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Klay Thompson’s all-time legend moment, as remembered by the Warriors Klay Thompson’s all-time legend moment, as remembered by the Warriors SAN FRANCISCO — The pinnacle act that defines Klay Thompson’s Bay Area legend, which will be celebrated Tuesday night at the San Francisco palace his dynasty contributions helped build, came on the final night in Oracle Arena across the water in Oakland. For three quarters, he was the best player on the floor in Game 6 of the 2019 Finals: 30 points on 12 shots. Four 3s in his typical flame-throwing fashion. Four makes inside the arc because of a blossoming off-the-dribble game. Ten free throws, all makes, because he was attacking the rim with some extra playoff ferocity. “The peak of his powers,” Steve Kerr said. Thompson was feeling it enough — 10 points in the first 10 minutes of a frantic third quarter — that he went skying for a rare transition dunk to punctuate a nuclear personal run. That’s when Raptors wing Danny Green met him up top with a physical contest, knocking Thompson off balance and forever altering his career. “One moment,” Joe Lacob said. “One nanosecond can change everything.” The aftermath is best remembered for Thompson’s determination to brush the pain aside and continue. Trainers forced him toward the locker room. Kerr sent a messenger down the tunnel to relay word that Thompson must ****** the free throws to remain eligible for a return. He hobbled back to the floor and ignited one of the loudest Oracle eruptions ever in its final night, a tease that maybe he would be fine. “That roar,” Kerr still remembers. Thompson made both free throws and tried to shamble back on defense. But that wasn’t the plan. Kerr called for a DeMarcus Cousins take foul, gifting Pascal Siakam two free throws so Thompson could finally go to the back and get his knee checked. As he walked past Kerr, Thompson told him: “Give me two minutes.” He was determined to return for the start of the fourth quarter. “That’s when they did the ACL test,” Kerr said. “I tore my ACL in college. The trainer can tell right away. They just put it up on a table and twist it a certain way. They know instantly.” Word filtered back to Kerr early in the fourth that Thompson was done. Thompson exited the arena on crutches and was taken to a nearby hospital for testing before the final buzzer. The Warriors, up 85-80 when he disappeared, lost the lead and the game and the title in the fourth quarter. “I honestly think if he doesn’t get hurt, we win the series,” Kerr said. “But that’s just what we have to believe. No disrespect to Toronto. They were the better team and earned it. Injuries are a part of it. But I will always believe if Klay had stayed healthy, we would’ve found a way. Because that’s what that team did.” There are those in the organization who believe had he not torn the ACL during one of the greatest games of his life, triggering a torturous domino effect, Tuesday night’s welcome back ceremony in the NBA Cup opener never would’ve been necessary because he never would’ve worn another jersey. But he returns as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and leftover curiosity ******** about how it ever got to this point. The Warriors won four titles in eight years. That much success isn’t attached to many what-if scenarios. But Thompson’s horrid-luck knee injury generates the most painful, not only for the possible three-peat that never was but, more sympathetically, for the tragic ramifications delivered to Thompson’s career. He wouldn’t play another NBA game for 941 days, missing his ninth, 10th and more than half of his 11th NBA seasons on the heels of five straight All-Star appearances, returning as a productive but understandably diminished player whose body needed far more routine maintenance. “How old was he?” Kerr asked. “Twenty-nine?” Yes. Thompson turned 29 four months before the ACL tear. He was 30 when, at the end of his ACL rehab process, he tore his Achilles, sending him into 14 more months of tedious rehab. “That’s just so devastating,” Kerr said. “To me, 28, 29, 30, that’s when everything comes together — your mind, your experience, your body, your skill. I didn’t think he ever looked better. So that injury clearly was the pendulum swinging the other way in his career. He was still good. Still really good. Helped us win a championship (in 2022).” But … “Those next couple years (after the ACL), I think, would’ve been his absolute prime,” Kerr said. “That would’ve been the very best version of Klay. I think part of the reason he struggled so much with it emotionally is that he knew those years were ripped from him by the injuries. He was really at the apex of his game. That’s why it was so tough to see him suffer. He was so distraught at times, even last year. It was sad. To me, he’s just had a really difficult time reconciling the injuries.” Thompson signed a five-year max extension a couple weeks after the 2019 ACL tear, an earned commitment to a living legend who had delivered so much production (and financial value) to the organization. He spent a large chunk of that next season mostly away from the Warriors, rehabbing out of Rick Celebrini’s view. Celebrini is the team’s respected lead medical decision-maker. That was a mistake, Thompson would later admit, telling The Athletic in February 2022 that he was about 10 pounds above his normal playing weight when his Achilles popped during an unsanctioned pickup game in Los Angeles a month before his presumed return in 2020. “I tried to go off on my own and do my own thing, seek out my own thing,” Thompson told The Athletic in 2023. “That backfired. Very badly. So I came crawling back to Rick. Very apologetic.” Thompson was more present, more diligent, more patient during the second rehab process. But the agonizing wait wore on him. Cameras caught him in tears on the back of the bench during an April 2021 game. Steph Curry came over to console him. In November 2021, two months prior to his return, he sat on the bench for a half-hour postgame with a towel over his head, overcome with emotion. It’s now been about 20 minutes since the game ended and Klay Thompson is still on the bench with a towel over his head pic.twitter.com/5bvnXjQgCO — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 27, 2021 The work proved worth it. Thompson returned from a pair of catastrophic mid-career leg injuries about as impressively as imaginable. He averaged 36 minutes and 19 points in a 22-game playoff run to the 2022 title. He led the league in 3s the next season. He made the fourth most the season after that. But Thompson maintained an ambition to regain his All-Star form, to chase down the ghost of his former self, to recapture those prime years lost. It led to a level of shot-hunting that sometimes hijacked the offense and off-court brooding that impacted the mood in the locker room, team sources said throughout the season. He had the “four rings” outburst ejection in Phoenix and several behind-the-scenes conversations with teammates and Kerr about throttling back the shot selection, centering himself and exuding better energy. “I had a conversation (with Kerr) about just enjoying the last chapter of my career and how lucky I truly am to be playing this game,” Thompson said after a January 2024 game. “Being a better mentor for the young guys. Leading by example and having my energy right every game. He helped me realize I do have negative energy and how that affects the team in a poor manner.” The contractual context didn’t help. Thompson never liked the narrative that he owed the Warriors something for signing him to a max contract after the ACL tear, considering all he’d done before it. Warriors leadership would privately note that half of that max contract (2.5 years) was spent rehabbing. Extension talks stalled prior to last season. There are differing stories on the authenticity of the two-year, $48 million reported offer. Thompson never felt a level of genuine ******* from the front office or ownership to ensure a franchise legend remained around. When the summer came, they prioritized other pursuits and Thompson decided to depart before giving them a chance to circle back. GO DEEPER How Klay Thompson’s 13-year run with the Warriors splintered so unceremoniously In his final season, bitterness had grown. Kerr began closing without Thompson on the floor on certain nights and replaced him with a rookie, Brandin Podziemski, in the starting lineup in February. These demotions stung and wounds still appear unhealed. When approached in Dallas back in the preseason, he declined to speak about it: “I’m not talking about the past,” Thompson said. “There’s always stuff as a coach that, you know, you look back and you go, ‘Man, I wish I had done this or said that,’” Kerr said. “But there’s nothing that keeps me up at night. Everybody’s life and career arc is different. I think Klay made the right decision going to Dallas. Just seeing him the last couple of years, I think he needed a fresh start.” As Kerr and Lacob made clear in separate interviews with The Athletic last week, nothing about the end should taint the greatness of Thompson’s run with the Warriors. He’s a statue player who will be welcomed with a celebration on Tuesday. The franchise is giving out Captain Klay hats to every fan in attendance. Lacob’s first Thompson memory was in college. He’s a huge Stanford fan. He watched Thompson, a star at Washington State, drop 21 points in a road win in Maples Pavilion. “My son Kent (currently in the front office) was young at the time,” Lacob said. “I remember him telling me: ‘If we don’t draft Klay Thompson, I’ll never talk to you again.’” Lacob took control of the franchise in late 2010. Their first draft pick, 11th overall, came in June 2011. They’d just hired Jerry West to join the front office and consult on big personnel decisions. This was a major early moment. Lacob and West, among others, went down to Torrance, Calif., to watch Thompson work out. “He did like maybe five minutes and Jerry said: ‘That’s the guy!’” Lacob recalled. “And I’m like: ‘You’ve only seen him for a couple minutes.’ Jerry said: ‘That’s the guy. That’s all there is to it.’ Maybe it was his shot. Maybe it was his footwork. It was so Jerry.” West and Kerr were also among the strong advocates not to trade Thompson when Kevin Love became available in the summer of 2014. That’s considered one of the best non-trade decisions in league history. Thompson soon morphed into one of the best ********* guards in basketball and a perfect fit next to Curry. They won their first title the following June. “Everyone knows the incredible *********, kind of the unconscious nature of his play,” Kerr said. “He and Steph both share that. People know Captain Klay, China Klay, you know, the fun-hearted guy. But I don’t know that people understand what a ******* competitor Klay is. Ultimately that’s what made him a champion.” Lacob’s most memorable night is a predictable one. Game 6 in Oklahoma City. The Warriors were down 3-2 in that 2016 series and down eight heading to the fourth quarter. Thompson scored 19 in the fourth, hit 11 3s in the game and rescued the Warriors from elimination with a 41-point performance. As he returned to the locker room, Lacob famously bowed to him in the tunnel, a picture that Lacob sent to Thompson in one of his goodbye text messages after he departed for Dallas. “The tunnel thing was sort of impromptu,” Lacob said. Kerr’s favorite Thompson story to retell came during the 2017 Finals. JR Smith crashed into him during the first quarter of Game 1, causing a painful high ankle sprain. Thompson also took a knee directly to the thigh. “He was wearing a sleeve or something and he takes the sleeve off and it was like ****** and blue and yellow and like, I mean, it was an injury that would have kept him out for at least two weeks in the regular season,” Kerr said. “And he didn’t miss a minute. To me, Klay’s competitive ******* is his most underrated quality. At the peak of his powers, the way he guarded the ball and then moved off the ball year after year. He and Steph were one and two in most mileage per game in the NBA. His conditioning, his size, his ability to switch on to Kevin Love and big guys like that and guard them in the post. I mean you don’t do that unless you’re a great athlete, but also unless you care desperately about results and winning at the highest level.” The Warriors’ charity foundation throws an annual poker event. At it, they put various items up for auction. In the lead-up to the event early this decade, they had the idea of offering a ride across the bay on Thompson’s famous boat from his house to the practice facility. Lacob called to ask. He was uneasy about the request. “He was like, instantaneously: ‘Absolutely. I’d love to do that,’” Lacob said. “He actually was so enthusiastic about it. I didn’t know. That’s an invasion of someone’s privacy and personal space and time.” On the night of the auction, the bidding went wild. Toward the end, two attendees were rocketing the price up, intent on acquiring this boat ride. While the bidding neared its final destination of $250,000 — a record for any item or offer at the event — Lacob approached Thompson. “Would you be willing to do it … twice?” Lacob asked. Thompson said yes. “It was a half-million dollars to the foundation,” Lacob said. “He has a great heart. He’s a really good person. That’s what I’ll always remember about him.” Thompson and Kerr had breakfast in Manhattan Beach in late June. Kerr made the drive up from San Diego. He wanted to reiterate to Thompson that, while everything was still in flux, he valued him and wanted him back. They talked a little about the contractual situation. Kerr ***** out the reality of his future with the Warriors — it’d probably include a fluctuating role, perhaps off the bench. “At the end of the breakfast, he said, ‘You know, I think it’s time. I think I’m going to go to Dallas,’” Kerr said. “I understood. I completely understood. Sometimes a fresh start can be healthy. I think it was the right decision for him.” GO DEEPER Inside Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s second season and the Warriors’ chase for the next big fish Many within the Warriors had seen the move coming and had privately been predicting it for months. Lacob has maintained that it hit him as a surprise. The front office had hinted that the plan was to bring a market offer back to him later in free agency. “To be honest with you, shocked,” Lacob said. “If you would’ve told me a few years ago, if there’s one person that I would have never thought that would ever leave the Warriors and would retire as a Warrior, I would probably (have said) Klay would be the highest likelihood.” That reality never panned out. He returns to face the Warriors in a Mavericks jersey on Tuesday night. “It’s weird seeing No. 31 (on it),” Curry said. “I hate that.” “This will be as emotional as anything we’ve ever experienced, I think, in my time here,” Kerr said. “I think it’ll be even more emotional than his return to play. Obviously now there’s a finality to it and appreciation for everything he did hanging the banners, helping get the arena built, just being so beloved by everybody.” “Some of the stuff we’re talking about here today is not a secret,” Lacob said. “People kind of understand from both sides some of the issues that, yeah, kind of happened. But I do think everyone still loves the history. You can’t take away what he meant to the franchise. Honestly, to me as an owner — very, very important. He’s the first guy we ever drafted. I’m not just saying this. I really did feel like he was a son … Regardless of anything — how it ended, didn’t end. Whatever. That doesn’t matter. It’s an important moment. An important day.” What will Klay Thompson’s return on Tuesday be like? Steph Curry: “I don’t know. We’ve had homecomings before, but nothing like this.” pic.twitter.com/NT34K1kKyg — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 11, 2024 Asked Klay Thompson about his return to San Francisco on Tuesday for his first game against the Warriors: “It’ll be good to see people you grinded with obviously, but to me, it’s just another regular season game in November.” pic.twitter.com/Kf9KkUwfNP — Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) November 11, 2024 (Photo illustration: Meech Robinson/The Athletic; photos Sam Hodde / Getty Images, Gregory Shamus / Getty Images, Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images) Source link #Klay #Thompsons #alltime #legend #moment #remembered #Warriors Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stellar Blade’s Nier: Automata DLC, Photo Mode launch Nov 20 Stellar Blade’s Nier: Automata DLC, Photo Mode launch Nov 20 Twisted Voxel: “The latest update for Stellar Blade, version 1.008, brings significant enhancements, especially for the PlayStation 5 Pro. One of the most notable features introduced is support for High Frame Rate (HFR) Mode. This mode takes advantage of a display’s 120 Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate, reducing input lag and improving frame rate performance.” Source link #Stellar #Blades #Nier #Automata #DLC #Photo #Mode #launch #Nov Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With the M4 here, there are two Macs you now shouldn’t buy With the M4 here, there are two Macs you now shouldn’t buy The M4 chip update for the Mac was quite a shakeup. Apple simultaneously introduced the M4 Pro and M4 Max, while also bumping RAM across the starting configurations of the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro. All in all, these are great changes that have sweetened the deal on these new M4 products. But all the changes in the lineup have left two Macs completely in the cold — and until they get updated, you shouldn’t buy them. Mac Studio (M2 Ultra) Mark Coppock / Digital Trends The performance of the M4 Pro Mac mini is kind of insane when you consider the size of this mini PC. All that performance feels extra impressive because the M3 generation was skipped for both the Mac mini and Mac Studio, making for quite a leap in performance with the latest Mac mini. In fact, it’s so big a jump that it makes the current Mac Studio kind of a nonstarter. The M4 Pro Mac mini gets very close to outperforming the M2 Ultra Mac Studio in lots of benchmarks, despite having significantly less cores. The GPU performance is probably the most exciting bit, as the 20-core Mac mini actually beat the 40-core Mac Studio in the Cinebench R24 GPU test. That shows you just how far Apple’s graphics have come these past couple of years. And while the $4,000 M2 Ultra Mac Studio might have a bit more thermal headroom and stronger sustained performance, it’s also twice the size and cost. Of course, you could opt for the starting $2,000 M2 Max configuration, but for the same money, you can get a configuration of the M4 Pro Mac mini with more memory. And remember, this thing is much smaller — and apparently even has storage that isn’t soldered down. I’ve no doubt that the rumored M4 Ultra Mac Studio will be an absolute rock star, but you’re better off sticking with the Mac mini or waiting for that upgraded model right now. MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) Luke Larsen / Digital Trends The decision point between the 15-inch MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro has always been tough to decipher, but this recent update has tipped the scales toward the new M4 MacBook Pro. The 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299 and comes with the M3, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. That upgrade from 8GB to 16GB is awesome, of course — don’t get me wrong. But the changes to the M4 14-inch MacBook pro make it overall a far more attractive offer. And now, the 14-inch MacBook Pro also starts with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,599. When you match the configuration on the MacBook Air by adding more storage, that brings the total price to $1,499. So, it’s $100 for the upgrade from MacBook Air to MacBook Pro. $100 isn’t nothing, but what you get in return is worth far more. The new MacBook Pro gets you superior performance, a far better display, more ports, and a big upgrade to the webcam. Chris Hagan / Digital Trends There’s really only two reasons to buy the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air right now. First, the cheaper starting configuration of $1,299 ******** attractive. Despite the fact that it’s not a better overall value, if you’re just looking for getting a more affordable Mac, the ability to start at 256GB of storage gives it an advantage. Secondly, the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is, admittedly, both lighter and thinner than the MacBook Pro. It’s only 0.43 inches thick and 3.3 pounds, compared to the 0.61-inch thickness of the MacBook Pro. The 0.3-pound weight difference probably isn’t overly noticeable, but there’s no question that the MacBook Air is more portable. But really, if you’re after a portable laptop, you’re better off going for the smaller 13-inch MacBook Air anyways, which is priced lower and much easier to travel with. The other more obvious reason to not by the M3 MacBook Air right now, however, is that an M4 update is rumored to come soon. It may only be a couple of months before those laptops get upgraded to the M4, which could bring other improvements as well. So, for now, buy the M4 MacBook Pro or wait out the holiday season for the M4. Source link #Macs #shouldnt #buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator Trump taps former Rep. Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator Former U.S. President and *********** presidential candidate Donald Trump reacts as former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin speaks at a rally ahead of the New Hampshire primary election in Concord, New Hampshire, U.S. January 19, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters President-elect Donald Trump said that he would appoint former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump said that Zeldin, an attorney who represented a Long Island congressional for four terms, “has been a true fighter for America First policies.” “He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of ********* businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said in a statement. Read more CNBC politics coverage Zeldin, 44, in a tweet wrote that “it is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.” “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back ********* jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI,” Zeldin wrote. “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water. Zeldin was the *********** Party’s nominee for governor of New York in 2022. He was defeated by incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. This is developing news. Check back for updates. Source link #Trump #taps #Rep #Lee #Zeldin #EPA #administrator Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bentley teases first EV, delays going fully electric again Bentley teases first EV, delays going fully electric again Bentley has teased its first-ever electric vehicle, while also confirming it won’t be shifting to a purely electric lineup by 2030. These details were revealed late last week when the Volkswagen-owned British marque unveiled its Beyond 100+ strategic plan, a revision of the earlier Beyond 100 plan originally announced in 2020. Due in 2026 — a year later than originally planned — the as-yet unnamed crossover is being classed as the “world’s first luxury urban SUV” by Bentley, suggesting it will be smaller in size than the Bentayga, which is 5.1m long in standard wheelbase form. Like the company’s current models, the new EV will have prominent bulge around the rear wheel arch. It will also feature a window line that sweeps upwards aft of the rear doors, like on the Continental coupe. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Camera IconBentley EV Credit: CarExpertCamera IconBentley Continental GT coupe Credit: CarExpert Although Bentley didn’t provide any further details about the new model’s drivetrain and range, the company claimed the car is being designed and developed in the ***, and will be produced at the brand’s headquarters in Crewe, about an hour south of Manchester. Earlier this year Bentley’s then-CEO Adrian Hallmark blamed the electric crossover’s delayed launch on technical issues encountered by Porsche and Audi during the development of Platform Premium Electric (PPE), which serves as the basis of the Audi Q6 e-tron and second-generation Porsche Macan, as well as Bentley’s crossover EV. After the electric crossover’s unveiling, Bentley plans to launch a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or pure electric model every year until 2035. Camera IconBentley Bentayga Credit: CarExpert Due to “today’s economic, market and legislative environment” — code for the slower-than-anticipated take up of electric vehicles — Bentley’s lineup won’t be completely electric until 2035, right when sales of new petrol- and diesel-powered cars will be banned in the ********* Union. This isn’t the first delay in the company’s all-electric ambitions. In late 2020, Bentley announced it would have a fully electrified range by 2026 before going pure electric by 2030. Earlier this year, it pushed the all-EV target back to 2033. To accommodate this shift, Bentley plans on “extending the lifecycle of PHEV models beyond 2030”. The Flying Spur sedan, and Continental coupe and convertible are powered exclusively by plug-in hybrid drivetrain featuring 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The Bentayga, at least in standard wheelbase form, is available with the V6 plug-in hybrid setup. MORE: Everything Bentley Source link #Bentley #teases #delays #fully #electric Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Broncos heartbroken by blocked field goal loss to Chiefs: ‘We were right there’ Broncos heartbroken by blocked field goal loss to Chiefs: ‘We were right there’ KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike McGlinchey turned around, spotted his rookie quarterback and let out a guttural yell. Bo Nix had just found Courtland Sutton for a third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter, putting the Denver Broncos in position to slay the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. McGlinchey, the veteran right tackle, pumped his fist as he and right guard Quinn Meinerz embraced Nix. Under two minutes remained after the play that gave the Broncos a first down at the Chiefs’ 17-yard line. The home team was out of timeouts. A couple of run plays and a kneeldown and the Broncos would be in position to end a losing streak at Arrowhead Stadium that has lasted nine agonizing years. The Broncos had outplayed the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, coach Sean Payton said afterward, and all they needed was one kick to make that count. Thirty minutes later, the Broncos were left only to grapple with the most excruciating loss many of them had ever experienced. “This is something that’s going to be hard to forget about,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “We were right there.” IT’S BLOCKED! @CHIEFS WIN! STILL UNDEFEATED! pic.twitter.com/hMLhAgbRpf — NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024 The locker room scene told the story of devastation — the kind only a loss suffered this way could inflict. Evidence of the hurt welled in the eyes of players at all positions and all experience levels. Where words *******, the long stares, puffy eyes and bewildered expressions illustrated the pain. “Games like this are supposed to hurt, man,” defensive tackle Malcolm ****** said of Denver’s 16-14 loss. “We see the faces on everybody in this locker room. It’s supposed to hurt because we’re so invested, man. Everybody works their tail off every day, and we see it. If you’re not invested in it, it wouldn’t feel this way. It wouldn’t feel this bad. We know where we want to go, where we’re trying to go, where we’re fighting to go. We’ve got to give this city something to be proud of.” GO DEEPER Chiefs survive Broncos with late blocked field goal, win 16-14: Takeaways The Broncos sacked Patrick Mahomes four times and pressured him relentlessly. They forced Kansas City to kick field goals on three of its four trips into the red zone. Nix led the Broncos on two of the season’s prettiest drives — both ending in touchdown passes by the rookie quarterback — to stake Denver to an early 14-3 lead. Then, after scuttling through much of the second half, he led the Broncos on a final drive that lasted nearly six minutes, chewing all of the remaining clock before leaving the field. He settled in to watch what he expected would be a game-winning 35-yard field goal by Wil Lutz. “We gave ourselves a chance,” Nix said. “They just made one extra play.” In a blink, hope *****. Hope of the first win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium since 2015. Hope of a victory that would have given the Broncos a 6-4 record and a huge boost in the chase for an elusive playoff spot. Hope that they had done enough to finally pin the team that always seems to find an escape hatch. It was all extinguished when linebacker Leo Chenal bulldozed Broncos offensive lineman Alex Forsyth and other Chiefs rushed in from the left side. Chenal blocked the kick just after it left Lutz’s right foot. The Chiefs streamed onto the field in celebration. Mahomes sprinted through the end zone, hands open wide, as a delirious crowd roared. Payton said the final play was caused by “************ from the left side,” but he didn’t delve any further. “It didn’t go in,” Lutz said. “That was my vantage point. We’re all still trying to take it in right now.” Nix took a deep breath and stared at the sky. Other Broncos stood in their spots, coming to grips with the heartbreaking reality. “It hurts,” McGlinchey said. “That would have been a good one. And we would have won it the right way, from a full-team perspective. I think our defense played their butts off today to hold them to 16 points. We had a couple opportunities in the second half offensively that we could have done a better job with to get the lead going and make the game more in our control. To do what we did on that last drive and essentially do what you thought would end the game — and then, you know, you can’t fall asleep on one play. It can change the face of the game. It can change the face of a season.” GO DEEPER NFL Week 10 takeaways: Who’s more disappointing, Jets or Cowboys? Are Steelers Super Bowl worthy? Had the wall held and Lutz’s kick sailed through — he has missed only two of 34 kicks under 40 yards since joining the Broncos in 2023, and both were Chiefs blocks — the Broncos would have celebrated a resilient performance by their defense. The unit harassed Kansas City’s two-time MVP quarterback and responded when Mahomes created magic. The Chiefs scored a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play at the 2-yard line — a drive that was extended after a questionable ******** contact call on safety Brandon Jones on third down — but settled for field goals on their other three trips inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10. The Broncos limited the Chiefs to just 57 yards on 19 carries. The Broncos have allowed only two Chiefs touchdowns in their past two games at Arrowhead Stadium, but they have only two losses to show for it. “One of the keys was going to be third downs and red zone efficiency,” Payton said. “Man, we did it a year ago really well here, if you recall. They moved the ball but held them to field goals, and we were able to do that today.” Mahomes still had his highlights, like when he escaped a would-be sack from Nik Bonitto on third-and-13 and found former Broncos running back Samaje Perine for a 31-yard gain. But the Broncos kept answering, their last goal-line stand forcing a field goal that gave the Chiefs a 16-14 edge with 5 minutes, 57 seconds remaining. Had the final kick gone down as it should have, the winning celebration would have included hefty praise for Nix, who had more yards per attempt (7.2 to 6.3), more touchdown passes (two to one) and a better passer rating (115.3 to 92) than Mahomes. On back-to-back touchdown drives in the second quarter, Nix completed 7 of 8 passes for 114 yards. Both of his scoring throws in that stretch — a 6-yard ****** to Devaughn Vele and a 32-yard deep ball for Sutton — came on third down. 1⃣4⃣ : CBS pic.twitter.com/bU0I65Txmo — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 10, 2024 “I thought the ‘Q’ played real well,” Payton said of Nix. “Poised. Gutsy.” Had the kick made an entire stadium groan, a subplot to the winning story would have been the ever-growing contribution from Denver’s young offensive weapons. Rookie running back Audric Estimé, in his most expansive action of the season, rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries. He figured prominently on Denver’s first two touchdown drives in the first half and ran for 6 yards on third-and-1 to extend Denver’s final drive in the fourth quarter. Vele, meanwhile, caught four passes for 39 yards and his first career touchdown, with two of his grabs made through contact on third down. The Broncos punted on their first three possessions of the second half. Their first series was stalled by a holding penalty, and the Broncos didn’t have answers for some of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s third-down pressure looks. Still, in a season that could be defined by development, young players, including second-year wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., showed more growth. GO DEEPER ‘No more rookies anymore’: Broncos’ playoff hopes could hinge on draft class’s growth All those silver linings might emerge through the hurt at some point. McGlinchey said the loss “will be more fuel to the *****.” Nix praised the ****** of a team that bounced back from last week’s lopsided loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who sacked Mahomes one week after signing a four-year contract extension, insisted there would be no finger-pointing as the Broncos picked up the pieces. Surtain noted the Broncos still have seven games, beginning with Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. The teams chasing the Broncos for wild-card positioning in the AFC — the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets — all lost Sunday. Their performance on the road was evidence, the Broncos claimed, that they can beat anyone down the stretch. The franchise’s first playoff berth since 2015 doesn’t look like some faraway pipe dream based on how the Broncos looked for the first 59 minutes, 59 seconds against the Chiefs. But there was no easing the pain produced by a final second gone wrong. Not yet, anyway. “The easy thing to do is give in and stop, say that it’s too hard,” Nix said. “I feel like our locker room is going to respond better and consistently find ways to improve, find ways to keep going toe-to-toe with teams like this. One time, it’ll go our way.” Payton has suffered brutal losses in his career. Anyone who lasts nearly two decades as a head coach will experience his share of them. Payton lost a playoff game on the final play at the Minnesota Vikings. He missed out on a trip to a second Super Bowl after the “NOLA no-call” in the 2018 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. He told players in the locker room that Sunday’s loss was right up there with the toughest he’s had to stomach. “That one will take a while” to get over, Payton said. “That one will sting. … As a coach, you hurt for your players.” Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up (Photo of Garett Bolles after Sunday’s loss: David Eulitt / Getty Images) Source link #Broncos #heartbroken #blocked #field #goal #loss #Chiefs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Final Fantasy 14 cross-platform? Is Final Fantasy 14 cross-platform? In the world of MMORPGs, Final Fantasy XIV has risen to the top alongside (or perhaps even surpassing) World of Warcraft. Besides it being one of the best Final Fantasy games, one thing that sets it apart from most in the genre is the fact that it is on consoles as well as PC. For the first decade or so of its life, it was only on PlayStation and PC, but now Xbox players are also able to explore the world of Eorzea and beyond. MMOs are best played with friends, so one would hope it would have cross-platform support like Genshin Impact. Let’s party up and see if you can raid with your friends regardless of platform in Final Fantasy XIV. Is Final Fantasy 14 cross-platform? Square-Enix / Square Enix Yes, Final Fantasy XIV was originally only cross-platform between PlayStation and PC players, but ever since the game came to Xbox, those players have also been entered into the fold. You’re free to meet, team up with, and experience the entire game with players on all platforms so long as you’re connected to the same server. As far as cross-progression goes, Final Fantasy XIV handles things a little awkwardly. While your character and progress will be fully transferable between platforms, the game itself and any expansions you buy do not transfer. You can still use the same subscription, thankfully, but moving from platform to platform will require you to rebuy any extra content not currently available for free if you want to access it. However, we’re sure you’ve already heard that the critically acclaimed MMORPG has a free trial up to level 70. Source link #Final #Fantasy #crossplatform Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How a single gopher restored a landscape devastated by a volcano How a single gopher restored a landscape devastated by a volcano The northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) brings unexpected ecosystem benefits All Canada Photos/Alamy Two years after Mount St Helens erupted in 1980, a team of researchers helicoptered in a gopher to the ash-covered landscape. Decades later, the activity of that single gopher burrowing for a single day may have helped the decimated ecosystem regrow by boosting the diversity of soil fungi. “There’s something to be said about learning lessons from the gophers,” says Mia Maltz at the University of Connecticut, who has used the eruption to understand how forests might recover from other stresses – including wildfires and… Source link #single #gopher #restored #landscape #devastated #volcano Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D: a close call AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D: a close call AMD’s new Ryzen 7 9800X3D is already one of the best processors you can buy. It delivers productivity and gaming gains across the board, though not in equal strides. Despite the improvements AMD made, the last-gen Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still potent competition, particularly when it comes to gaming. These are two of the go-to gaming CPUs right now, and although the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is newer and faster, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still the right CPU for most people. That becomes clear when you look at the main focus of these CPUs — gaming performance — and how prices are starting to settle. Specs and pricing Jacob ****** / Digital Trends The Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D are almost identical on the specs front. You’re getting eight cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of cache through AMD’s 3D V-Cache tech. Both also top out at 120 watts, though they rarely ever reach that point. Even when pushed to the limit, both the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D rarely reach up to 100W, often operating between 50W and 70W, especially when you’re playing games. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming It may not look like there are a ton of differences between these two CPUs, but there are. First, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D uses the new Zen 5 architecture, which not only utilizes a smaller node, but also comes with a dedicated 512-bit data path for AVX-512 instructions — both CPUs support the instruction, however. For gamers, the ******* difference is how AMD changed the cache. Both CPUs come with 104MB of total cache, but the 3D V-Cache **** is in a different location. On the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, it’s stacked on top of the CPU cores, while on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, it’s tucked below the CPU cores. It might not sound like a big difference, but the Ryzen 7 9800X3D essentially gives the CPU cores more direct access to cooling. That allowed AMD to push clock speeds further, as well as fully unlock the Ryzen 7 9800X3D for overclocking. Ryzen 7 9800X3D Ryzen 7 7800X3D Architecture Zen 5 Zen 4 Cores/Threads 8/16 8/16 L3/L2 Cache 96MB / 8MB 96MB / 8MB Base frequency 4.7GHz 4.2GHz Max turbo frequency 5.2GHz 5GHz Socket AM5 AM5 Max temperature 95°C 89°C TDP 120W 120W The Ryzen 7 7800X3D doesn’t support manual overclocking, though you can still boost the speeds through AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). This gives you some control over overclocking or undervolting your CPU, but the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has all of the overclocking bells and whistles if you want to push the CPU to its limit. Pricing is a big departure for these two CPUs, and at the time of writing, I’m not sure where prices will end up. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D has a list price of $479, which is $30 more expensive than the $449 the Ryzen 7 7800X3D launched at. However, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is currently sold out everywhere, and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is selling for around $460 in its absence. Things won’t stay this way forever. When the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes back in stock, that will have downward pressure on the price of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. On the secondhand market, the CPU is selling for around $350 right now, and I suspect it’ll drop below $400 for a new one once the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes back in stock. AMD has said that it expects the Ryzen 7 7800X3D will stick around for a while, so we should see prices drop soon. Productivity performance Jacob ****** / Digital Trends The Ryzen 7 9800X3D makes big leaps over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D when it comes to productivity performance. You can see the leaps in Cinebench R24 above. Some of that is attributed to the architectural shift in Zen 5, with a clear 19% uplift in single-core speeds. The multi-core speed also sees a 19% boost, however, showing that the change in cache location is allowing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to fully capitalize on each core. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Rendering applications like Cinebench are the best showcase for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. In Blender, which is another rendering application, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is upwards of 21% faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. That’s a massive increase. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends In a multipurpose workload like Geekbench, things are a little different. Similar to Cinebench, you can see a clean 19% uplift in single-core performance due to the Zen 5 architecture. However, in multi-core performance, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D’s lead shrinks to 14%. That’s still a large uplift over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, though not nearly as stark as what I saw in rendering apps. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends In some apps, the difference really isn’t that large. Take Premiere Pro as an example. Here, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is 8% faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. That’s a solid speed-up, no doubt, but it’s not going to make Premiere Pro significantly better to use overall. We’re still working with two eight-core processors, and while the improvement in single-core performance on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is welcome, it doesn’t dominate across all productivity workloads. That’s just the nature of the ******. There’s no doubt that the Ryzen 7 9800XD is a better productivity CPU than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Both of these chips, however, are built for gaming with their additional cache. The productivity performance of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is almost identical to the Ryzen 7 9700X when using that CPU’s 105W mode. And you can pick up that CPU for around $325 — more than $150 less than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. There are some who want gaming and productivity in equal strides, but compromising one area or the other a bit can save you a ton of money. Gaming performance Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Do you want the fastest gaming CPU, or the secon- fastest gaming CPU? That’s really what it comes down to with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Even expensive flagships like the Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen 9 9950X can’t keep up with what these two CPUs offer. They’re in a league of their own, and although the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D is technically faster, it’s not ahead by much. At most, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is around 6% to 7% faster than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and that’s in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail where you can see big differences. There are a lot of games, such as Returnal, *********’s Creed Mirage, Red ***** Redemption 2, and ****** Myth: Wukong where the differences don’t register. In those last two games, in fact, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D was ahead — though mostly due to some variance in runs. It’s important to keep in mind that these tests were run at 1080p with High settings. If you push up the resolution and/or graphics settings, the differences in performance start to disappear. I don’t want to diminish the role of a CPU if your gaming PC completely. However, the thin single-digit margins between the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D call into question just much faster the Ryzen 7 9800X3D really is when inside a high-performance gaming PC. Frankly, it’s not surprising the two CPUs are so tight. AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs didn’t move the needle much for gaming performance, and with the same amount of cache on both CPUs, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D doesn’t make huge improvements over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, at least on the gaming front. Power and temperature Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Both the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 7 7800X3D are very efficient CPUs. However, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is more efficient, if only by a hair. You can see that in action in the chart above. Compared to a CPU like the Intel Core i9-14900K, you see how much more efficient both these CPUs are. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D still draws more power than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and that’s true in games like Returnal where the two CPUs post identical performance. Jacob ****** / Digital Trends In addition, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D runs hotter. All of AMD’s 3D V-Cache CPUs run hot, but the higher clock speeds and power draw on the Ryzen 7 9800X3D go further than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The difference isn’t quite as stark as power draw. AMD is pushing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D hard. The change of the cache location allows for overclocking and higher clock speeds, and AMD took advantage of that extra headroom to push the power and temperature of the CPU, which mostly results in better productivity performance. A surprising upset Jacob ****** / Digital Trends I’m not sure how long it will take for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to reach its $479 list price. I don’t think it will be soon, however. The CPU sold out almost immediately, and it’s selling for between $700 and $900 on the secondhand market right now. Meanwhile, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is currently selling for $460, but it’s around $350 on the secondhand market, and I suspect it’ll drop even lower once the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes back in stock. Keeping the price difference in mind, I’m on the side of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. There’s no doubt the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is much faster in productivity apps, but these are gaming CPUs. On that front, both the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D are very close, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D isn’t worth the extra price. Depending on how things shake out, you could save upwards of $100 on the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. We’ll have to see where prices end up, but I don’t suspect thry’ll change much. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a very impressive CPU, but if you don’t mind sacrificing some productivity performance, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still delivers on the gaming front for much less money. Source link #AMD #Ryzen #9800X3D #Ryzen #7800X3D #close #call Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Karma Comes After A Hit-And-Run ****** Karma Comes After A Hit-And-Run ****** Read the full story on The Auto Wire Karma Comes After A Hit-And-Run ****** A new video has people talking after it shows a hit-and-run driver get into a much more serious accident trying to get away from the victims. Everyone loves to see people who try ducking responsibility for their actions ultimately get exactly what they deserve. See how a hit-and-run turned into a barrel roll for an Audi driver. The person who shared the brutal cellphone video footage said he and his daughter were driving in Tempe, Arizona when another driver in a Saturn Vue rear ended their vehicle. The collision must’ve been at lower speeds and so didn’t do much damage, let alone hurt anyone. Still, the Saturn driver allegedly took off instead of exchanging insurance info while waiting for police. As the victims pull up alongside the Saturn, which is driving down a multi-lane road, the other driver flips them off. We wouldn’t expect any more maturity from someone who allegedly ran from an earlier collision. Perhaps to get away from the victims, or maybe because they weren’t paying attention to the road ahead, the Saturn driver blows through a red light. The intersection is clear until a full-size pickup truck T-bones the little crossover which spins around, then rolls before coming to a rest in a mangled heap. That’s go to hurt. According to the victim, the other driver got out of the Saturn walked around on their own, and refused a ride to the hospital in an ambulance. We can understand why anyone would refuse that after seeing how much those rides cost. That doesn’t mean the alleged hit-and-run driver was fine since adrenaline can cause you to not feel injuries for some time after a brutal car accident. What we can say is sometimes karma smacks you up side the head after you do something rotten. Sadly, the driver of the pickup truck now also has to deal with this person’s poor choices. Image via BlackNovus_PH/Reddit Follow The Auto Wire on Google News. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Source link #Karma #HitAndRun #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why isn’t Alexander Mogilny in the Hockey Hall of Fame? There are clues Why isn’t Alexander Mogilny in the Hockey Hall of Fame? There are clues Alexander Mogilny won’t be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. He has been eligible for 15 years, with cries from critics intensifying upon each rejection. Rebukes are delivered with indignation. The Athletic has called his exclusion “inexcusable.” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has labeled it “a disgrace,” Sportsnet “almost laughable” and the Toronto Star “nothing less than a ******.” For the record, I believe Mogilny deserves induction. He produced one of the NHL’s most magical seasons, recorded wonderful career statistics and won a few awards along the way. His origin story is exhilarating; he was a true trailblazer, brazenly defecting from the ******* Union to join the Buffalo Sabres. The Athletic two years ago ranked him the 89th greatest player in NHL history. My problem, however, is with the annual assertion that the reasons behind Mogilny’s exclusion are some great mystery. It is true the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee’s clandestine process means we’ll likely never know precisely why Mogilny has not been enshrined — or even if he has been so much as nominated. But the rationale has never been difficult to glean. Unmistakable clues have been chronicled for decades. Mogilny’s personality is almost always described through such vague adjectives as “mercurial,” “enigmatic,” “quirky” or “mysterious.” What drove owners, general managers, coaches, teammates and fans bananas weren’t mere eccentricities. During his playing days, he was described as selfish, lazy, unreliable, a quitter and a passenger. Sporting sins, all. As terrific as he was, Mogilny too often treated the sport as though it were beneath his ultimate effort and dedication. Those who played with him or watched him play — including Hall of Fame selection committees — could be excused for feeling cheated: awed by his otherworldly talents, but ultimately denied the joy of witnessing the heights of what he might have been. “If they had a championship for quitters, this man would wear the heavyweight crown,” Buffalo News columnist Jim Kelley wrote of Mogilny in May 1995. Three months later, Mogilny’s antics forced the Sabres to trade him. Keep in mind that, at the time, Mogilny had delivered the best hockey of his career. His 1992-93 season was seismic. Mogilny amassed 76 goals and 127 points on a line with center Pat LaFontaine and left wing Dave Andreychuk, two future Hall of Famers. A preponderance of weight is placed on that single season when the case is made for Mogilny’s induction. But just two years later, the Sabres couldn’t cope with him anymore. You hear plenty from Mogilny associates who insist he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. Rarely do you hear a luminary from any sport declare on the record that a superstar doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame. Those already inducted never want to come off as selfish or curmudgeonly about their blessing; the more the merrier. And when was the last time we heard LaFontaine utter a negative word about anyone? Still, praise about Mogilny from former teammates and team leaders is often delivered with caveats. Hall of Famers Martin Brodeur and Lou Lamoriello have stated Mogilny belongs in the Hall of Fame. But in the autobiography “Brodeur: Beyond the Crease,” a few pointed passages appear about Mogilny’s troubling lack of *******: “After several games of trying Mogilny on the (power-play) point, Lamoriello waived him, insisting the move, ‘was about ridding the team of passengers.’ I always felt ‘Almo’ was a good player on a good team, but on a struggling team he was exposed for his tendencies and habits.” Mats Sundin was amused by Alexander Mogilny’s antics during their time as teammates in Toronto. (Ken Faught / Toronto Star via Getty Images) There are a bunch of Mogilny references in Hall of Fame center Mats Sundin’s book, “Home and Away.” Mogilny amused the Maple Leafs captain during their three seasons together. By that late stage of Mogilny’s career, his infamous aversion to injury rehabilitation was accepted as part of the package. Sundin wrote that after multiple surgeries on Mogilny’s arthritic left hip, Sundin urged him to work out with strength coach Matt Nichol for just 10 minutes a day to prolong his linemate’s career for 10 more years. “Why the f— would I want to do that?” Sundin recalled Mogilny’s reply. “He was arguably the most talented guy any of us had ever played with,” Sundin wrote, “but he was not interested in training off-ice with us.” That, in a nutshell, illustrates how Mogilny was viewed among many of the boys. He was jovial and quick-witted, good for a laugh in the dressing room or on the road. But a refusal to push himself could make teammates want to repeatedly bash their Jofas into the half-wall. Former teammates, of course, aren’t the ones deciding Mogilny’s fate at the Hall of Fame. That’s where the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee comes in. They are the gatekeepers, tasked to protect the game’s most hallowed principles — whether we agree or not. Several of Mogilny’s close hockey acquaintances have served on the revolving, 18-member Selection Committee, which needs 14 members to confer induction. The current group has included Brian Burke (his Vancouver Canucks GM) since 2012, Igor Larionov (his Central Red Army teammate) since 2011 and Ron Francis (his Toronto Maple Leafs teammate) since 2016. Canucks executive/coach and Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn served five years of Mogilny’s eligibility, while New Jersey Devils broadcaster Mike Emrick served seven years. Hockey Hall of Fame selectors are sworn to secrecy, but some wrote books before they committed. What’s interesting in reading these memoirs is what isn’t said about Mogilny’s impact. Burke’s autobiography, “Burke’s Law,” mentions Mogilny just once in regard to Vancouver signing countryman Pavel Bure away from the ******* Union. Mogilny won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2000, but Emrick’s autobiography, “Off Mike: How a **** from Basketball-Crazy Indiana Became America’s NHL Voice,” doesn’t mention the right wing. Quinn’s posthumous biography, “Quinn: The Life of a Hockey Legend” by The Athletic’s Dan Robson, provides zero quotes, anecdotes or words about Mogilny. There are various reasons why Mogilny might not receive credit in these books. A lack of mentions doesn’t necessarily reveal the authors’ feelings about Mogilny’s exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Collectively, however, the omissions are telling. Wouldn’t a surefire Hall of Fame teammate make an enduring impression on the luminaries around him? Shouldn’t he influence their reflections of excellence? Current Hall of Fame selector and journalist Scott Morrison has written many books, including “By the Numbers: From 00 to 99,” which is about the greatest players to wear each number. Mogilny was the obvious choice for No. 89, with Morrison writing, “While always a terrific player and a dangerous scorer, Mogilny only once came close to those (1992-93) numbers again, always being very good, but not always great.” Mogilny’s bullet-point resume looks Hall of Fame-reasonable on paper. In addition to the stats and his dramatic origin story, he won a Stanley Cup, Olympic and IIHF World Championship gold medals to become a member of the Triple Gold Club, a Lady Byng, and is frequently (and erroneously) credited as the NHL’s first Russian-born captain. But all his accomplishments come with qualifiers. He never was voted first-team All-Star — although he did make a pair of second-teams — and finished among the top 10 in goals thrice and points twice in his 15 seasons. Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure at the 1993 All-Star Game. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) Not even Mogilny’s singular campaign is unassailable. Bernie Nicholls scored 70 goals in a season, scored two more career goals than Mogilny and recorded 117 more points in 137 more games. Yet Nicholls is not in the Hall of Fame either. Mogilny won his Stanley Cup as a trade-deadline acquisition. He skated on the Devils’ third line, adding four goals and three assists in 23 postseason games. Sports Illustrated legend Michael Farber (a Hall of Fame selector until two years ago) wrote during the Final series against the Dallas Stars how Mogilny “skated in alone on a breakaway and took the most pedestrian of shots, a wrister from 25 feet. It was thigh-high, right at (Ed) Belfour’s glove, an effort worthy of an optional morning skate in January and not a potential Cup-winning goal in June. … The game turned on Mogilny’s middling effort, which seemed to energize Dallas.” Over his career, Mogilny’s postseason scoring average plummeted to 0.69 points a game after averaging 1.04 points in the regular season. “He’s so concerned with his sticks and skates I think he drives himself nuts, as well as us,” Devils coach Larry Robinson said during a 2001 postseason stretch in which Mogilny scored one goal over 19 games. “He’s thinking about it all the time. And you know in this business some of the best thinking you do is the thinking you don’t do.” Regarding the Triple Gold Club and its requisite IIHF World Championships gold medal, that tournament never has carried any great degree of import to a player’s legacy, as it’s comprised of players not in the NHL postseason. Of the 30 Triple Gold Club members, 22 are Hall-eligible yet only 10 have been admitted. The Lady Byng is far from a clincher. Eighteen winners are not in the Hall of Fame despite being eligible. Mogilny’s propensity to avoid contact and defense helped minimize his penalty minutes. Even so, he was suspended 10 games in January 1992 for slapping linesman Dan Schachte upside the head after being called for a slashing major and game misconduct. Mogilny’s captaincy is regularly cited as leadership confirmation. Not nearly. Sabres coach John Muckler put the interim “C” on Mogilny’s sweater in November 1993 while LaFontaine was sidelined by a knee injury. The promotion was considered a ploy. “Either Muckler thought it would motivate him to get back to form or owner Seymour Knox thought it would be a cool idea to have the first Russian captain,” Vancouver Province columnist Tony Gallagher wrote. “When informed some other Russian had been a captain … Knox went snakey.” True enough, the New York Americans named Russian-born forward Sweeney Schriner their captain in the 1930s, further muddling another Hall of Fame talking point. “The experiment of captain was a ********,” Kelley wrote. “Mogilny is many things, including a complex and mysterious personality, but he is not a leader.” It should be noted Kelley, Gallagher and Farber are Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award recipients. That’s the Hockey Hall of Fame’s lifetime honor for print journalists. Washington Times reporter Dave Fay also won it, and he summed Mogilny this way: “a brilliant wing when properly motivated, a hand grenade missing its pin most other times.” Among the misguided Mogilny narratives is how injuries robbed him of reaching the coveted 1,000-game milestone, but he needed just 10 more. The shortfall could have been overcome without his contract squabbles or distaste for working out. After breaking his leg in the 1993 playoffs, Mogilny eschewed injury rehabilitation and spent his offseason playing golf, delaying his return by as much as a month. He missed 16 games the next season. “He rehabbed on the golf course. The Sabres were so steamed at his consistent ******** to attend physio that Muckler and then-general manager Gerry Meehan read him the riot act, which went in one ear and out the other,” Gallagher wrote. “He was weeks late back into the lineup.” Mogilny skipped the Canucks’ first 16 games of 1997-98 because of a holdout. By the time he reported, the Canucks were 3-11-2 and deep into a 10-game losing skid, had fired Quinn as president/GM and would ***** coach Tom Renney three games later. “While Mogilny ******** a popular figure in the dressing room, and his brilliant abilities unquestioned,” wrote Vancouver Sun columnist Gary Mason in January 1998, “his play this season has become a joke among some players. He has played with little passion or commitment since re-signing with the team. He seems resigned to the fact he’s being traded and is playing like it, going through the motions while cashing his checks.” The Buffalo News has speculated Mogilny is being stiff-armed by Hockey Hall of Fame gatekeepers who, wary of Mogilny’s decision not to collect his 2003 Lady Byng or attend his 2016 Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame induction, ***** he would embarrass the Hall of Fame by declining to show up. The newspaper’s hypothesis, however, fails to recognize Kelley’s scrutiny. “Jim Kelley Way,” designated when he ***** in 2010, is the stretch of Washington Avenue between the Buffalo News’ former offices and KeyBank Center, where the Sabres play. A year later, Kelley was inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame along with Mogilny, who did show up — in a tuxedo, no less. It seems clear, rightly or wrongly, the reasons Mogilny hasn’t gotten into the Hockey Hall of Fame are related to hockey violations that enough gatekeepers have deemed unforgivable. He’s viewed through the lens of how majestic his career could have been, if only he’d applied himself to the fullest. Kelley acknowledged Mogilny was “the greatest goal scorer the Buffalo Sabres have ever known,” better than even Gilbert Perreault. But for the man who covered Mogilny’s entire professional arc — up close at Mogilny’s best — character flaws eclipsed on-ice contributions. In hockey, that matters, and it certainly matters to the guardians of the game’s glory. “You could never call him a team player, and you couldn’t count on him to always show up, let alone lead,” Kelley wrote after the Sabres traded Mogilny to the Canucks. “Mogilny’s history is one of a player and a person who never was much for sticking out tough times in the hopes of making things better. He was, and I suspect still is, a cut-and-run kind of guy.” Seventy-six goals are incredible. They’ve been scored inside one campaign only six other times, with Wayne Gretzky doing it twice. Brett Hull, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito and Teemu Selanne are in the Hall of Fame, too, but those extraordinary seasons aren’t why. The Hall of Fame problem for Mogilny has been that throughout his career he provided too many reasons why not. Mogilny possessed sublime talents that helped him statistically eclipse many Hall of Famers — and it should be noted that not all inductees were flawless, hard-working teammates and employees. On top of his skill and accomplishments on the ice, Mogilny’s willingness to escape the ******* Union expedited an NHL transformation. One of these years, he deserves induction. But let’s stop pretending we have no idea why it hasn’t happened. (Top photo: Rick Stewart / Getty Images) Source link #isnt #Alexander #Mogilny #Hockey #Hall #Fame #clues Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Friends 4K Blu-Ray Box Set Gets $90 Discount At Amazon Friends 4K Blu-Ray Box Set Gets $90 Discount At Amazon The ’90s were arguably the decade with the best sitcom shows, and for anyone growing up in that time *******, nothing was better than hanging out with Ross, Rachel, Monica, Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler. Friends was one of the hottest shows of its era, and if you’re looking to revisit that series, the recently released 4K Blu-ray collection is discounted to its lowest price yet: Friends: The Complete Series is available for $160 (was $250) at Amazon. Friends: The Complete Series Friends: The Complete Series released on September 24 in celebration of the show’s 30th anniversary. The 4K box set includes the full 236-episode, 10-season run. Friends debuted in September 1994 and came to a close in 2004. All told, this box set has over 86 hours of content across 23 4K Blu-ray discs and two 1080p Blu-ray discs filled with bonus features. This set also includes 25 audio commentaries with the show’s executive producers. The commentaries are spread across the 4K discs, while the rest of the bonus features are found on the two bonus discs. Friends. Most of the special features were included in the standard Blu-ray version of the series, but there are a few new extras, including a trivia game and featurette focused on props from the show. All told, you’re getting over 20 hours of bonus extras, not including the episodes with optional audio commentary tracks. Here’s what’s included on the bonus discs: Friends: The Complete Series Special Features 4K Discs: Audio commentaries for 25 episodes Blu-ray Disc 1 (Seasons 1-5): Friends: Through the Peephole – New Featurette How Well Do You Know Your Friends – New Trivia Game True Friends Documentaries – Friends From the Start, When Friends Become Family, The Legacy of Friends Friends of Friends – Seasons 1-4 What’s Up with Your Friends? – Seasons 1-4 “Smelly Cat” Music Video Friends Around the World The One that Goes Behind the Scenes Friends on Location in London Gunther Spills the Beans (Season 6) Season 2 Trailer Blu-ray Disc 2 (Seasons 6-10): Friends of Friends – Seasons 6, 7, 8, 10 Friends: Final Thoughts Extended Cuts of Four Episodes Behind the Style: The Look of Friends Gunther Spills the Beans About Next Season (Seasons 7-10) “Phoebe Battles the Pink Robots” Music Video “Joey Joey” Music Video Gag Reels It’s worth noting that the 1080p Blu-ray collection of Friends from 2017 is available for $57. Another one of the defining sitcoms of the ’90s, Seinfeld, is releasing on 4K Blu-ray on December 17. Seinfeld: The Complete Series on 4K Blu-ray comes packaged in a very similar box as Friends and is available to preorder for $225 (was $250) at Amazon. Seinfeld has never been released on Blu-ray, let alone 4K Blu-ray. The standard Blu-ray edition of the box set releases the same day and is up for preorder for $135 (was $150). Source link #Friends #BluRay #Box #Set #Discount #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple’s next-gen Vision Pro might hit the market in 2025 Apple’s next-gen Vision Pro might hit the market in 2025 Apple’s foray into the XR wearable segment may not have stirred the same kind of success that it tasted with the likes of the iPhone or the Apple Watch, but the company is still moving ahead with future iterations. While plans of a cheaper headset may have been pushed, the Vision Pro could get a successor within a year, or so. In the latest edition of his PowerOn newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes that Apple might introduce the second-generation Vision Pro headset somewhere between fall 2025 and spring 2026. That window puts the official reveal in roughly the same frame as the launch of updated iPhones and the sporadic Mac hardware. As far as changes go, Apple is reportedly experimenting with multiple ideas. But Gurman claims that one of the design candidates for the Vision Pro 2 would look exactly like its predecessor. That won’t be out of character for Apple, as the company regularly iterates on internal hardware without changing the external aesthetics of its gear across the iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch portfolio. It sounds like a sane strategy Vision Pro successor because it’s a product with arguably the most sophisticated engineering work that Apple has delivered in years. It would make sense — especially from an R&D investment perspective — to maintain the fundamental architecture and make upgrades where it’s needed, which is added processing firepower and a refined software experience. Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends Talking about upgrades, Bloomberg has previously reported that the second-gen Vision Pro would likely be upgraded to the M5 silicon. Apple is currently busy overhauling the Mac lineup with M4 series processors, an exercise that will continue well into 2025. According to well-known industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next Vision Pro headset could enter production in the second half of 2025 and will bring a switch from M2 to an M5-class processor. Another notable upgrade will reportedly be support for Apple Intelligence. In the meanwhile, Apple has also started conducting internal research around smart glasses. Earlier this year, the likes of Meta and Snap showcased their respective work on smart glasses, with a focus on interactive AR applications running atop bespoke hardware. Apple apparently doesn’t want to miss out on the race. “With smart glasses, the company could approach the category from a number of directions. That includes essentially creating a version of its AirPods in glasses form,” Gurman writes. So far, Apple hasn’t officially commented on its future XR ambitions, so take these predictions with a healthy dose of skepticism, for now. Source link #Apples #nextgen #Vision #Pro #hit #market Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lee Zeldin chosen to be Trump’s EPA administrator Lee Zeldin chosen to be Trump’s EPA administrator Trump begins to fill Cabinet Trump begins to fill Cabinet positions as he prepares for a second term 04:03 Washington — Former Rep. Lee Zeldin said Monday he will be nominated to be President-elect Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency administrator. “It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” the former New York congressman wrote on social media. “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back ********* jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.” Trump confirmed the nomination later in a statement. The New York Post first reported the pick. This is a breaking story. It will be updated. Caitlin Yilek Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation. Source link #Lee #Zeldin #chosen #Trumps #EPA #administrator Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How he went from football sensation to BBC star How he went from football sensation to BBC star PA Media Final whistle: Gary Lineker hosted Match of the Day for 25 years Gary Lineker, who will leave Match of the Day at the end of this season, BBC News understands, has been the steady hand who guided millions of fans through football’s agonies and ecstasies. As host of the flagship show for 25 years, he is also one of the corporation’s highest-profile presenters, earning £1.3 million last year. His one-line pay-offs at the end of each show, summing up both the fans’ mood and the match, may have looked seamless. But they were the result of years of honing his craft and presenting skills. Getty Images Gary Lineker celebrated qualifying for Euro 92 after the match between Poland and England in 1991 As a former footballer of considerable pedigree – including England captain and striker, with 48 goals in 80 appearances – he famously never received a red or yellow card during his career. His ability to keep his cool on the pitch stood him in good stead for a career in live broadcasting when he retired as a player in 1994. Even while he was still at school, he had his sights set on sports journalism, deciding it would be his fall-back if football didn’t work out. Clearly it did. Known for his ability to find gaps in the opposition’s defence, and his “poacher’s instinct” , Lineker was the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner, and the top goal-scorer in England three times, each with a different club: Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. But while his sports career was at its peak at the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals, Lineker spent time with journalists staying in the same hotel as the England team. “As early as my mid-20s, I knew which direction I wanted to go in when I retired from playing,” he told the BBC in 2014. “I would watch the newspaper guys write their opening paragraphs and sit with the radio journalists and talk to them about how they did their job.” His ultimate aim was to end up as the presenter rather than a pundit. But he admitted his transition into radio and TV “took a lot of work”. Lineker won the Golden Boot, for leading goal scorer, at Mexico’s 1986 World Cup His early broadcasting attempts were “fairly appalling”, he told the BBC’s Media Show’s Ros Atkins in 2021. Starting out on Radio 5 Live “was all part of the learning process”, he said. “I managed to stumble my way through it, and I learned from really good people alongside me who were incredibly helpful in the early days.” Lineker built on that experience, writing all his own scripts and carving out a role for himself. Having watched ex-sports stars David Gower presenting the cricket and Sue Barker presenting the tennis, he questioned why it wasn’t the same in football. “I just thought, as a player who’s played right at the top, if I could ****** presenting it would give me a niche,” he told BBC Radio 4 podcast Don’t Tell Me the Score in 2019. “It would give me an advantage over all the others.” Meanwhile, his popularity as a footballer endured. In 1991, Arthur Smith and Chris England wrote a stage play called An Evening With Gary Lineker, about a couple trying to rekindle their marriage during the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Starring Caroline Quentin, Clive Owen, Paul Merton and Martin Clunes, it was filmed for TV in 1994 – with Lineker making a cameo appearance. David Gower, Nick Hancock, Rory McGrath and Gary Lineker on They Think It’s All Over in 2002 He also began building his wider TV career, appearing as a team captain on BBC One’s comedy panel show, They Think It’s All Over, from 1995 to 2003. As a presenter, he got himself noticed when he stood in for Des Lynam on the Saturday afternoon sports show Grandstand, in 1997. By the mid-90s, Lineker was also appearing on Match of the Day as a pundit. This gave him a prime learning spot – right next to its experienced and slick host Lynam. “Des was very helpful – I used to ask a lot of questions about the little things that he did, and picked up some of his nuances,” the former footballer said. “He told me to be brave occasionally with closing lines, and not to be afraid to try to be amusing. “Again, the little pay-offs I sometimes make at the end of the show are something that came from him.” PA Media Lineker said Des Lynam was “the doyen of sports presenters and a tough act to follow” By 1999, Lineker was hosting the show, and reaching audiences the BBC sometimes struggled to attract and retain. People would also tune in to see his chemistry with the show’s pundits – including other former footballers such as Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Micah Richards and Alan Hansen. Lineker’s questions kept the analysis flowing, while he was always willing to share a joke and opinion of his own. He also memorably introduced the show in his pants in 2016, having pledged to “do the first MOTD of next season in just my undies” if his former club Leicester won the Premier League, which they did. Shearer and Wright couldn’t keep straight faces. Their friendships often shone through. In June this year, Lineker and Shearer sent an emotional message of support to Hansen, after hearing the news that he was seriously ill in hospital. Getty Images Climbing to the top: Lineker tries out a climbing wall But despite his rapport with his colleagues, off-screen matters were not as straightforward. As one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters, regularly topping the list of the staff whose salaries are declared, he faced constant scrutiny. Lineker did not shy away from speaking out about his own views, particularly on social media, while simultaneously working for a broadcaster committed to impartiality. In March last year, he posted on X about the government’s asylum policy – resulting in the BBC briefly suspending him. Shearer, Wright and other BBC sport presenters refused to appear on air, in protest at his absence. Match of the Day was reduced to a 20-minute edition ****** its host, pundits and commentary – and the story made headline news for several days, with politicians and media commentators all weighing in on the issue. BBC director general Tim Davie subsequently apologised to licence fee payers for the disruption, calling it a “difficult day” for the corporation. Lineker was reinstated nine days later. The presenter later said the response to his tweet was “silly – it shouldn’t have been”. “I love the BBC. I’ve been there for nearly 30 years but people make mistakes, they recognise that and they addressed it and in the end, thankfully, we’re all back to work,” he said. Getty Images Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have fronted many major football tourments The headlines and dramas generated by his online views reinforced not only his high celebrity status – but also how keen the BBC was to hang on to him. The incident prompted a review of BBC social media guidelines. Last September, new rules were published for BBC flagship presenters, saying they should be allowed to express views on issues and policies, but stop short of political campaigning. Lineker said the recommendations were “all very sensible”. By February this year, he said he was using X less often, saying the platform had become “increasingly toxic” under its new owner, Elon Musk. Despite this, he and the BBC are still parting company, and its flagship football show no longer has a host. Lineker has plenty of outside business interests, including the successful podcast production company he co-founded, called Goalhanger. It produces shows including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Entertainment and The Rest Is Politics, which won the Champion prize at this year’s Podcast Awards. But for the BBC, Lineker’s departure comes hot on the heels of several scandals. Former Match of the Day and The One Show host Jermaine Jeanas was sacked in August following complaints about workplace conduct. In September, the BBC apologised to Amanda Abbington and upheld some of her complaints against her 2023 Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice, while clearing him of the most serious allegations. In the same month, Mr Davie said he could not see disgraced ex-news presenter Huw Edwards working at the corporation again. Edwards was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children. So the BBC is in need of some good headlines – and Lineker’s departure means it now has to find an exceptional host to fill his shoes, which will not be an easy task. Source link #football #sensation #BBC #star Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Qian Sima and the Shiji – the Devotion of a True Historian Qian Sima and the Shiji – the Devotion of a True Historian Active during the Han Dynasty ******* in China’s history, Sima Qian is widely considered to be the father of ******** historiography. A celebrated historian, he is best known for his seminal work, the Shiji, or “Records of the Grand Historian”. Written during the late 2nd century BC, this monumental work stands out as one of the first compiled histories of ancient China, reaching all the way back in time to the mythical “Yellow Emperor”, who reportedly reigned for a hundred years, starting in 2698 BC. Qian Sima was, however, very devoted to his work, and produced one of the foremost historical works from the *******. What made his approach to writing history so successful? And what was his legacy for the ******** people? Shiji and the Foundation of ******** Historiography Sima Qian was born roughly around 145 BC, during the early years of the Han Dynasty, while it was ruled by Emperor Wu. He was the son of the noted astronomer, scholar, and historian, Sima Tan, and this meant that he too was deeply immersed in these subjects, even from an early age. And the fact that his father became the official Court Astronomer for the Emperor, allowed him to access many ancient texts and historical records from the royal libraries. Because of this, it was Sima Qian’s father that deeply influenced his early learning and lit up inside him an incredible passion for history. Portrait of Sima Qian. (Public Domain) However, Sima Tan ***** in 110 BC. He left behind an unfinished literary work, which his son would eagerly pick up and begin working on it. This would later become his seminal achievement – the “Records of the Grand Historian”, or Shiji. From the get-go, this work was envisioned to be the most expansive historical record. It chronicled ******** history from its murky, fabled and legendary beginnings, all the way to the time in which Sima Qian lived. And what is more, it would focus on both the common people of China, as well as its royalty. This, in itself, was a major task for a writer of that time. A Monumental Chapter of History Shiji was a grand achievement. It differed immensely from all the previous records of ******** history – it was the first true book that was detailed and written with meticulous precision. It covered the philosophies, the economy, the politics, culture, and history of the ******** people. And even its structure was truly groundbreaking. The whole of the book was composed from 130 chapters, which were further split into five distinct categories. These were: Benji (Basic Annals), Shijia (Hereditary Houses), Biao (Tables), Shu (Treatises), and Liezhuan (Biographies). Each of these represented a distinct aspect of ******** history. Pages from a Ming dynasty (1457-1464) printed edition of the Shiji, volume eleven. (Public Domain) The basic annals focused on the major rulers and emperors in ******** history and tracked all their reign times and significant events that transpired during that time. In the “hereditary houses” section, Sima Qian chronicled the histories of important aristocratic families and regional leaders, some of whom were prominent figures in ******** folklore. On the other hand, in the “tables” section, he records the chronological reigns, important events, and royal lineages in table form – making it so much easier to grasp the content of his book. The chapters that fall under the “treatises” section cover specialized subjects, such as rites, music, astronomy, and economics, while “biographies” contain the lives and deeds of many notable people from ******** history. The Scholar Devoted to Immortal Legacy Sima Qian was extremely dedicated to completing the “Shiji”, which he considered to be his life’s work. However, one event almost prevented him from finishing it. In 99 BC, he was caught up in an affair for supporting General Li Ling, who was blamed for a military defeat by the Emperor himself. The Emperor saw Sima Qian’s support as treachery and had him imprisoned for three years. To save his life and to complete his seminal work, Sima Qian accepted to be castrated as punishment and thus be freed. Living the rest of his days as a eunuch and the official court archivist, he was able to devote his efforts to finish the Shiji. In poignant letters he wrote about his fate as a eunuch, and the great embarrassment and pain that he endured during his days in prison. However, he emphasized that he chose this path only because that would allow him to complete his book and leave a lasting legacy to the people of China. Only in this way, he wrote, would he be remembered forever. And that is exactly what happened. Because today, centuries after his ******, Sima Qian ******** one of the most important figures in ******** history. Top image: Portrait of Sima Qian and the Shiji. Source: National Palace Museum./CC BY 4.0 By Aleksa Vučković References Hardy, G. 1999. Worlds of Bronze and Bamboo: Sima Qian’s Conquest of History. Columbia University Press. Klein, S. E. 2019. Reading Sima Qian from Han to Song: The Father of History in Pre-Modern China. BRILL. Martin, R. T. 2018. Herodotus and Sima Qian: The First Great Historians of Greece and China: A Brief History with Documents. Bedford/St. Martin’s. Source link #Qian #Sima #Shiji #Devotion #True #Historian Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Free ***** Announces Collab With Football Anime Blue Lock Free ***** Announces Collab With Football Anime Blue Lock In an effort to reach a larger audience, developer Gerana has unveiled a collaboration between its free-to-play battle royale title, Free *****, and the ever-popular football anime Blue Lock. The Free ***** x Blue Lock collab will introduce in-game content straight from the ********* anime series, with items, iconic jerseys, emotes, and other cosmetics that players can unlock and equip. The entire collab runs between November 20 and December 8, so it’s an extremely limited-time event you won’t want to miss! For long-time fans of the animated series, you’ll be happy to learn all about Isagi’s Spatial Awareness and Nagi’s Trapping emotes, available as unlocks during the collab, that you can use mid-round in the battle royale game. While emotes certainly prove interesting and can shake up the battlefield experience, it’s the cosmetics that most people seek from these collaborations. For the Free ***** and Blue Lock collab, you can expect the following: ******* Skins Vehicle Skins Avatars Banners Isagi’s Team Z Costumes Nagi’s Team V Costumes Football Uniform Costumes Related: How to Get Free Diamonds in Free ***** (2024 Guide) What is Blue Lock? If you’re a long-time fan of Free ***** but don’t yet know about Blue Lock, let us enlighten you on the truly exceptional anime. It’s a highly-rated series out of Japan, focusing on the ********* Football Association. The JFA launches a secretive training program designed to test the country’s best football players to the extreme, with each challenge resulting in the weakest member of the team being eliminated. Only one prospective player can win the training regimen and earn a place on the team vying for the World Cup. With an average rating of 4.8 on Crunchyroll and an astounding three seasons to catch up on, Blue Lock continues to bring in new and returning fans, making this collab with Free ***** a surefire success for Garena! Are you a fan of Free *****? Do you prefer Blue Lock? Either way, discuss them at the Insider Gaming community forum! November 20 is proving a big day for gaming fans, with the NieR: Automata DLC coming to Stellar Blade on the same day, along with a photo mode and a huge update to the action-packed adventure! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Free #***** #Announces #Collab #Football #Anime #Blue #Lock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Is it finally time to update? Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Is it finally time to update? Jacob ****** / Digital Trends Windows 11 is the newest version of Windows, and it’s one of the best Windows versions ever released. It draws on its predecessors, like Windows 10, but today it’s very much its own operating system, with a unique look, advanced features, and the most secure and stable platform for modern Windows application. If you’ve been holding out on upgrading, or aren’t running the latest version, we have everything you need to know about the most recent version of Windows 11. Windows 11 2024 update (24H2) The latest version of Windows 11, is the 2024 update known as 24H2. It initially rolled out to Windows Insiders in February 2024, but has since been released to the wider Windows user base starting October 1. It introduced a number of new and enhanced features to Windows, improving its fundamentals, as well as adding new capabilities, especially those running it on Copilot+ PCs and laptops. The Phone Link app has been added to the Start menu to make it more readily accessible, and includes additional information like your phone’s battery level, connectivity, and any calls or messages you’ve received recently. You can even use AI to respond to those messages, and use your phone’s camera as a webcam for your video calls and conferences. Windows search has been improved and made more accessible, by letting you search for documents and files by using descriptive phrases, rather than just the file’s name. The right-click context menu, too, has been made more intuitive, with the addition of text labels to basic functions like Cut, Copy, and Rename. Archiving can now also use the TAR and 7z compression formats. Following the launch of more efficient Intel and AMD CPUs in fall 2024, Microsoft has expanded the power setting options in Windows 11. When setting your power mode, you can now enable a new Energy Saver feature, which lowers the power demand from background applications. You can have it enabled at a battery level trigger, too, helping to extend your battery when you need it most. Copilot has been expanded and further integrated into Windows 11 in this update, too. Its icon is now much like all other apps and can be moved around, rather than having a dedicated spot in the taskbar. When opening the Copilot app, it now has its own app Windows, rather than popping out from the side of the screen. Copilot+ laptops and PCs will have the ability to quickly engage AI tasks based on what you’re doing. For example, if looking at an image, you can press the Windows key and click to bring up a “Click to do” context menu for quick sharing, or searching on Bing based on that image. If you’re working within a document, you can do the same to quickly access generative text functions and abilities. They can also use more of the AI functions in Paint. While all Windows 11 users can use AI to generate images, Copilot+ users can use Cocreator to enhance your artwork. Create something yourself, and Cocreator can upscale it, change the style, or just complete the drawing that you started. Microsoft Technically, the much-maligned Recall feature is part of this update, but due to its controversies, it’s not been rolled out at the time of writing, and will only be available to Insiders first. Windows Studio Effects adds AI capabilities to video calls on Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams, among others. You can use a Quick Settings panel to engage eye-contact filters, to make you look like you’re looking directly at the camera. You can also introduce background effects like blur and enhanced lighting. Live Captioning gives Copilot+ owners that ability to have captions for any spoken audio on their PC, and have it translated into any of 40 different languages. Optional language pack downloads are required for most languages, however. Automatic Super Resolution offers something equivalent to FSR and DLSS in games without support for either. It’s also available within the Photo app, which gives you a quick and easy way to upscale an image to make it higher resolution — great for prints or adding detail to older pictures. Windows 11 also now enjoys improved support for Bluetooth LE audio and Wi-Fi 7, a singular unified Teams app (no more Teams for Work and personal Teams), “HDR Background support,” lets you have an HDR image as your wallpaper, and Sudo for Windows lets you use higher-level commands within the Command Line. How to update Windows Digital Trends If you’re running Windows 11 and want to update to the latest version, search for “Windows update” and select Check for updates. Install the important ones, and when prompted, restart your PC or laptop. You may need to do this several times, depending on how many updates have been released since your last update. If you’re running Windows 10, however, the upgrade process has a few more steps. For starters, you need to make sure that your PC or laptop meets the Windows 11 system requirements. Processor: 1GHz or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC). The processor must be Intel 8th-generation or newer or AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer. Microsoft’s website has a full list of supported processors. RAM: 4GB, if your PC has less than 4GB, you can consider adding additional RAM. Check with your PC maker first. Storage: 64GB or larger. Our guide on how to manage storage space can help you tidy things up in preparation for Windows 11. System Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot capabilities. Using the UEFI and BIOS is straightforward. TPM: Version 2.0. See our guide on TPM 2.0 for more information. Graphics card: DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver Display: High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per ****** channel. Internet: Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account. If you can meet or exceed those relatively modest specifications, you should be absolutely fine. There are a few different ways you can update to Windows 11, though. The most straightforward is just to run Windows Update and select to download and install Windows 11. However, if you want additional help, or would rather upgrade a different way, follow our guide on how to upgrade to Windows 11. Differences between Windows 11 and Windows 10 Microsoft Windows 11 draws a lot from Windows 10 in its design, but it is both quite distinct in its layout and in its features. There are relatively small changes, like a new Start menu and Taskbar, as well as some defining features. Better design and features Arif Bacchus/ Digital Trends Windows 11 makes a big visual departure for Microsoft. In the newer operating system, Microsoft centers the Taskbar and the Start menu on the screen. This makes it look a bit more like macOS and ChromeOS. However, you can still move it back to the left if you want. But if you want to pin your Taskbar to the right or the left of the screen, then we have bad news. You can no longer do that natively, as in Windows 11, the Taskbar only stays on the bottom. Paid third-party apps like Start11 can change it if you want, however. Outside of the main visual change, Windows 11 comes with rounded corners on windows, new app icons, and new Fluent Emojis, which are exclusive to Windows 11. Still, Windows 11 hasn’t seen the 3D emojis Microsoft teased during the initial launch. There are multiple small feature additions, as well, including live captions for your browser and Focus mode, which allow you to customize notification settings for a set time while you work. One big area Microsoft has focused on is File Explorer. The latest update adds tabs, and Microsoft is reportedly prepping a large redesign of File Explorer in 2023. This redesign is said to bring Microsoft services and OneDrive into File Explorer, as well as a new details menu when you select a file or folder. Start menu and Taskbar Arif Bacchus/ Digital Trends The Start menu in Windows 11 it is a bit more simplistic. You only see a static list of apps, followed by your most frequented documents at the bottom. Critically, Live Tiles are gone in Windows 11, which makes the Start menu look much tidier. As for the Taskbar, Microsoft has collapsed the search box into an icon and also removed the Cortana functions in Windows 11. This spot is now reserved for Copilot, though you can now move that icon around on the taskbar as you wish, thanks to the 24H2 update. You’ll also find a dedicated icon for Microsoft Teams in the Taskbar, which is integrated into Windows 11. You’re free to remove the icon if you don’t use Teams, though. The other big change also involves moving the weather in the Taskbar to the left side of the screen. This was known as News and Interests in Windows 10, but in Windows 11, that gets replaced by Widgets (read our roundup of the best Windows 11 widgets). You’ll still see the weather, but you’ll also see other things like your favorite news, sports scores, traffic, and more. Windows 11 introduces Virtual Desktops as well, which allow you to maintain separate desktop workspaces for work, gaming, or whatever else you want. Improved gaming features Jacob ****** / Digital Trends / Digital Trends If you want the best Windows OS for gaming, Windows 11 is for you. It’s received numerous updates to improve gaming performance, and it supports features like Auto HDR and DirectStorage, that helps games load faster. Some of these features, like DirectStorage, are available on Windows 10 as well. Microsoft has made it clear that gaming is a big focus for Windows 11, so it’s the better platform for gamers now, especially with some of the performance bugs worked out. Microsoft added enhanced refresh rate support in Windows 11 in 2023, fixing issues for gamers with multiple monitors. More titles support DirectStorage, as well, such as Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart. Although Windows 10 is still arguably more popular for gaming, Windows 11 is getting better all the time. Here’s how to optimize it to make it even better. Snap Layouts and multitasking Arif Bacchus/Digital Trends The multitasking improvements in Windows 11 are exclusive; they aren’t being backported to Windows 10. In Windows 11, you can increase your multitasking and system performance with Snap Layouts that group your windows and save them to the taskbar. This is available in Windows 10, but Windows 11 makes it easier to access Snap Layouts and provides more configurations. Microsoft has updated Snap Layouts with even more functionality since its launch, too. Windows 11 solves a big issue with multi-monitor setups, too. Windows 11 remembers how you had your windows on your external monitor and will save them in that state when you disconnect from a monitor and then plug it back in. This is one of the most annoying problems with Windows 10 that Windows 11 finally addresses. Copilot Luke Larsen / Digital Trends One of the biggest and latest updates to Windows 11, was the introduction of AI through Copilot. Microsoft is packing AI features into Windows 11, and none of those features are going back to Windows 10. Some of the most impressive AI features aren’t even available to all Windows 11 PCs. All of these features fall under the Copilot banner, which is Microsoft’s AI chatbot. It runs on the same backbone as ChatGPT, and in Windows 11, it’s integrated into the OS. You’ll find a Copilot icon in the taskbar that you can open. Beyond being a version of Bing Chat on your desktop, Copilot can take prompts from your clipboard, as well as interact with plug-ins. Windows 10 doesn’t get Copilot, at least not on the desktop. You can still access Copilot through Microsoft Edge, but you don’t get access to the clipboard sharing available in Windows 11. In addition, Windows 11 is the only OS with access to Copilot+ features. This is a new class of device that includes several AI features that run locally. The most prominent is Recall, which takes a snapshot of everything you do on your PC. It’s like normal Copilot, but with your personal context built in. Recall and other Copilot+ features not only require the latest version of Windows 11 but also specific hardware. Enhanced tablet mode Microsoft Windows 10 has a traditional tablet mode that makes your PC go to a full-screen Start menu experience. In Windows 11, this is removed. Instead, Windows 11 behaves more like an iPad, where when you switch your device to a tablet, things become easier to touch. That includes new gestures for opening the Start menu, dismissing windows, and more, none of which are present in Windows 10. In addition to tablets, this feature has bolstered Windows 11 devices like the Asus ROG Ally. In addition, Windows 11 brings deeper pen functionality. You can still use Whiteboard to collaborate visually, but Windows 11 also brings support for up to four app shortcuts through your pen. Voice navigation is also improved in Windows 11, allowing you to use your voice to launch apps, enter keyboard and mouse inputs, control the operating system, and basically anything else you could need. In short, Windows 11 allows you to fully control the OS with your voice. Performance Windows 11 does a lot of work in memory management to favor the app windows you have open and running in the foreground. This should ensure that they get more CPU power over other system resources. Windows 11 also suspends some data in RAM while your PC sleeps, helping it wake from sleep 25% faster than Windows 10, and has enhanced scheduling to perform better with multi-architecture CPUs, like Intel’s latest Arrow Lake chips. Microsoft has added performance improvements since launch. In 2022, Windows 11 received an update that boosted solid-state drive (SSD) speeds, for example. Windows 11 is snappier than Windows 10, but the differences are small in real-world use. The various optimizations in Windows 11 help it to run faster on weaker laptops, but you’re not giving up a ton of performance with Windows 10. Collaboration and remote work Microsoft You can use Windows 11 or Windows 10 for remote work, but Windows 11’s collaboration features are much better. It supports background blur, eye contact adjustments for meetings, and automatic framing — none of which are present on Windows 10. These AI-powered features are available through Microsoft Teams, though some of them may depend on the hardware you have on your computer. Android apps One of the defining features of Windows 11 when it first launched was Android app support. Although you can still install Android apps on Windows 11, the marketplace for these apps (the Amazon App Store) will close on March 5, 2025. You’ll still be able to use apps that you’ve already installed beyond that point, but the storefront will no longer be accessible. Android apps separated Windows 11 from Windows 10 in a big way, but that’s changing soon. If you were hoping to upgrade to Windows 11 to use your favorite Android apps, you’ll be disappointed. Differences between Windows and Mac Windows 11 and MacOS are very different operating systems that nonetheless achieve much the same: providing a fast and stable platform that’s feature-rich, and capable of running all the apps you need. However, the way they operate is distinct, which means that the way you do things on either can be quite different. The Windows 11 Taskbar functions a lot like a mix of the macOS Dock and menu bar, and the inclusion of the Start Menu takes the place of Launchpad. Finder and File Explorer share a lot in common, though. Some important distinctions come up quickly, though, once you dig into the operating system. For example, the way you take a screenshot on a Mac, is quite different from how you take a screenshot on Windows. Where Windows has screen snapping, macOS has Split Views. The best keyboard shortcuts on Mac are distinct from those on Windows, even if they do much the same things. Most importantly, the Command key and Control key function similarly but are on a different spot on your keyboard. You also have access to very different apps on each platform. While there are plenty that work on both Widows and macOS, there are also a number that are specific. Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are big examples of Mac exclusives, but don’t forget Apple’s various office apps, like Pages, where Windows has Microsoft 365 apps, like Word. Gaming is inarguably better on Windows, too, with greater game compatibility and better support for high-end graphics cards. Windows has Copilot, while macOS has Apple Intelligence and the new integration of ChatGPT. Source link #Windows #Windows #finally #time #update Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flight hit by gunfire while approaching Haiti capital Flight hit by gunfire while approaching Haiti capital A Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has been struck by gunfire, forcing it to be diverted to the neighbouring Dominican Republic. Spirit said in a statement that the plane had been damaged and taken out of commission upon landing in the northern Dominican city of Santiago. A flight attendant was injured in the incident, Spirit said. The Miami Herald had reported that the attendant was grazed by a bullet. No passengers were injured, Spirit added. A video circulating on social media, which appears to have been taken by a Spirit employee but which Reuters was unable to immediately verify, shows where a bullet had come through near the back exit door to then strike the overhead bin across the aisle. All flights in and out of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have been halted, the US embassy to the Caribbean nation said in a travel advisory. The embassy “is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed *********, and disruptions to roads, ports and airports,” it said. Spirit said that it had suspended flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, in Haiti’s north, “pending further evaluation.” JetBlue and ********* Airlines will cancel flights through Thursday, they said separately, and will monitor to determine whether more cancellations may be needed. The passengers aboard the Spirit flight on Monday will be taken back in another aircraft to Fort Lauderdale, where the flight departed from, Spirit said. Armed gangs in Haiti’s capital have shot at aircraft in recent weeks as the security situation deteriorates. Last month, a UN helicopter was hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince. Source link #Flight #hit #gunfire #approaching #Haiti #capital Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Half-Life 2: Episode 3 fan game, Project Borealis, gets a free demo Half-Life 2: Episode 3 fan game, Project Borealis, gets a free demo A free demo for Project Borealis, a fan-made game inspired by the cliffhanger from Half-Life 2: Episode Two, has been released. Announced in 2017, the game aims to flesh out what was interpreted by some to be a Half-Life 2: Episode 3 synopsis published that same year by ex-Valve writer Marc Laidlaw. The group of fans making the game, collectively known as Icebreaker Industries, describe Project Borealis: Prologue as “a condensed, standalone game experience showcasing an early look and feel” of the final product. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it promises “a faithful recreation of iconic Half-Life 2 movement and gameplay mechanics” with completely updated visuals and an original score. “Project Borealis represents a fan-made effort to realize a cohesive story conclusion to the episodic series,” reads a description on the prologue’s Steam page. “This prologue chapter invites players back into the HEV suit of Gordon Freeman, offering a glimpse into the next chapter of his journey.” Players need to own a copy of Half-Life 2 to play Project Borealis: Prologue. Valve co-founder and CEO Gabe Newell said in 2021 that the company had multiple games in development and was keen to make more single-player experiences following Half-Life Alyx’s release the previous year. The company’s most recent release was last year’s multiplayer tactical FPS Counter-Strike 2. Its next looks set to be multiplayer hero shooter Deadlock, which was officially announced in August. Source link #HalfLife #Episode #fan #game #Project #Borealis #free #demo Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An AI ******’s artwork just auctioned for more than $1 million An AI ******’s artwork just auctioned for more than $1 million A painting of British computer scientist and codebreaker Alan Turing that was created by an AI-powered ****** has fetched $1.08 million at auction. The astonishing amount marks a record ***** for a piece of art created by a humanoid ******, and is sure to provoke discussion about the effect AI is having on art and how it is created. The painting of Turing was created by Ai-Da, an AI-powered ****** introduced by Briton Aidan Meller in 2019 as “the first ultrarealistic humanoid AI ****** artist.” Sotheby’s, which auctioned AI ****: Portrait of Alan Turing on Friday, estimated that it would fetch up to $180,000, but the bids racked up, with the anonymous winner handing over more than $1 million for the piece. Ai-Da, named after Ada Lovelace, who is widely recognized as the world’s first computer programmer, comes up with ideas through verbal exchanges with her creators, and this time suggested painting an image of Turing during a discussion about “AI for good,” according to an Agence France-Presse report. The ****** then selected the style, ******, content, tone, and texture for the painting before processing a picture of Turing in preparation for painting the artwork. Using a robotic hand, Ai-Da is only able to paint on a relatively small canvas, and the final image was enlarged using a printer. Turing made significant contributions to computer science, cryptography, and machine learning, most notably via his role in breaking the ******* Enigma code during World War II and for formulating the concept of the Turing machine, which ***** the groundwork for modern computing and AI. “AI **** goes beyond a simple tribute, reflecting on Turing’s profound question: ‘Can machines think?’” Sotheby’s said on its website. “This query is fundamental to Ai-Da’s existence, as she embodies Turing’s vision of machine intelligence capable of simulating human thought.” It described Ai-Da’s portrait of Turing as “a symbolic reflection on the blurred line between human and machine capabilities, particularly as she herself is a product of AI algorithms that allow her to draw, paint, and perform.” Sotheby’s said that in creating the image, Ai-Da “honors Turing as a ‘****’ of AI — a figure whose insights made it possible for machines like her to enter domains traditionally reserved for human creativity.” It noted, too, that the ***** puts Ai-Da’s artwork among those of famed artists past and present, marking a shift where machines are now part of the creative process. “Ai-Da’s art, therefore, invites viewers to consider both the promises and potential pitfalls of AI — a reflection on how technology can shape, and even redefine, human agency and creativity,” it said. “Her art compels us to confront the evolving definition of what it means to create, to think, and to be as AI becomes more integrated into society.” Source link #robots #artwork #auctioned #million Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thousands rally in Georgia to question the vote and demand a new election Thousands rally in Georgia to question the vote and demand a new election TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Thousands of opposition supporters rallied Monday in Georgia’s capital in continuing protests against the ruling party’s declared victory in the Oct. 26 parliamentary election amid allegations that Russia helped rig the vote. The protesters waved Georgian and ********* Union flags and gathered outside the Georgian parliament. They demanded a new parliamentary election under international supervision and an investigation into the alleged election ******. Giorgi Vashadze, leader of Unity National Movement Coalition, vowed that the opposition will “****** until the end.” “Elections were massively rigged, that is why we don’t recognize election results,” he said. “Our goal is new elections, our goal is to form the new government, which will drive Georgia to ********* integration.” Opposition leaders have vowed to boycott sessions of parliament and hold regular protests until their demands are met. The Central Election Commission said the governing Georgian Dream party won about 54% of the vote. Its leaders have rejected the opposition claims of vote ******. ********* election observers said the election took place in a “divisive” atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical *********. The opposition has accused Georgian Dream, which was established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia, of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. It has recently adopted laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to ****** down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights. President Salome Zourabichvili, who has rejected the official results, says Georgia has fallen victim to pressure from Moscow against joining the EU. Zourabichvili, who holds a mostly ceremonial position, has urged the ******* States and EU to support the demonstrations. Officials in Washington and Brussels have urged a full investigation of the election, while the Kremlin has rejected the accusations of interference. Many Georgians viewed the parliamentary election as a pivotal referendum on the country’s effort to join the EU. The EU suspended Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely because of its passage in June of a Russian-style “foreign influence law.” Lawmakers from several EU nations attended Monday’s rally in a show of solidarity with protesters. “Somebody is trying to take your freedom, somebody is trying to take your democracy, your country, your membership in EU and NATO,” Zygimantas Pavilionis, a Lithuanian parliament member, said at the rally. “Don’t give up. ****** for your freedom, ****** for your democracy, ****** for your country , ****** for your membership in EU and NATO.” Source link #Thousands #rally #Georgia #question #vote #demand #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Very Obvious Reason Behind the Absolute Immersion in All Hidetaka Miyazaki Games The Very Obvious Reason Behind the Absolute Immersion in All Hidetaka Miyazaki Games In the world of gaming, few creators have left as profound an impact as Hidetaka Miyazaki. The FromSoftware president’s unique approach to game design has spawned an entire genre, with titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring becoming benchmarks for immersive world-building and atmospheric storytelling. The widely regarded mastermind of game design. | Image Credit: thegameawards/YouTube But what makes Miyazaki’s games feel so different from everything else on the market? A recent discussion on social media has sparked an interesting debate about the role of childhood influences in shaping creative vision, particularly when it comes to video game development. As it turns out, the secret ingredient behind the magical worlds of Soulsborne games might have less to do with video games than you’d think. The Unexpected Origins of Miyazaki’s Vision Before he became the mastermind behind some of gaming’s most celebrated titles, Hidetaka Miyazaki‘s relationship with video games was quite different from what you might expect: Hidetaka Miyazaki, one of the greatest gaming directors working right now, did not really start playing video games regularly until he was in his 20s. He grew up on tabletop RPGs, fantasy books, and his own imagination. Which is why Dark Souls feels so unique pic.twitter.com/aHQidamJw2 — Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024 This observation isn’t just speculation. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Miyazaki revealed the contents of his personal library: First, you’d spot the manga shelf, with Devilman and Berserk lining the top. The neighboring bookshelf is packed with tabletop role-playing game rulebooks, with RuneQuest prominently displayed, alongside the board game Dragon Pass. In fact, Miyazaki’s limited exposure to video games in his youth wasn’t entirely by choice. As he explained to IGN in 2018: Growing up, I was restricted at home from playing video games until I reached University… There was a board game called Sorcery which is one of my favorites and I would often revisit the game. It’s not a video game but it definitely stands out in my mind as a game that impacted me. Perhaps this early restriction was a blessing in disguise, forcing Miyazaki to develop his creativity through other mediums like tabletop RPGs and fantasy literature. This unique foundation would later become the bedrock of his distinctive game design philosophy. From Tabletop to Soulsborne: A Fresh Perspective Diverse influences can certainly enrich creative work. | Image Credit: FromSoftware Evidently, his unique background has profoundly influenced the way Miyazaki approaches game design. The intricate world-building and deep lore of Bloodborne, the interconnected level design of Dark Souls, and the vast open world of Elden Ring all bear hallmarks of someone who spent countless hours imagining fantastical worlds through TTRPGs rather than pixels. The author of the X thread argues that this kind of diverse background is becoming increasingly rare in modern entertainment: Movie makers raised on modern movies are also ***** Pokemon started because the creator liked collecting bugs and exploring as a ****, not playing video games Inbred media [Hidden Content] — Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024 George Lucas grew up in the 50s around hot rods and malt shops, maybe saw a few movies a week. His movies reflect his interests. If all he did was stay in his room and watch movies? He would be a worse director for it. — Carlos That Notices Things (@QuetzalPhoenix) July 18, 2024 While the sentiment might be a bit harsh, there’s an interesting discussion to be had about the value of diverse experiences in creative work. Not everyone agrees with @QuetzalPhoenix’s hot take, though: This is colossally wrong. The golden age of gaming is NOW. And I been around since before they called the ATARI the 2600. All the current issues with games and movies are the EXECUTIVES’ fault. — Edmo (@edmosuassuna) July 18, 2024 The truth, as always, likely ***** somewhere in between. While Bloodborne and other FromSoftware titles certainly benefit from Miyazaki’s unique background, it’s not necessarily true that creators who grew up immersed in their chosen medium are somehow less capable of innovation. After all, many of today’s most innovative games come from developers who grew up with controllers in their hands. What’s undeniable, though, is that Miyazaki’s distinct perspective has helped create some of gaming’s most memorable experiences. And on that note, perhaps the lesson here isn’t that one type of influence is superior to another—but rather that the best creative works often come from a rich tapestry of diverse experiences and inspirations. What do you think about the relationship between a creator’s influences and their work? Has Miyazaki’s unique background contributed to the distinctive feel of FromSoftware’s games? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Obvious #Reason #Absolute #Immersion #Hidetaka #Miyazaki #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD’s next-gen laptop GPU may rival Nvidia’s RTX 5090 AMD’s next-gen laptop GPU may rival Nvidia’s RTX 5090 AMD hasn’t had much of a presence lately in any of the best gaming laptops — at least not in the graphics department. However, according to a new ***** from Golden Pig Upgrade Pack on Bilibili, AMD isn’t giving up on its laptop GPUs, and is in fact readying four discrete graphics cards made for laptops. The top configuration may actually rival one of Nvidia’s next-gen top GPUs, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be equally as good. The leaker shared a slide detailing the four laptop GPUs that AMD is said to be planning to release in its upcoming RDNA 4 lineup. Although it doesn’t reveal the actual names of the graphics cards, it does show the chip names, as well as power consumption ranges and memory configurations. The flagship card, dubbed R25M-E6 (the M tells us that this is indeed a laptop GPU), is said to come with a power range of 80 watts to 175W, combined with 16GB of VRAM spread across a 256-bit memory bus. This is where it might rival Nvidia’s RTX 5090, as the Nvidia RTX 50-series flagship is said to feature 16GB of memory in its laptop configuration, too. However, newer leaks place it at 24GB of VRAM thanks to the use of newer memory modules, so this could still change. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming Of course, even if both the AMD flagship and the Nvidia laptop flagship have the same memory configuration, Nvidia’s RTX 5090 is a high-end GPU and it will likely outperform AMD’s halo card for this generation. Golden Pig Upgrade Pack The next GPU in the stack is the R25M-P6, and it sports a total board power (TBP) of 80W to 175W, as well as 12GB of VRAM across a 192-bit memory bus. Then, we’ve got the lower-end cards, the R25M-P6 and the R25M-P4, equipped with 8GB VRAM, a 128-bit bus, and TBPs in the 75W to 150W and 50W to 130W range. It’s hard to say how reliable this information is at this point. This leaker is fairly reputable, but AMD’s RDNA 4 is still a couple of months away at best, so everything is subject to change. AMD may also not announce its laptop graphics cards right away; the company’s CEO, Lisa Su, only confirmed that RDNA 4 is on track to launch in early 2025, so it’s a guessing game right now. The leaked slide also pins the GPUs for a 2025/2026 release, so it could be a while before they’re actually available to buy. We might actually see the Radeon 8000 branding appear in the Strix Halo APU before we ever see it in laptops. According to Wccftech, the RDNA 3.5 graphics that will appear in AMD’s next-gen Ryzen AI 300 Max APUs will use a similar naming scheme to its discrete GPUs. The integrated GPUs are said to sport anywhere from 16 to 40 compute units (CUs), making them capable of rivaling some discrete graphics cards. Reportedly referred to as Radeon 8060S and Radeon 8050S, the iGPUs may have a similar naming scheme to the discrete RX 8000 series — which could be a little misleading given that Strix Halo will run on RDNA 3.5 architecture as opposed to RDNA 4. RDNA 3 was not very easy to find in laptops, but according to Golden Pig Upgrade Pack, AMD is still planning to launch a Navi 33 refresh for laptops in 2025 or 2026. As a result, at least five laptop GPUs are said to be on the horizon. Let’s hope they’ll be easier to come by in consumer laptops than their RDNA 3 counterparts have been. Source link #AMDs #nextgen #laptop #GPU #rival #Nvidias #RTX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

President-elect Trump’s 2024 election win sets up economic change President-elect Trump’s 2024 election win sets up economic change When President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025, he will assume a key position within the U.S. economy. On the campaign trail, the former President promised to eliminate regulations that hold back key U.S. industries and extend tax cuts that expire after 2025. He also proposed raising tariffs that affect prices of foreign goods imported to the U.S. “Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world,” the former President said at the September presidential debate. The goal of the tariffs is to generate revenue and bring industrial jobs back to the country. The side effect could be higher retail prices for many U.S. consumers. “Ironically, this would not promote a revitalization of the industrial sector,” said Marcus Noland, executive vice president and director of studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The President-elect has also promised to embark on a large deportation operation when he enters office. Analysts believe Trump’s fiscal ideas could influence the trajectory of employment, inflation, and more in the U.S. — particularly if the *********** party wins both chambers of Congress. Watch the video above to see how the U.S. economy may change under President-elect Trump. Source link #Presidentelect #Trumps #election #win #sets #economic #change Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]