you’ll be turning 62 in 2025, it means you’ll be eligible to start claiming Social Security, since that’s the earliest age to file. But continuing to work could pay off for a couple of reasons. First, waiting until full retirement age helps you avoid a reduction to your monthly Social Security benefit. And even if you’ll be reaching full retirement age in 2025, delaying your filing past that point results in a boosted benefit for life. You’re rewarded financially for postponing your claim up until you turn 70. Story Continues Continuing to work at that stage of life could also lead to more Social Security. The SSA accounts for your 35 highest-paid years of income when calculating your monthly benefit. If you’re able to replace a year of lower earnings with higher earnings, it could result in a larger benefit for you to enjoy once you decide to sign up. The decisions you make in the new year could impact the amount of money you get from Social Security down the line. Keep these moves on your radar, as they could lead to a more financially stable retirement. If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the “Social Security secrets” » The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Social Security: 3 Ways to Get More Benefits in 2025 was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Ways #Benefits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Which is Better? Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Which is Better? The Samsung Galaxy S24 is currently one of the best compact flagship Android smartphones available in the market. The handset from the brand brings the newest features with AI taking centre stage. The model from the South Korean brand offers flagship specifications like an AMOLED display, top-notch cameras, premium design, and more. We also have the Samsung Galaxy S23, which is still a viable option for those who want to experience a flagship from the company. The handset still offers top-notch features and specifications and a compact yet premium design language. So, the question here is: Which one should you choose? Should you go with the Galaxy S24? Or, instead, save some money and buy Galaxy S23? To help you make an informed decision, we have pitted both devices against each other so that you can get an idea of which makes sense for your needs. So, without further ado, let’s get started. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Price in India The Samsung Galaxy S23 5G price in India currently starts at Rs 41,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The top-end 8GB RAM + 256GB model is currently available for as low as Rs 50,000 on online e-commerce platforms. The Samsung Galaxy S24 5G price in India currently starts at Rs 57,499 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage option after all the discounts and offers. The 8GB RAM and 256GB model is available for as low as Rs 60,000. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Design The Galaxy S23 5G comes with an armour aluminium frame and packs Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass on the front and back panels. The handset also features an IP68 rating, making it water and dust-resistant. The handset is available in Phantom ******, Green, Cream and Lavender colour options. The Galaxy S23 5G measures 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6mm and weighs 168 grams. The Galaxy S24 5G also features a slightly similar design language as compared to the Galaxy S23 5G. The model also features an armour aluminium frame, and for the first time, the components are made of recycled cobalt and rare earth elements. Moreover, the handset also features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The phone is available in Moreover, the handset is available in Onyx ******, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow colour options. The Galaxy S24 5G measures 147 x 70.6 x 7.6mm and weighs 167 grams. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Display The Samsung Galaxy S23 5G packs a 6.1-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The screen comes with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels coupled with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It also features up to 1,750nits of peak brightness, 240Hz of touch sampling rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The Galaxy S24 5G packs a 6.2-inch FHD+ Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The device offers a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and packs Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The device also features an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,600nits of peak brightness. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Performance and OS In terms of performance, the Samsung Galaxy S23 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is specially made for the Galaxy handset. The chipset offers an Adreno 740 GPU. It also packs 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The Samsung Galaxy S24 5G is loaded with a deca-core Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset. It also comes equipped with a Samsung Xclipse 940 GPU. The handset comes loaded with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. In terms of software, both the models run on Android 14, and the brand has promised three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Cameras In terms of cameras, the Samsung Galaxy S23 5G packs a triple-camera setup. The device features a 50-megapixel dual-pixel primary sensor with OIS support, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with 120-degree FoV, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS support. On the front, the handset comes equipped with a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel selfie camera with an AI object-aware engine. Coming to the Galaxy S24 5G, the handset also features a triple-camera setup on the rear panel. The device features a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS support and f/1.8 aperture, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens with 120-degree FoV, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS support. On the front, the device features a 12-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calling. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Battery In terms of battery, the Samsung Galaxy S23 5G features a 3,900mAh battery. The Galaxy S24 packs a slightly ******* 4,000mAh battery. Both models offer 25W wired fast charging, Qi wireless charging and a wireless power share. Samsung Galaxy S23 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S24 5G: Conclusion The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 are among the top offerings from the South Korean giant. The Samsung Galaxy S23 (Review) is perfect for those who want to experience a flagship offering from the brand without putting a deep ***** in their pocket. The Galaxy S24 (Review) currently stands as one of the best compact flagship smartphones from Samsung that brings all the latest features and specifications. Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 comparison Key Specs Display 6.20-inch 6.10-inch Processor octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Front Camera 12-megapixel 12-megapixel Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 10-megapixel 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 10-megapixel RAM 8GB 8GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB Battery Capacity 4000mAh 3,900mAh OS Android 14 Android 13 Source link #Samsung #Galaxy #S23 #Samsung #Galaxy #S24 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man charged with ******* after stabbings at market Man charged with ******* after stabbings at market BBC The stabbings happened on East Street on Sunday morning A man in his 60s has been charged with ******* after a man was ******* and two others were injured in a stabbing ******* at a market in south London. Police were called to reports of a number of people stabbed in East Street in Walworth at about 10:40 GMT on Sunday. The Metropolitan Police said officers found three people with serious injuries and one of them, Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, from Southwark, ***** at the scene. Two other men were taken to hospital and both remain there, with one of them in a critical condition. Ali Musse, 66, of no fixed address, has also been charged with two counts of attempted ******* and is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Mr McLeggan’s family are aware of his ****** and are receiving support from specialist officers, the Met said. There will be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance, the Met says Ch Supt Seb Adjei-Addoh, who leads the Met’s policing in Southwark, described what happened as “horrific”, and thanked members of the public who helped officers at the scene. “There will be an increased policing presence in the Walworth area as we work alongside our partners to provide reassurance to local people and small businesses operating in East Street,” he added. “Lastly, we are aware of posts circulating on social media, implying that this was a ********** incident. Our inquiries indicate this is not the case and we ask the public not to speculate.” The force urged anyone with information to call 101, or to contact CrimeStoppers anonymously. Source link #Man #charged #******* #stabbings #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

ADCA 2024-25: Grigson century keeps Lions’ winning streak rolling, Peaks join Magpies with three B-grade wins ADCA 2024-25: Grigson century keeps Lions’ winning streak rolling, Peaks join Magpies with three B-grade wins Three teams remain unbeaten after four rounds of the Albany and Districts Cricket Association B-grade competition with Royals and Manypeaks registering big wins on Sunday. The Lions roared to a fourth straight win, chasing down a big total at Turf East to remain undefeated in 2024-25. Their win followed a superb century from left-hander Harry Grigson, who lifted his side over the line with 10 ****** to spare. Grigson smacked nine fours and three sixes in his ton that came off just 72 ******, after the Lions slipped to 3-22 early in the chase. Set 222 to win after Narrikup won the toss and batted first, the Lions recovered from their early demise thanks to a 100-run partnership from Grigson and Riley Bessen. Bessen made 36 before he fell to spinner Craig Halligan (1-42), but Grigson powered his side to victory in the 44th over with three wickets in hand. Mitch Murdoch (2-17) and Ryan Guilfoyle (2-56) both snared multiple wickets for Narrikup. Narrikup were bowled out for 221 earlier after a terrific half-century from Alec Haskins. Haskins made 69 from just 66 ******, including two sixes, to go with strong contributions from John Miell (37) and Murdoch (34). Bailey Daubney was the pick of the Lions’ bowlers with 4-34, and Bessen chipped in with 3-20. At Proctor Oval, Peaks notched a third straight win, skittling Mt Barker for less than 100 before some nervous moments with the bat. The Bulls won the toss and batted first but only Philip Baker (42) made a meaningful score as his side were all out for 91. Opener Riley Wood was on ***** with 4-20, while Boney Thomas (2-26), Jon Brodala (2-22) and Wade Anning (2-9) also played key roles with the ball. Set just 92 to win, the home side slumped to 3-4 before some middle-order resistance from Brodala (24) and Gary McGlade (19). However, a five-wicket haul from Bull Todd Hammond (5-20) had his side back in the game. When Cameron Golding was Hammond’s fifth scalp, Peaks were 9-69 and staring down the barrel of defeat. Thomas made 16 not out, and combined with No.11 Josh Wallis (9no) to steer Peaks to a tense one-wicket win. Denmark, who had the round-four bye, are also unbeaten so far this season. In the other B-grade fixture, Collingwood Park recorded their first win of the season, beating Railways by seven wickets at Hard North. The Tigers batted first and were bowled out for 189 after strong knocks from Will Watson (62) and Sam Slater (45). Half-centuries from Jarrod Hansen (58) and Andrew Hagnhofer (64no) were enough to lift Park to victory in the 38th over. In the C-grade competition, Denmark were big winners over Narrikup in Narrikup. Jake Schwarzbach led the way for the Magpies with 5-18 as Narrikup were dismissed for 55 before the Magpies made 136 in reply. Albany Sharks notched an eight-wicket win over Railways at Tigerland, as Mikael Philipps tore through the Tigers’ top order with 4-24. Manypeaks were too good for Royals in the other game, highlighted by 84 from opener Paul McSweeney. Source link #ADCA #Grigson #century #Lions #winning #streak #rolling #Peaks #join #Magpies #Bgrade #wins Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]