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Nintendo Switch Online has 34 million members Nintendo Switch Online has 34 million members Nintendo president reveals some data about Nintendo Switch Online, including how many members the service has. Source link #Nintendo #Switch #Online #million #members Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Move Closer to Synthesising Element 120, Marking Potential New Era in Periodic Table Scientists Move Closer to Synthesising Element 120, Marking Potential New Era in Periodic Table In a significant development for the field of nuclear chemistry, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California may have found a method to create “element 120,” an extraordinarily heavy element requiring a new row on the periodic table. The hypothetical element, also known as unbinilium, represents a possible breakthrough that could expand scientific understanding of atomic structure and superheavy elements. Although only 118 elements are currently recognised, with the heaviest being oganesson (element 118), scientists have long suspected the possibility of even larger atomic structures. New Technique Uses Titanium Ions for Synthesis The researchers, led by nuclear scientist Dr. Jacklyn Gates, demonstrated a promising new technique in an October study published in Physical Review Letters. By bombarding plutonium-244, a neutron-rich isotope of plutonium, with supercharged titanium ions, the team successfully created atoms of livermorium (element 116). The scientists are optimistic that this approach can be modified to synthesise unbinilium by targeting californium, a heavier element than plutonium, using similar ion bombardment techniques. Gates, commenting on the progress, stated that this reaction, which had not been previously demonstrated, was essential to prove feasibility before any attempt at synthesising element 120. The potential success of this method could provide researchers with a stable pathway toward synthesising superheavy elements beyond those currently known. Prolonged Process Expected Due to Stability Challenges Despite the breakthrough, the timeline for creating unbinilium ******** lengthy. According to nuclear scientist Dr. Reiner Kruecken, a co-author of the study, generating just two atoms of livermorium took over 22 days of continuous cyclotron operations, which included constant titanium bombardment. The team estimates that creating unbinilium could require ten times as long, given its anticipated instability. Superheavy elements generally exhibit short lifespans, though scientists predict that some may eventually reach an “island of stability,” where atoms remain intact for longer periods. Future Potential and Uncertainty The possibility of unbinilium achieving stability opens new avenues for investigating superheavy elements, but uncertainty ********. Dr. Jennifer Pore, another study co-author, explained that the endeavour stands at the boundary of current scientific knowledge. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Apple’s Automatic ‘Inactivity Reboot’ iPhone Feature Could Impact Thieves, Law Enforcement Russia Delays Key Science Projects: Everything You Need to Know Source link #Scientists #Move #Closer #Synthesising #Element #Marking #Potential #Era #Periodic #Table Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

FTX sues crypto exchange Binance and its former CEO Zhao for $1.8 billion FTX sues crypto exchange Binance and its former CEO Zhao for $1.8 billion The estate of collapsed crypto exchange FTX has filed a suit against Binance and its former CEO Changpeng Zhao in an effort to wrest back at least $1.76 billion, citing a “fraudulent” share deal. In a Sunday filing with a Delaware court, FTX cites a 2021 transaction in which Binance, Zhao and others exited their investment in FTX, selling a 20% stake in the platform and a 18.4% stake in its U.S.-based entity West Realm Shires back to the company. The FTX estate alleges that the share repurchase was funded by FTX’s Alameda Research division through a combination of the company’s and Binance’s exchange tokens, as well as Binance’s dollar-pegged stablecoin. “Alameda was insolvent at the time of the share repurchase and could not afford to fund the transaction,” the suit claims, labeling the deal agreed with FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried — who’s now serving a 25-year sentence over ****** linked to the downfall of his exchange — as a “constructive fraudulent transfer.” CNBC has reached out to Binance for comment. The litigation marks the latest escalation of tensions between two of the biggest names in crypto, after the meteoric collapse of FTX rocked the market. This breaking news story is being updated. Source link #FTX #sues #crypto #exchange #Binance #CEO #Zhao #billion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Piper Sandler names Nvidia a top pick, sees shares rising 20% after blockbuster year Piper Sandler names Nvidia a top pick, sees shares rising 20% after blockbuster year Nvidia is a ‘most-own’ stock, according to Piper Sandler. The investment firm named the semiconductor giant its top large-cap pick, citing the launch of Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell chip and lead within artificial intelligence computing. Analyst Harsh Kumar stood by his overweight rating on the stock and raised his price target to $175 from $140. Kumar’s updated price forecast is about 19% above where the stock closed Friday. Year to date, shares have soared 198%. NVDA YTD mountain NVDA YTD chart “Our viewpoint is rooted in the belief that the overall [total addressable market] for AI accelerators will continue to rise in 2025 by ~$70 billion, and we see NVDA well positioned to capture most of the incremental TAM increase while ceding only a small bit to its merchant chip competitors,” the analyst wrote. AI accelerators are components that make artificial intelligence and machine learning applications more efficient. Capital expenditure trends continue to be favorable at major tech companies, as seen in the latest reports from Microsoft, Meta and Amazon, the analyst said. Kumar thinks that these spending levels could be sustained through 2025. “We think this clearly benefits NVDA in the near to mid-term future and as such, we are taking our numbers up slightly for the January quarter and subsequent FY26 quarters,” the analyst added. Additionally, Nvidia’s Blackwell chip should become available in the first quarter of next year and could bring in between $5 billion to $8 billion in revenue, Kumar said. “As supply improves, we see more customers coming on for Blackwell beyond initial hyperscaler adoption in the following April quarter,” Kumar wrote. “Given expanded GPU allocations and initial shipments of the Grace Blackwell for inference applications, we are projecting Blackwell architecture revenues could increase to the tune of 200%+ in the April quarter following supply constraints.” Source link #Piper #Sandler #names #Nvidia #top #pick #sees #shares #rising #blockbuster #year Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

IN PICTURES: 2024 Albany Agricultural Show celebrates 128 years of festivities with “excellent turnout” IN PICTURES: 2024 Albany Agricultural Show celebrates 128 years of festivities with “excellent turnout” Crowds flocked in their thousands to the Centennial Park precinct over the weekend for the 128th year of the Albany Agricultural Show. Source link #PICTURES #Albany #Agricultural #Show #celebrates #years #festivities #excellent #turnout Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo sues player who kept streaming pirated Switch games, taunted ‘I can do this all day’ Nintendo sues player who kept streaming pirated Switch games, taunted ‘I can do this all day’ Nintendo is suing a player who it says repeatedly streamed pirated Switch games, while taunting the company that he couldn’t be caught. Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Jesse Keighin, who it says streams games on various online platforms under his username Every Game Guru. According to the company, Keighin “is a recidivist pirate who has obtained and streamed Nintendo’s leaked games on multiple occasions”. The lawsuit alleges that since 2022, Keighin has streamed “at least 10 of Nintendo’s leaked games” before they were released, “more than 50 times in total”, the most recent being Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Although Nintendo says it has “submitted dozens of takedown notices”, and platforms such as YouTube and Twitch have shut his channels down, it says Keighin “continues to unlawfully stream Nintendo’s copyrighted works and thumb his nose at Nintendo and the law”. It also claims that Keighin taunted Nintendo, sending the company “a letter boasting that he has ‘a thousand burner channels’ to stream from and ‘can do this all day’”. Keighin is also accused of “continuing to seek to profit off his unauthorised streaming of Nintendo’s games” by adding CashApp details to his streams after his channels were demonitised. On top of all the above, Keighin is also accused of regularly posting links to ROM repositories, emulators and the illegally obtained prod.keys which are needed to make them run. Nintendo’s lawsuit includes images from Keighin’s streams showing frame rate and performance specs in the corner, showing the pre-release games were being played on an emulator. “By not only streaming leaked games, but also directly providing users links to circumvention software, Nintendo’s proprietary cryptographic keys, and pirated ROM repositories, Defendant is giving his viewers everything they need to pirate as many games as they wish,” Nintendo claims. “Indeed, Defendant recently boasted online that he wants to ‘help anyone and everyone who wants to get Nintendo games for free (and early), or who needs help installing and setting up Switch emulators that let you play Switch games for free’.” Listing 10 games it believes Keighin has streamed in a pre-release pirated form on an emulator, Nintendo is seeking $150,000 damages “with respect to each copyrighted work”. Given that it claims he has streamed these games “more than 50 times in total”, it’s not currently clear whether it means $150,000 per game ($1.5 million) or per stream ($7.5 million). It also seeks $2,500 for each “act of circumvention” Keighin made (which it says he did each time he “loaded unauthorised copies of games into Ryujinx, Yuzu, or another emulator and streamed them”), as well as $2,500 for each time he offered to help the public to play emulated games by providing links to emulators, ROMs and crypto keys. Source link #Nintendo #sues #player #streaming #pirated #Switch #games #taunted #day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘It gets more and more confused’: can AI replace translators? | Books ‘It gets more and more confused’: can AI replace translators? | Books As anyone who has tried pointing their phone’s camera at a menu in a foreign country lately will know, machine translation has improved rapidly since the first days of Google Translate. The utility of AI-powered translation in situations like this is unquestionable – but the proposed use of AI in literary translation has been significantly more controversial. Dutch publisher Veen Bosch & Keuning’s announcement that it would use AI translation for commercial fiction has outraged both authors and translators – despite attempts to reassure them with promises that no books will be translated in this way without careful checking and that authors will have to give consent. “A translator translates more than just words, we build bridges between cultures, taking into account the target readership every step of the way,” says Michele Hutchison, winner of 2020’s International Booker prize for her translation of Lucas Rijneveld’s The Discomfort of Evening. “We smuggle in subtle clues to help the reader understand particular cultural elements or traditions. We convey rhythm, poetry, wordplay, metaphor. We research the precise terminology for say agricultural machinery, even in a novel.” Translators and authors have also pointed out that AI translation requires very careful checking and editing – ideally by someone who knows both languages. At that point, that person may as well be translating the text themselves. Cultural sensitivity is a particular concern, as AI has been known to produce things that are wildly inappropriate. “Last year a reader flagged some issues in a French edition of one of my books,” says Juno Dawson, author of the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series. “The translator had used a slightly outdated term to describe a trans person. We were able to change the term before publication. It’s these nuances I suspect AI would miss, meaning that AI generated content would then require stringent editing anyway.” There are however some scenarios in which machine translation could arguably help the creators of cultural works. For writers working in ********* languages, for instance, whose works are not currently translated into English or other languages at all, an AI-assisted translation could bring them to the attention of many more readers. And in video games, localisation can be one of the ******* costs for smaller independent developers, especially those for whom English is not a native language. AI translation of in-game text could theoretically help those developers reach a much larger audience, and help players who speak ********* languages to enjoy their games more. But here, too, there are obvious limitations. Dr Jack Ratcliffe is the designer and CEO of Noun Town, a mixed-reality language learning game in which players walk around a virtual town, speaking to the locals in one of 40 supported languages. “If you’re playing a simplistic game where the text is, press left and right and A to jump, you could probably machine translate that, and suddenly it’s way more accessible to lots of people in different languages,” he says. “But if you have any kind of nuance, characters who are talking to each other, and you want to convey that as a game creator … I would be terrified going with AI.” ‘If you have any kind of nuance … I would be terrified going with AI’ … a screenshot of mixed-reality language learning game Noun Town. Photograph: Noun Town Noun Town has around 50,000 lines of dialogue, all of it translated and voice acted by humans, and checked by language teachers. The studio did experiment with AI translation, says Ratcliffe, and found that when they used it with languages other than English the results were significantly worse. “What we’ve found in our tests that going into English is actually OK, though nothing with AI is ever perfect,” he says. “These large language models have learned a lot of English. Going into other languages, especially less popular languages, it gets more and more out there, more and more confused.” skip past newsletter promotion Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Any game developer making a game with lots of words and dialogue, then, is looking at a high localisation cost – and presumably cares about the meaning and nuance of those words as much as the author of a book. When it comes to how people feel about AI translation, there is a definite distinction between utility and craft. Few object to using AI in the same way as a dictionary, to discern meaning. But translators, of course, do much more than that. As Dawson puts it: “These writers are artists in their own right.” “I’ve started adding a line ‘hand-crafted without the use of generative AI’ to my translations,” says Hutchison. “As translators we need to be very vocal about what our work involves right now, given the threat to our existence. It’s a lot more than just typing with a dictionary.” Source link #confused #replace #translators #Books Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The “Stealth” Funds That Pay $1,000 a Month on Every $100K Invested The “Stealth” Funds That Pay $1,000 a Month on Every $100K Invested I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mentioned closed-end funds (CEFs) to investors and been met with blank stares in return. It’s too bad more people don’t know about these powerful income plays because … CEFs let you diversify, not only within stocks but beyond them. Among the or so CEFs out there are funds that own stocks, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and more. CEFs often trade at discount to net asset value (NAV, or the value of their portfolios). This means we can buy shares of high-quality firms like Apple (NASDAQ:) for less than market value. These deals simply don’t exist with ETFs. CEFs offer a large income stream, with an average 8.2% dividend yield across the universe of funds tracked by my CEF Insider service as I write this. Personally, I think the most powerful thing about CEFs is the Point #2. But I know that investors—including CEF Insider members—tend to favor Point #3. And I get it. After all, thanks to CEFs’ big income streams, we can re-create a middle-class salary with much less than we’d need with index funds, literally shaving decades off the time we’d need to save enough to stop working. This table shows us that because the average S&P 500 stock yields so little—around 1.2% on average as I write this—we’d need to save an absurd amount, nearly $8.5 million, to get $100,000 in annual income. You could opt instead for the SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (NYSE:), which lowers the savings level to $2.5 million, thanks to its 4% current yield. But thanks to the average CEF’s big yields, CEFs get you there with just half that amount. We can take this even further. Some CEFs are currently yielding 12%, meaning you’ll get $1,000 per month for every $100,000 you invest. An annual six-figure income means you’d have to save just $833,333. Plus, there are some funds that can get you this amount of yield while being even more diversified than you’d be with or SPYD. Let me show you three funds that easily create this kind of yield, while providing diversification across asset classes—something S&P 500 index funds can’t do. CEF #1: Utilities for Stable Income (and a 12% Yield) The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:) has a portfolio of utility companies across the country—giants like Duke Energy (NYSE:) and Florida-based NextEra Energy (NYSE:). With GUT, we’re essentially getting a slice of the energy bills paid by residents in cities and counties across the nation. That’s as predictable a revenue stream as you’ll find, and as a result, GUT has maintained its high payouts—currently yielding an even 12%—since the 1990s. Stable Income, With Surprise Special Dividends Source: Income Calendar Back in the 2000s, GUT paid some special dividends and briefly hiked its payout to six cents a share monthly, up from five cents at its IPO (which is its current payout). But the fund has held back on special dividends to focus on consistency. That’s great for income investors, but it also means GUT has become incredibly popular. Most CEFs trade at a discount, but GUT trades at a really, really high premium—nearly 53% at the moment! That’s incredibly high for a CEF, and it poses risks if you want to hold GUT for the shorter term, then get out. That’s a problem our second fund doesn’t have. CEF #2: A 12.3% “Convertible” Yield Selling for 7% Off Convertible bonds aren’t well-known, but they’re fascinating income plays: You get a high yield, like a bond, but there’s also a conversion privilege. So if the price is right, you can convert your bonds into stock and get capital gains if the stock rises. One fund that collects these bonds and converts when it’s ideal is the Advent Convertible and Income Fund (NYSE:), currently yielding 12.3% and paying out every month. That spike you see in the chart below is a special dividend paid out in late 2021. AVK’s Consistent Payout Source: Income Calendar But despite that high yield and consistent payout, AVK trades at a 7.1% discount, which is a sea change from the 6% premium it saw earlier this year: AVK Is Cheap, With Potential to Bounce Higher Investors do this to CEFs every once in a while, and it’s happened three times with AVK in the last three years. Higher interest rates have boosted demand for debt from investors, and AVK has benefited with more investment income that management has used to maintain its monthly payout after hiking it back in 2017. High, steady payouts and a discount? Need I say more? In case I do, check out AVK’s widely diversified portfolio: Source: Guggenheim Investments This fund holds bonds and stocks in Bank of America (NYSE:), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:), Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:), Uber Technologies (NYSE:) and other high-quality companies that have no problem paying their bills on time. And those bills accrue to AVK, which passes on those interest payments to investors. CEF #3: An 11.3%-Yielding Bond Juggernaut Finally we’re going to pick up the 11.3%-yielding (not a typo!) , which holds a diversified portfolio of 325 high-yield corporate bonds. As the name states, this is a PIMCO fund. PIMCO is a well-respected name in CEFs, as the firm is known for its active management and its ability to effectively navigate interest-rate changes and seek out undervalued bonds. A Steady—and Monthly—Income Stream Source: Income Calendar PAXS has only been around since January 2022, which was lousy timing for the fund to hit the market, given the hit that bonds took as interest rates rose that year. But it’s still returned around 12% in that time. Its dividend has also risen, with a special payout in late 2022, as you can see in the chart above. While PAXS trades at a 2.7% premium to NAV, that’s not unusual for PIMCO funds, which often trade at ******* premiums due to PIMCO’s strong record. And this one has traded at premiums as high as 9% in recent months, a good sign for future gains. The final word? Beyond this trio, there are many more CEFs trading at discounts and with similar yields, meaning you can combine a 12% yield with capital gains. That might help you save years, or even decades, off your planned retirement date. These 4 CEFs Pay $9,800 on Every $100K (Their Holdings Will Surprise You) As I said off the top, the best way to think of CEFs is as a tool for buying into a whole range of assets at a big discount, and with a big dividend yield. The 3 CEFs above, with their utility stocks, convertible bonds and corporate bonds, are great examples. Let me add another category here that might surprise you: AI stocks. That’s right, through the 4 CEFs I’m pounding the table on now, you can reap big gains and income as artificial intelligence continues to embed itself in our lives. I’m talking about mammoth 9.8% payouts here. And thanks to these funds’ deep discounts, we’re buying these AI kingpins—companies like NVIDIA (NASDAQ:), Microsoft (NASDAQ:) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:), as well as smaller, fast-growing firms—at prices that haven’t been seen in months! Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Stealth #Funds #Pay #Month #100K #Invested Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

City unveils 10-year strategic plan City unveils 10-year strategic plan Over the past year, the urban design firm Gehl heard the voices of more than 1,700 Pensacola area residents, reviewed more than 30 previously drafted municipal plans and reports, and looked at examples of other long-term strategic plans from other communities across the nation and globe. Gehl’s team came away with a clear mission for the city of Pensacola: that by 2035, “all residents have the support they need to stay and thrive in their city – at every stage of life.” And to help meet that goal, Gehl created a 71-page report with clear instructions, steps and metrics showing the way forward. On Monday, Gehl publicly released a 10-year strategic plan for the city called “Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035,” a document that is “the result of input from over a thousand voices, setting a vision for the cityʼs future over the next decade and beyond.” Anna Muessig, a partner and senior project director at Gehl, will present the plan at a special CivicCon event 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Bayview Community Center. The document includes seven key takeaways from the community engagement *******, eight goals to guide priorities for Pensacola for the next 10 years, a “prioritization framework” to help the community identify investments that address our core community concerns, and specific actions and measurements the city can use to stay on track. “So what now?” Mayor D.C. Reeves asked in an open letter to the community included in the report. “With this plan in hand, it is my duty as your Mayor to oversee its implementation. We know the story of plans left unexecuted. Our city, like so many, has fallen victim to many plans and little ********** over the years. I expect to be held accountable to these priorities, and while the world has changed over the years, this vision you have provided for your city is the new guiding document for my administration.” Seven takeaways from the Pensacola community Pensacola communities shared their ideas and priorities through neighborhood pop-ups, a public open house, vision workshops, focus groups, interviews and online surveys, and Gehl distilled that input into seven major takeaways: Residents most appreciate how their city balances small town charm and growth. Many expressed a ******* to balance growth with preserving the area’s family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful green spaces and natural landscapes. Locals’ favorite destinations reveal their love for both socializing downtown and relaxing in nature. Asked their favorite place in Pensacola, 25% of respondents’ top answer was downtown, 14% said the beach. All other answers were 2% or less of the total. Residents are feeling positive about the neighborhoods they live in. When asked to score their level of satisfaction on a scale of 0-100, Pensacolaʼs average score was 73, indicating a generally positive sentiment. The most common score was 90. People in Pensacola are cautiously optimistic about the changes happening in the city. Asked how strongly they agree or disagree with the statement, “Pensacola is changing, and I think these changes will benefit me and my family,” respondents registered an average score of 56, indicating a neutral, but slightly positive sentiment. Core concerns focus on opportunities for all generations to stay and thrive in Pensacola – especially as the city changes. Concerns about housing affordability and general cost of living were common, as were calls for better and more even investment in infrastructure throughout the city. People want to see more housing, safer streets, and better facilities in their neighborhoods. Residents want a plan that addresses livability, health, and equity over the next 10 years, when asked to select themes they would like prioritized in the strategic plan. Learn more: Pensacola asked citizens what they want the city to be in 10 years. We’ve got our answer. Along with these insights, Gehl also noted the strategic plan should serve as the city’s “north star” when considering initiatives, grant funds, partnerships and opportunities that may become available over the next 10 years. A prioritization framework encourages the city to ask whether any potential pursuit: addresses safety and security; furthers equitable access to opportunity; advances investment in livability; addresses multiple strategic goals at once; and has a clear path to implementation, including champions and funding. Eight goals for the city of Pensacola to ‘thrive’ Additionally, Gehl suggested the city focus on eight main goals over the next decade: Strive to Thrive: Pensacola is setting a vision for next 10 years that will shape city Attainable housing for all income levels Attainable housing was the top theme present in answers when survey respondents were asked: “What is the most critical challenge that Pensacola must address in the next 10 years?” Gehl said next steps start with “taking a hard look at Pensacolaʼs zoning to incentivize creating new affordable housing. Today, Pensacolaʼs incentive zoning does not clearly define affordable housing in exchange for more density. This is a missed opportunity. Pensacola can conduct a real estate market analysis to amend zoning and work with developers to solve this problem.” Safe streets for all mobilities “Safer streets for walking and biking” was the top answer when survey respondents were asked “To make your neighborhood an even better place to live, what would you like to see more of?” The plan urges Pensacola to start by creating complete streets along key arterials and collector roads between major destinations like Cervantes and Main streets, Ninth and 12th avenues, and Pace Boulevard. It also urges the city to upgrade pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, bike lanes, and signalization systems. “By encouraging other forms of mobility – walking, biking, transit – Pensacola can become better connected and parking less competitive. This all adds up to a safer more enjoyable city, where getting around isnʼt a hassle, but a joy,” the report says. Support for youth experiences Pensacola is a beautiful place to raise a family, but many residents are concerned there are not enough opportunities for youth to grow, thrive, and ultimately choose to stay in Pensacola, according to the report. “The first step is for City and County leadership to collaborate and align on a holistic network of extracurricular care for kids. Recognizing that both the City and County have their own facilities and programs, integrating these into one system can help Pensacola families access childcare and educational activities that put kids first.” The report also encourages collaboration the city of Pensacola and Escambia County Public Schools to share and leverage resources to “build a supportive network of programs and places that help kids grow into their best selves.” Resilient waterfronts and neighborhoods The city should develop a roadmap that leverages local knowledge and data-based assessments to identify actionable steps and prioritize investments that will strengthen Pensacolaʼs resilience, the report said. “Pensacola has already created a stormwater management plan and conducted a sea-level vulnerability assessment. However, taken separately, Pensacola needs to develop a comprehensive resilience plan that contends with stormwater flooding, sea level rise, urban heat, social vulnerability, and emergency preparedness,” Gehl wrote. More walkable, mixed-use districts “To create more walkable mixed-use districts, Pensacola needs to focus on providing essential amenities and ensuring these qualities are equitably distributed in areas that need them most,” Gehl’s wrote. The report added, “Pensacola is now positioned to extend the success of its downtown to other neighborhoods in need of essential and enjoyable amenities, such as grocery stores with fresh produce, civic gathering spaces, and open areas with quality programming and childcare facilities.” Public spaces that connect communities A citywide open space and trails plan with emphasis on equity and connectivity can help strategically weave together and phase investments to achieve a coherent vision for the cityʼs overall public space network, Gehl wrote. “With its parks, plazas, and waterfront Pensacola has a collection of spaces that most cities would envy. But the city needs a coordinated, holistic plan for open space and trails that emphasizes investment opportunities to improve access and quality. By setting the goals for public space, the City can join forces with private developers to collaboratively realize this vision and distribute cost.” Thriving innovation and businesses As people seek jobs with great growth potential, Pensacola should aim to invest in large businesses in innovation economies and foster a thriving ecosystem for smaller, local businesses, the report said. Gehl recommended Pensacola work with a group of aligned business leaders to envision commercial clusters that can prompt innovation and be desirable workplaces. “By supporting regional innovation and businesses, Pensacola will create an environment that also nurtures the growth of both big and small businesses, including those in services, food and beverage, and retail. This balanced approach will strengthen Pensacolaʼs overall economic landscape.” Neighborhoods that celebrate culture and honor legacy Pensacola’s small-town charm and diverse cultures shine at signature events, with opportunities to expand into everyday neighborhood activations, Gehl wrote. “To infuse arts and culture across the city, there needs to be a dedicated role in city government to coordinate initiatives,” the report noted. Gehl recommended the city create an application-based program to support community-based arts and culture, prioritize neighborhoods that have community knowledge and organizing capacity but lack resources, and leverage existing events and initiatives to expand public art and cultural expression. Learn more about Strive to Thrive 2035 at CivicCon Anna Muessig, a partner and senior project director at Gehl, will present the plan in greater detail at a special CivicCon event Tuesday at the Bayview Community Center. The free event will be held at the Bayview Community Center, 2001 E. Lloyd St. from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Registration for this free event is available by searching CivicCon at eventbrite.com. CivicCon is a partnership of the News Journal and the Center for Civic Engagement to help empower citizens to better their communities through smart planning and civic conversation. More information about CivicCon, as well as stories and videos featuring previous speakers, is available at pnj.com/civiccon. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Strive to Thrive 2035 plan unveils at CivicCon Source link #City #unveils #10year #strategic #plan Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Arcane Season 2 is somehow already better than the first Arcane Season 2 is somehow already better than the first Arcane Season 2 is one of 2024’s most hotly anticipated TV shows, and based on what I’ve seen the League of Legends spinoff just leveled up. Source link #Arcane #Season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin (btc) tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win Bitcoin (btc) tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following Donald Trump’s election win. By 5:30 a.m. ET, bitcoin was trading 3.6% higher at $82,171, according to Coin Metrics. It comes after the flagship cryptocurrency touched $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever. Other coins also got a boost, with ether up 1.7%, trading around $3,202 after topping $3,000 over the weekend. The decentralized finance token tied to Cardano ticked 1.3% higher, while payments coin XRP took a breather. Memecoins dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin also continued to rise, up almost 10% and 3.5%, respectively. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Bitcoin touches $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, noted that crypto’s march higher comes amid “euphoria” in the market unleashed by Trump’s presidential win last week. “His pledge to go all in on crypto has sent Bitcoin to fresh heady heights,” she said in a research note Monday. “He’s made an about turn on supporting the industry and is now vowing to turn the U.S. into the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin speculators are ******** on a more clement regulatory environment, and have expectations that the authorities may build up a reserve crypto fund, helping lift ongoing demand.” On the campaign trail, Trump announced a slew of promises to the crypto industry, including making the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” and insisting that all bitcoin should be mined in the country. He also pledged to unseat U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler — who has taken an aggressive approach to crypto — despite the fact that the president does not have the power to do so. Bitcoin’s on track to hit $100,000 after Trump’s election victory, analysts say In a research note last week, Citi strategists highlighted that crypto had been one of the “few Trump trades that has yet to retrace.” “Part of the reason is due to the anticipated cryptofriendly nature of Trump’s administration, which investors hope will translate into regulatory clarity in the U.S.,” the strategists, led by David Glass, said. They noted that since the election, spot crypto ETFs had seen some of their largest-ever inflows. “Specifically, net inflows for BTC and ETH ETFs in the two days post-election were $2.01bn and $132mn, respectively,” they said. “We continue to see ETF flows as the main driver of Bitcoin returns.” Looking ahead, some analysts expect crypto to continue to rise, with a number saying bitcoin is on track to hit the $100,000 milestone by the end of the year. Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC PRO: Source link #Bitcoin #btc #tops #crypto #euphoria #Trump #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bitcoin (btc) tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win Bitcoin (btc) tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images Bitcoin hit another high on Monday, as the rally in cryptocurrencies continued following Donald Trump’s election win. By 5:30 a.m. ET, bitcoin was trading 3.6% higher at $82,171, according to Coin Metrics. It comes after the flagship cryptocurrency touched $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever. Other coins also got a boost, with ether up 1.7%, trading around $3,202 after topping $3,000 over the weekend. The decentralized finance token tied to Cardano ticked 1.3% higher, while payments coin XRP took a breather. Memecoins dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin also continued to rise, up almost 10% and 3.5%, respectively. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Bitcoin touches $80,000 on Sunday for the first time ever. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, noted that crypto’s march higher comes amid “euphoria” in the market unleashed by Trump’s presidential win last week. “His pledge to go all in on crypto has sent Bitcoin to fresh heady heights,” she said in a research note Monday. “He’s made an about turn on supporting the industry and is now vowing to turn the U.S. into the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin speculators are ******** on a more clement regulatory environment, and have expectations that the authorities may build up a reserve crypto fund, helping lift ongoing demand.” On the campaign trail, Trump announced a slew of promises to the crypto industry, including making the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” and insisting that all bitcoin should be mined in the country. He also pledged to unseat U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler — who has taken an aggressive approach to crypto — despite the fact that the president does not have the power to do so. Bitcoin’s on track to hit $100,000 after Trump’s election victory, analysts say In a research note last week, Citi strategists highlighted that crypto had been one of the “few Trump trades that has yet to retrace.” “Part of the reason is due to the anticipated cryptofriendly nature of Trump’s administration, which investors hope will translate into regulatory clarity in the U.S.,” the strategists, led by David Glass, said. They noted that since the election, spot crypto ETFs had seen some of their largest-ever inflows. “Specifically, net inflows for BTC and ETH ETFs in the two days post-election were $2.01bn and $132mn, respectively,” they said. “We continue to see ETF flows as the main driver of Bitcoin returns.” Looking ahead, some analysts expect crypto to continue to rise, with a number saying bitcoin is on track to hit the $100,000 milestone by the end of the year. Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC PRO: Source link #Bitcoin #btc #tops #crypto #euphoria #Trump #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A jazz orchestra’s Persona 5 cover has been nominated for a Grammy A jazz orchestra’s Persona 5 cover has been nominated for a Grammy An orchestra which previously won a Grammy for a video game cover has been nominated again for the prestigious award. The 8-Bit Big Band has been nominated in the Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals category for its cover of Persona 5 track Last Surprise. The band is a 30-65 member jazz / pops orchestra based in New York City, who cover musical themes from various video games. It previously won a Grammy at the 2022 awards, for its cover of Meta Knight’s Revenge from 1996 SNES title Kirby Superstar. The cover was arranged by Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman, who also arranged the 2022 winning Kirby cover. This is Rosen’s fourth Grammy nomination in a row – in the 2023 and 2024 ceremonies he was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album for co-producing A Strange Loop and Some Like it Hot respectively, winning for the latter. Just nominated for my 4th Grammy IN A ROW!!! So thrilled to be nominated along side my harmonic bro in ****** @Button__Masher for our co-arrangement of “Last Surprise” from Persona 5 for @the8bitbigband LONG LIVE VIDEO GAME MUSIC!!! pic.twitter.com/ThuZEhsTdY — Charlie Rosen (@CRosenMusic) November 8, 2024 The Grammy nominees for the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media were also announced recently. The award, which marks its third appearance at the Grammy ceremony, will be contested between Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, **** of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Outlaws and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the **** Overlord. The inaugural winner of the award in 2023 was *********’s Creed Valhalla, whose Dawn of Ragnarök DLC score by Stephanie Economou beat out Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Old World. The 2024 award was won by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab. It beat Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, **** of War Ragnarök, Hogwarts Legacy and Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. Source link #jazz #orchestras #Persona #cover #nominated #Grammy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Google’s Android-exclusive Gemini Live could be about to launch on iPhone Google’s Android-exclusive Gemini Live could be about to launch on iPhone A user in the Philippines has spotted a Google Gemini app on the App Store The app gives iPhone users access to Gemini Live No timeframe on when or if the app will roll out worldwide You could be using Gemini Live on your iPhone very soon after a standalone Google Gemini app has appeared on the App Store. U/lostshenanigans, based in the Philippines, found the app and shared the link via Reddit. Unfortunately, the app isn’t live in the ***, US, or Australia yet, but this could be a sign that the Gemini app is about to roll out worldwide. The Gemini app gives iPhone users access to Gemini Live, the paid AI voice **** that was previously exclusive to the best Android smartphones. Gemini Live lets you talk with Gemini rather than typing and uses Google’s AI model to produce eerily realistic conversations. From the screenshots shared in the Reddit thread, it looks like the Gemini Live works as a Live Activity, allowing you to chat with Gemini from your Lock Screen. This would be a huge coup for iPhone users who haven’t been able to use Gemini outside of the Google app, giving an alternate option to Siri. We’re yet to hear of any reports of other users accessing the Gemini app, so either Google is currently testing this new addition to its app family or U/lostshenanigans is fooling us all (I’m leaning towards the former). As soon as we have more updates on a standalone Gemini app for iPhone we’ll be sure to give it a download. After all, Gemini Live is one of the best examples of AI we’ve tried so far – it’s just a shame it’s exclusive to Android (for now). Gemini Live on iPhone (Image credit: Future, Lance Ulanoff) I’ve been waiting for Gemini Live to come to iPhone for a while, so this news of a potential standalone Gemini app with Live functionality is incredibly exciting. I’ve used Gemini Live briefly on Android but as an iPhone user I’ve been wanting to test it on a daily basis and I might not have long to wait to finally be able to do that. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Gemini Live’s natural voice is seriously impressive and as a fan of ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice mode but without a Plus membership, Live could be the voice assistant I’ve been waiting for – at least until Siri gets its Apple Intelligence overhaul next year. You might also like… Source link #Googles #Androidexclusive #Gemini #Live #launch #iPhone Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Daniel Khalife changes plea to guilty on prison escape charge Daniel Khalife changes plea to guilty on prison escape charge BBC Former British Army soldier Daniel Khalife has pleaded guilty to escaping from Wandsworth Prison last year. He had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge, and is in the middle of giving evidence at his trial. On Monday morning, he had the charge put to him again and pleaded guilty. The jury at Woolwich Crown Court then returned a guilty verdict on that charge. The trial continues on three other charges. Source link #Daniel #Khalife #plea #guilty #prison #escape #charge Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The ****** of Clive of India The ****** of Clive of India In the days following the sudden ******, aged 49, of Robert Clive – ‘Clive of India’ – on 22 November 1774, rumours as to how it had happened spread fast. Despite having previously received knowledge to the contrary, the writer Horace Walpole reported to the diplomat Sir Horace Mann that the leading theory was that Clive had cut his own throat. Lady Mary Coke recorded in her journal that Clive had ‘******* himself’. Such stories were not uncommon in cases of high-profile society deaths and soon references to Clive having ***** in this way began to surface in popular literature. In 1777 a scurrilous biography by Charles Carraccioli stated dramatically that Clive ‘was found weltering in his blood’ with a razor nearby. In May 1778 Town and Country Magazine imagined a conversation in the afterlife between Clive and Charles Yorke. Yorke was lord chancellor when he ***** suddenly in 1770 and his ****** was also described as a ******** by Walpole. Long regarded as such, it is now doubted. It seems likely that the deaths of both men prompted the spread of rumour and gossip which used ********, then socially unacceptable, as a way to malign them. Clive’s public profile – underpinned by the victory at Plassey in 1757, which established the East India Company’s control of Bengal, and by his wealthy lifestyle and political influence – meant that he inevitably attracted speculation designed to discredit and scandalise him. In May 1773 parliamentary enquiries into his conduct in India and his acquisition of an enormous fortune had culminated in a House of Commons debate and, despite the fact that he had emerged from it with his wealth intact, the public distrust of returned ‘East Indians’ – or nabobs – like Clive, was widespread. In Clive’s case, ******** provided an opportunity to suggest guilt: that he had not escaped the enquiries unscathed and had indeed paid a price for the consequences of actions he could no longer bear to live with. The idea of ******** became engrained in subsequent biographies of Clive, beginning with the work started, but not finished, by Sir John Malcolm and published in 1836, which suggested that a combination of pain and the effect of medicine ‘led to the melancholy event which ensued’. This continued with the lives published by G.R. Gleig (1848), who wrote ‘The world knows that he committed ********’, G.B. Malleson (1882), Sir George Forrest (1918), A.M. Davies (1939) and Mark Bence-Jones (1974). The short biography by George Dunbar in 1936 is an exception. Percival Spear, writing in History Today in 1954, concluded that Clive ‘***** by his own hand’. Other recent works continue to perpetuate this belief. As well as supporting an inaccurate, and indeed dramatic, picture of the last phase of Clive’s life these narratives were fuelled by dubious 19th-century accounts and doubtless influenced by a story, recounted in Malcolm’s biography, that Clive had attempted ******** as a young man by placing a ******* to his head and pulling the trigger twice. Miniature of Robert Clive, by John Smart, 1776. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection. Public Domain. That Clive’s life was dogged by ill health is well known. Instances of depression, nervous disorder and physical pain were evident in 1750 during his time in Madras and in 1766 during his second governorship of Bengal. He used opium for relief. His later life in England saw recurrences of an abdominal complaint and nervous exhaustion which required trips to Bath and Europe. In late 1773 he left for Italy and upon his return in May 1774 he appears to have been both mentally and physically well; he spent the summer and autumn in Shropshire, entertaining house guests. In October he was re-elected as an MP for Shrewsbury. In early November, however, he caught a bad cold which necessitated a visit to Bath. There was no improvement and on the 20th he was back at home in London at his Berkeley Square townhouse. What followed during the next two days is described in a letter written by Maria Ducarel, a family friend, to Philip Francis, a member of the Supreme Council in Bengal, about a month later. According to Ducarel, Clive was very unwell and his stomach caused him much discomfort. Against the advice of John Fothergill, a well-known physician, Clive took doses of opium and other medicines: In short, he had all the restlessness of a dying man, and grew worse and worse till the next day at noon, when he was taken with an epileptic fit … and expired immediately. Newspaper reports support Ducarel’s account that Clive suffered a sudden fatal medical emergency, probably triggered by excessive use of medicine. Further proof of this is found in a letter from Robert Pardoe, an attorney at Lincoln’s Inn, to a friend in Clive’s home county of Shropshire. Fearful that false rumours would spread, Pardoe was adamant that Clive had ***** during a seizure and that he had experienced similar instances before. Had Clive ***** by ******** an inquest would have been required: there is however no trace of any such occurrence among the archives of the Westminster coroner. Instead there is every indication that events following Clive’s ****** followed normal practice. The executors met the next day to read the will and agree ******** arrangements. The body was removed from Berkeley Square on 24 November and taken to Shropshire. The plans provided for a hearse and coaches to proceed from Clive’s ancestral home, Styche Hall, to the ******* at Moreton Say, with tenants in attendance, for the burial there at 12 noon on 30 November 1774. Armorial shields, drapes and streamers were placed in local churches. This evidence contradicts claims in biographies, designed to support the ******** theory, that Clive’s ******** was a rushed, secretive affair. What seems clear is that a myth of ******** grew up so strongly around Clive that it led, in effect, to a *********** theory based around the idea that an act of felo de se had been covered up. It has become one of many defining elements in how Clive continues to be remembered; authors as recent as Maya Jasanoff (2005) and William Dalrymple (2019) have repeated it. David Prior completed a University of Wales M.Phil. dissertation on Robert Clive and currently works at the Parliamentary Archives. Source link #****** #Clive #India Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Helldivers 2 is Sitting On a Literal Walking Hellbomb in its Final ****** for Democracy Only if Johan Pilestedt Listens Helldivers 2 is Sitting On a Literal Walking Hellbomb in its Final ****** for Democracy Only if Johan Pilestedt Listens At the heart of Helldivers 2 is its players and the community. Throughout its explosive lifespan from the almost half a million concurrent player count to the PSN controversy, the players have been the driving force of the game. And Arrowhead knows this because player feedback has been one of the devs’ top focuses. The community is always up to something. | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios This commitment to the community might come into play once again as the players have spoken once more. This time, the community wants to give Exosuits the ability to self-destruct, essentially turning them into Hellbombs. This could be a perfect addition to the game’s combat style if Arrowhead’s Johan Pilestedt is willing to listen. The Helldivers 2 Community Wants to ***** Up Exosuits In Helldivers 2, exosuits like the Exo-45 Patriot and Exo-49 Emancipator are capable of dishing out a lot of firepower. But their main drawback is that once their fuel or ammo is depleted, players are forced to just exit them and leave them behind. The idea of converting a nearly-defunct mech into a Hellbomb fixes this. Reddit user lunlunqq001 summed it up: “Do I just climb out and be slaughtered by democracy’s enemies? No! I’d rather go with a ***** of a bang.” Comment byu/lunlunqq001 from discussion inHelldivers It would fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the game. Imagine you’re surrounded, low on ammo, and with no backup in sight. Players could trigger the Hellbomb, sacrificing their exosuits to take out as many enemies as possible before making a dramatic escape. Varylia 5 has been liberated! Today marks a day of celebration as the newly acquired Emancipator Exosuit is immediately rushed out for distribution to all Helldivers. pic.twitter.com/dAxmuSSciy — HELLDIVERS 2 (@helldivers2) May 26, 2024 Historically, Arrowhead Game Studios has been receptive to fan feedback, working community-driven changes into updates and lore. The Helldivers 2 community’s hope is that Arrowhead’s COO, Johan Pilestedt, will heed this call. Arrowhead Has No Reason To Not Listen To The Community The people have spoken! | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Players want a game that lets them fully embody their roles as freedom fighters. They are willing to sacrifice everything, even their mechs, to ensure victory. As they wait to see whether Arrowhead will bring their explosive vision to life, fans remain hopeful that Pilestedt and his team will recognize the potential impact of this feature. Yeah, but these are just musings, if we were to do all of them, it would dilute the IP and make it a “not helldivers” experience. To add more to this conversation, here’s an extended list of IPs that I really would love to do a take on! – Aliens – Starship Troopers – Terminator… — Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) November 5, 2024 Pilestedt has hinted at incorporating crossovers and major game-changing updates, provided they fit the game’s established universe. While IP crossovers remain an exciting prospect, adding a hellbomb option to exosuits seems like a no-brainer that fits both gameplay dynamics and lore. The strategic flexibility introduced by a self-destructing exosuit would align with Helldivers 2‘s gameplay loop, which emphasizes creative, often self-sacrificial solutions to impossible challenges. Players would need to balance the risks and rewards of using the self-destruct feature. It also fits into the theme of expandability. Super Earth is, after all, a brutal regime with a penchant for sacrificing assets for the greater good. Every ***** is a ****** for democracy, but no soldier or machine is indispensable when victory is at stake. What do you think of the Helldivers 2 community’s latest idea? Let us know in the comments Source link #Helldivers #Sitting #Literal #Walking #Hellbomb #Final #****** #Democracy #Johan #Pilestedt #Listens Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Parents of 3yo Aliyah Yugovich told daughter given unprescribed medication before ****** after flu diagnosis Parents of 3yo Aliyah Yugovich told daughter given unprescribed medication before ****** after flu diagnosis A three-year-old girl was wrongly administered an anti-seizure ***** before she ***** with the flu in a Perth hospital — but how and why the medication was given to the toddler is still a mystery. Aliyah Yugovich ***** suddenly in July, after contracting the flu following a routine tonsillectomy. Four months later, the little girl’s grieving parents have voiced their anger at learning their daughter was mistakenly given an unprescribed medication before her ******. The details were revealed in a preliminary report by the coroner. But despite the bombshell, a cause of ****** has not yet been finalised, with the findings expected before Christmas. A SAC-1 Health Department review is also under way. “It should never have happened,” Mrs Yugovich told 7NEWS. “I took her to hospital because I trusted them. “How are we ever supposed to trust another medical professional again?” Camera IconCredit: Ross Swanborough/The West ***********, Josh and Jess Yugovich talking about their daughter Aliyah Mae Yugovich, at home in Forrestfield, Perth. Topiramate is an anti-convulsant primarily used to prevent seizures in people with epilepsy, and to treat migraines. Aliyah did not have either of those conditions. “I want to know what happened,” her mother said. “I want to know why my three-year-old daughter is ***** and why I’m never going to see her grow up.” Aliyah had a tonsillectomy at St John of **** Murdoch on June 28, but fell ill three days later and was admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital with influenza-A. She spent two nights as an in-patient before being discharged, against her parents’ wishes. The following morning she began coughing up large amounts of blood and was rushed in an ambulance to St John of **** Hospital in Midland. Aliyah was later declared ***** at Perth Children’s Hospital. It is understood all three hospitals have no record of the ***** being administered to the toddler, and that the coroner may not be able to pinpoint where the ***** was mistakenly administered. All three hospitals have been approached for comment but say they are unable to respond while investigations are underway. Camera IconAliyah Yugovich. Credit: 7NEWS/7NEWS 7NEWS understands an independent board investigating the case on behalf of the health Department was not made aware of the finding until Mr and Mrs Yugovich notified them. The Forrestfield couple is calling for greater transparency and co-operation between agencies. “Why can’t they share this information to the SAC-1 team,” Mr Yugovich said. “Why can’t they work together, so we can find out what happened here in a timely manner and stop it from happening again?” Aliyah was also given an incorrect intravenous dose of the antibiotic clindamycin while being treated for the flu at PCH. A note on her medical file states her parents were never notified of the error, because they were resting at the time. Camera IconFour months later, the little girl’s grieving parents have voiced their anger at learning their daughter was mistakenly given an unprescribed medication before her ******. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West *********** The parents are also concerned with a lack of services for WA parents suffering the sudden loss of a child. They said the only help made available to them was a stack of grief pamphlets left at their door by a government social worker. “We had to wait three-and-a-half months for an appointment with a grief counsellor,” Mrs Yugovich said. “That three-and-a-half months is the longest and most torturous wait, as you try to learn to live in a world without your daughter.” The couple is in the process of setting up a foundation in their daughter’s name to help bereaved Perth families. You can donate to The Aliyah Mae Foundation by visiting this link here. Source link #Parents #3yo #Aliyah #Yugovich #told #daughter #unprescribed #medication #****** #flu #diagnosis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Modern Warfare 2 Turns 15, But What Activision Did Later Forever Tainted Their Legacy Modern Warfare 2 Turns 15, But What Activision Did Later Forever Tainted Their Legacy The day Activision let down a lot of us is still considered one of the saddest days in video game history. The wound is almost 14 years old, but it still holds the echoes of pain that followed the event. It will be long before people forget what Activision did. Image Credit: Activision Activision let down a lot of people with its actions years ago, which is a fact. However, what it did following the event is even more rogue, which forever tainted its legacy and reputation. The Ghost of Activision’s Past Comes Racing Back To It Modern Warfare 2 is to date one of the most successful Call of Duty games. Image Credit: Infinity Ward Around 14 years ago, Activision decided to ***** Infinity Ward’s co-founders, Vince Zampella and Jason West. They were seen escorted out of the office by guards on accounts of breach of contract and insubordination. The duo had just released one of the most successful Call of Duty games, Modern Warfare 2, which accounted for a total of $1 billion in sales. The duo later sued Activision for $36 million. Activision’s response was a countersuit, accusing the two of meeting EA in secret and revealing company secrets to it. The lawsuits ***** down ultimately, and the duo did in fact co-found the rival FPS studio Respawn Entertainment in collaboration with EA. Having been a part of Infinity Ward and involved in developing Modern Warfare 2, the two knew exactly what they were doing by bringing in a lot of their Infinity Ward staff with them. Now, it is well known that following the departure of Zampella and West, a lot of the staff resigned or were released. One such former member of Infinity Ward, Paul Sandler, recently penned a note on Linkedin sharing his experience during the most tumultuous time. While being in the room full of Activision high-up people he shared an incident where they were asked to just take their bonus from Modern Warfare 2’s sales and get over the departure of Zampella and West. He said: Guys, if you stay with the studio to make Modern Warfare 3, you will receive your MW2 bonuses. AND we will also give everyone a fifty percent salary increase’. He paused slightly before repeating: ‘That is a five and a zero, fifty percent’. The looks on peoples faces did not change. If anything, most of the team was feeling even more upset. The executive spoke again: ‘Look, I get it. I know this is a tough situation. But, just take the money and get over it.’ I specifically remember him telling us to ‘Get over it’.” This statement deeply hurt a lot of people who felt disgusted about being a part of a studio that is run by people with absolutely zero ethics and empathy. Even After 15 Years, The Incident Seems Fresh Infinity Ward took a great hit following the departure of its co-founders. Image Credit: Infinity Ward The departure of the duo did not do the studio well and Infinity Ward ******* to release good games for a while. Activision had single-handedly handicapped its flagship studio that developed the blockbuster game Modern Warfare 2. Following the various chaotic lawsuits and legal battles, things seem to be getting a little calmer now since the duo has managed to secure a great place in the gaming industry. Respawn is now owned by EA. Zampella holds a position of great importance in the studio now as a Group General Manager who has games like Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi, Battlefield, and Need for Speed under him. Source link #Modern #Warfare #Turns #Activision #Tainted #Legacy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Does vitamin C prevent a cold? Will having wet hair make you *****? 5 myths doctors want to debunk. Does vitamin C prevent a cold? Will having wet hair make you *****? 5 myths doctors want to debunk. Respiratory virus season is officially here in the U.S., making it a prime time to catch a cold. And because the average ****** gets two or three colds a year, you could be dealing with an onslaught of sniffles and sneezes a few times in the near future. With that, it’s a good idea to do what you can (like washing your hands) to avoid germs and lower your risk of getting ill. But there are a lot of myths about what is involved with catching colds, including how to prevent and treat them. In fact, Dr. Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious ******** at the University at Buffalo in New York, says it’s something he gets asked about a lot. So what are the biggest myths about colds, and what’s actually legit? Infectious ******** doctors break them down. Myth #1: There’s one virus behind the common cold There’s a reason you might catch a cold multiple times a season — even after it feels like you just got over one, Russo says: They can be caused by a slew of viruses. The common cold is caused by more than 200 respiratory viruses, which is a lot for your immune system to try to defend against. According to the Centers for ******** Control and Prevention (CDC), rhinoviruses are the most common cause of colds in the U.S., but other causes include human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses and human metapneumovirus. Worth noting: SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can also cause cold-like symptoms, but they don’t actually cause colds, according to the CDC. Myth #2: Going out with wet hair raises the risk of getting a cold This is a biggie that keeps coming up, but it’s just not true, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious ******** specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. “Colds are caused by viruses, and the fact that you have a wet head or are feeling chilly doesn’t matter to the virus,” he says. This has actually been studied before. Schaffner points to older research in which people were divided into two groups. Half were warm and comfortable, while the other half were damp and uncomfortable. All were exposed to a virus that causes the common cold. “It turned out that both groups got equal rates of infection,” he says. Myth #3: Vitamin C can prevent a cold Pharmacy and grocery store shelves are packed with vitamin C supplements that heavily imply or even clearly state that they’ll help prevent a cold. But the evidence just isn’t there. One study of 29 clinical trials involving more than 11,000 people found that taking vitamin C regularly had no impact on how often people got a cold. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also clearly states online that “vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold.” That said, some data suggests that taking vitamin C may help once you get a cold. An analysis of clinical trials found that people who took at least a gram a day of vitamin C when they had a cold reduced the severity of their cold by 15% and had symptoms for slightly less time than people who took a placebo. Another study found that taking vitamin C within 24 hours of symptoms starting may help reduce how long the cold lasts. Ultimately, Russo says that there’s “no data to support” using vitamin C to lower your risk of getting a cold. Myth #4: You can only get a cold in the winter It’s true that colds are more common in the winter. In fact, the CDC says that most people get colds between September and May. But you shouldn’t be shocked if you happen to get a cold in the summer too. “Viruses are always around,” Russo says. However, he points out that some viruses are more abundant during certain periods of time than others. “There are summer cold viruses,” Russo adds. While rhinoviruses are the most common cause of colds as a whole, summer colds are usually caused by enteroviruses. Myth #5: Antibiotics will help treat a cold Antibiotics have been so widely used to treat infections that it’s understandable to at least wonder if taking these medications will help clear up your cold. But antibiotics don’t treat everything. “Antibiotics are directed against bacteria, not viruses,” Russo says. In other words, antibiotics will do nothing to treat your cold. “Not only are you exposing yourself to potential side effects of taking the antibiotic, you’re contributing to making the bacteria in your body more resistant to the antibiotics,” Schaffner adds. “Please don’t do that.” It is possible that your “cold” could be due to something else, like bronchitis, strep or pneumonia, though. If you find that your symptoms are getting worse, or that you have a sore throat and fever, Russo recommends contacting a doctor for an evaluation. Source link #vitamin #prevent #cold #wet #hair #***** #myths #doctors #debunk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

O.W.L Projekt Review | TheXboxHub O.W.L Projekt Review | TheXboxHub Review – O.W.L. Projekt on Xbox is a game that will challenge your mind, all while keeping you relaxed and engaged. Source link #O.W.L #Projekt #Review #TheXboxHub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Traitors’ poster put up at Michelle O’Neill’s office ‘Traitors’ poster put up at Michelle O’Neill’s office PA O’Neill was the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance Sunday ceremony A banner accusing Sinn Féin of being “traitors” has been put up at the office of the party’s deputy leader Michelle O’Neill. The banner was stuck to the office shutters after O’Neill ***** a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph at Belfast City Hall on Sunday, becoming the first senior Sinn Féin figure to take part in an official Remembrance ceremony. The banner – which was put up at the office O’Neill shares with Mid Ulster MP Cathal Mallaghan in Cookstown in County Tyrone – featured the word “traitors” alongside ******* handprints and a poppy. Asked about the poster, O’Neill said it was “difficult” to hear criticism about her decision to attend the commemoration but she had a role to play. “I’ve committed to being a first minister for all and I will live up to that at every turn,” she said. “I understand some people – particularly republicans – have difficulties with me attending, they’re entitled to express their views, however I have a role to play.” She defended her attendance at the event and said it was important she went. She added that she was unable to attend an Armistice Day event at Stormont later on Monday, but that other Sinn Féin politicians would take part. Getty Images The first minister said she was “committed” to “moving beyond old limits and building bridges” O’Neill had received some criticism before attending the event. In a letter published in the Irish News, more than 100 relatives of victims of the Troubles from the *********** community in County Tyrone hit out at her decision. The letter said they felt “deeply hurt, frustrated and ******”. “Of course it is difficult to hear that, particularly from people who I’ve known all of my life, but I also absolutely accept they are entitled to feel how they feel, particularly if they have lost a loved one,” O’Neill told reporters on Monday. Meanwhile a protester at the Cenotaph held up a banner referencing IRA *********. Posting on social media ahead of the ceremony, O’Neill said she was “committed to representing everyone equally”. “Through my words and actions, I will honour that commitment,” she said. “We each have our own identity, experiences, and perspectives. “As an Irish *********** who believes in a ******* Ireland, I have my own perspective also. “As we move towards a better future I am committed as first minister to moving beyond old limits and building bridges.” In a message on the wreath that she *****, O’Neill wrote: “Today I remember all lives lost in the horror of war and conflict – past and present.” Sinn Féin’s changing approach More than 20 years have passed since Alex Maskey became the first Sinn Féin lord mayor to pay his respects to the war ***** at the Cenotaph. On 1 July 2002 he ***** a laurel wreath at the monument two hours ahead of the main council ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Maskey described his gesture as a “major step for republicans and nationalists on this island”. He did not attend the main ceremony that year, refusing to take part in what he called a “military commemoration” of the World War One battle. Since then, Sinn Féin politicians have always declined to attend Cenotaph wreath laying ceremonies in any official capacity. In the years that have passed, there have been other firsts and many other gestures in a bid to promote reconciliation and good relations. In 2016 Martin McGuinness travelled to France and Belgium as part of a two-day trip to World War One battlefields. He ***** wreaths at the sites where the Somme and the Battle of Messines took place a century earlier. In July 2022 O’Neill ***** a laurel wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. However, she declined to be drawn on why she did not attend the wider Somme commemoration event at the same venue that year. Source link #Traitors #poster #put #Michelle #ONeills #office Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hideo Kojima is a Bad Writer- Why Do Critics Still Feel That Way Even After Games Like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding Hideo Kojima is a Bad Writer- Why Do Critics Still Feel That Way Even After Games Like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding In the world of video games, a few names are as celebrated and influential as Hideo Kojima who is known for consistently delivering groundbreaking games with intricate, thought-provoking narratives such as Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding series. Both series have made quite a stir in the gaming industry showcasing how video games can be a strong medium for delivering intricate topics. Critics feel that Kojima’s narrative is not strong and often leaves various character stories unfinished. | Image Credit: Kojima Produciton Yet despite his undeniable success and the critical acclaim his titles have garnered, a curious thing persists: many critics and players still doubt Kojima’s ability to tell a cohesive, traditional story. So, why does this contradiction exist, even in the wake of his most celebrated titles? Hideo Kojima’s Non-Traditional Storytelling One of the primary reasons that critics question Kojima’s writing is his unique approach to storytelling. Kojima is far from a conventional narrative designer. His stories are often nonlinear, surreal, and filled with symbolism, making them more difficult for traditional audiences to digest. In games like Metal Gear Solid and ****** Stranding, the narratives take unexpected twists, and the characters are often required to look deep into the philosophical reflection or bizarre, dream-like scenarios that require deep understanding. In Metal Gear Solid, for example, Kojima blended science fiction with real-world politics and further enhanced it by using psychological themes and historical references, making the story dense and, at times, almost impenetrable. The surrealism of the story is intentional, but for some players, it’s difficult to follow, with many describing it as overly complex. Similarly, ****** Stranding, perhaps Kojima’s most divisive work yet, offers a narrative that revolves around a post-apocalyptic world, where ghostly entities and the concept of “stranding” take center stage. The protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges embarks on a journey to reconnect isolated communities, but the game’s underlying philosophical themes often leave players feeling alienated. This results in them thinking the game has no clear beginning, middle, and end. While some players and critics find this philosophical approach refreshing, others find it infuriating and sometimes self-indulgent or pretentious. Kojima’s refusal to offer clear answers leaves his stories open to interpretation, which can be frustrating for those who prefer neatly packaged narratives with more conventional resolutions. Kojima’s Narratives Leave Players With More Questions Than Answers Hideo Kojima may not convince every player or critic, but one thing is undeniable: his influence on the gaming industry. | Image Credit: Konami One of the most common critiques of Kojima’s writing centers around his treatment of characters. While his games feature many memorable, larger-than-life figures, critics argue that these characters are often left out and feel one-dimensional, especially when it comes to their emotional motivations. In Metal Gear Solid, characters like Revolver Ocelot, Psycho Mantis, and ******* Wolf are not fully fleshed out, with their personalities sometimes exaggerated for dramatic effect. In ****** Stranding, the characters are similarly strange, but some players have argued that the character development is inconsistent. Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid Comment byu/Kooky-Sort from discussion inmetalgearsolid The comments highlight that Kojima relies on tropes such as the troubled anti-hero, the **** scientist, or the cold, mysterious woman. This is a good trope but when done consistently, it can feel superficial to some. His characters often seem to exist more as narrative tools than as fully realized individuals, meant to serve a larger philosophical point rather than grow organically through the story. For some, this complexity is a strength of his game and invites them to dig deeper into the human condition and to challenge preconceived notions of what a video game narrative can be. For others, it’s a barrier to accessibility, making Kojima’s work feel more like a riddle than a story. In the end, players are waiting to see what ****** Stranding 2 will bring to the table. In the gaming industry, Kojima’s writing will always be a divisive topic. He may never fully win over those who prefer more conventional narratives, but it’s clear that his influence on the medium is undeniable. Source link #Hideo #Kojima #Bad #Writer #Critics #Feel #Games #Metal #Gear #Solid #andDeathStranding Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mark Thomson Appointed CERN Director-General, Takes Charge of Collider Project Mark Thomson Appointed CERN Director-General, Takes Charge of Collider Project As reported by multiple sources, Mark Thomson, a renowned British physicist, has been appointed as the next Director-General of CERN, the prestigious ********* particle physics laboratory near Geneva. He will be taking over from Fabiola Gianotti at the end of 2025, Thomson will face significant challenges, including securing funding for the ambitious Future Circular Collider (FCC) project and navigating political complexities exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Challenges Ahead for the New Leader As per a report by Nature, Thomson, who has previously worked on major experiments at CERN, will lead the laboratory through a critical *******. With an estimated cost of $17 billion, the FCC aims to create a 90-kilometre tunnel for particle collisions, expected to explore deeper physics questions throughout the century. Doubts about the project have emerged from Germany, which is CERN’s largest financial contributor. China’s own plans for a similar collider also threaten CERN’s timeline and global leadership in this field. In addition, the political environment presents its own set of challenges. Following the war in Ukraine, CERN severed ties with Russia, and its collaboration with other countries will likely require careful diplomacy. CERN’s Key Projects and Thomson’s Leadership Thomson’s tenure begins as CERN continues to upgrade its current facility, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with a €1.5 billion investment. This effort aims to sustain CERN’s experiments at the forefront of particle physics. Thomson is expected to focus on maintaining the laboratory’s scientific momentum while addressing the scepticism surrounding the FCC. Thomson is seen as aligned with the vision of his predecessor, Fabiola Gianotti but his approach will likely involve transparent decision-making in light of differing views within the scientific community. Ursula Bassler, former president of CERN’s council, expressed optimism about Thomson’s leadership, citing his ability to manage the complexities surrounding the project. Thomson’s Background and Role at CERN Thomson’s appointment as CERN’s first *** director in over two decades brings substantial experience. Having co-led the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC in 2012, he has a deep understanding of CERN’s capabilities and ambitions. Source link #Mark #Thomson #Appointed #CERN #DirectorGeneral #Takes #Charge #Collider #Project Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Concerns surrounding Test debutant Nathan McSweeney opening mount as fans get glimpse into Australia’s future Concerns surrounding Test debutant Nathan McSweeney opening mount as fans get glimpse into Australia’s future *********** cricket fans will get their first glimpse of the future against India, but concerns surrounding the inclusion of Nathan McSweeney are mounting. The South *********** skipper is the first building block of the side’s mass transition, set to fill the shoes of one of Australia’s great openers in David Warner as a string of veterans prepare to leave the game. However, McSweeney — who is only the second specialist batter to earn a Baggy Green since 2019, behind Will Puckovski — has never opened in Sheffield Shield cricket, batting in the middle-order and first drop for South Australia. Batting greats Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist are among those concerned the 25-year-old will be thrown to the wolves if asked to take on India’s new-ball *******. Former *********** opener Ed Cowan, who last week labelled McSweeney mediocre, then added on Monday he felt the youngster had not proved he was up to it. “As someone who opened the batting for Australia, I could not be happier for him,” he told The Grandstand Cricket podcast. “He’s a good first-class cricketer, but I still don’t think he’s the right man to open for Australia. “Cricket Australia were begging for a data point (allowing McSweeney to open against India A), and you know what they got? They got an open blade. “In both innings (he got out with) a 45-degree bat, caught at slip and caught behind. Opening the batting is about solid defence; it’s about leaving the ball well, particularly when it’s moving, and the data would suggest that at the moment in his career, he doesn’t have the technique, nor the temperament, to do it. “Do you know what a selection when data doesn’t support your point of view is? It’s a guess.” These sorts of questions are set to dog Cricket Australia for the coming summers as they figure out how best to manage the twilight of their current golden generations’ careers. Usman Khajawa, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are all expected to call time on their careers in the coming years. And Cricket Australia will be eager to avoid a generation gap such as the pit they fell into after the retirements of greats such as Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer and then again when Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey placed the willow in the cupboard. National coach, Andrew McDonald, who has recommitted to the role until 2027, has admitted as much, going from being unwilling to talk “future-proofing” to 12 months later saying it was vital. Camera IconNathan McSweeney of Australia A prepares to bat. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images “People take it back to 2007 when mass players have exited, and they’ve struggled to obviously perform at the same level – we’re not beholden to the past,” he said last month. “I think if you get the selections right on the back of players exiting, then the transition is lot smoother. “So it’s about making sure that we don’t exit senior players too soon and lose that knowledge within that playing group. That’s incredibly important for us to get that balance right. “Our mindset is always about … future proofing in the team. Test cricket has been slightly different, we have been really settled and almost predictable in the way that we have gone about it. That’s not a bad thing … we’re number one in the Test rankings.” The pressure won’t faze McSweeny, who has been forced to earn his chances the hard way. He made his first-class debut as a thick-maned 19-year-old for Queensland, earmarked for higher honours before getting stuck behind his idol, Marnus Labuschagne. Camera IconNathan McSweeney of Australia A celebrates his half century. Credit: Albert Perez/Getty Images In his three years at the Bulls, he managed five red-ball matches, forcing a move to struggling South Australia, where he still only played three Sheffield Shield matches in his first season. And he had all the early makings of a cult hero, bowling his part-time off-spin in a cap to tame his wild curly hair and making a remarkable fielding stop on the SCG boundary in match for Melbourne Renegades. However, an unbeaten 99 in the State’s first red-ball victory in two years paved the way to a regular gig and then captaincy. He’s now played 34 matches for an average of 38.16 with six centuries, and while the jury is out, he says he will be ready to do his duty as Test cap 467. “I’ve been able to perform pretty consistently over the last couple of years in Shield cricket; I feel like my game’s constantly getting better, and I’m improving. I feel like I’m playing the best cricket I have,” he said after news of his selection broke on Sunday. “I feel like my game’s ready.” Source link #Concerns #surrounding #Test #debutant #Nathan #McSweeney #opening #mount #fans #glimpse #Australias #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]