New Paddington in Peru film ‘charming’ but ‘slow’, critics say
New Paddington in Peru film ‘charming’ but ‘slow’, critics say
StudioCanal
The nation’s favourite bear is back for another adventure
The much-anticipated new Paddington in Peru film has had mixed reviews over its opening weekend, with critics calling it “charming-enough”, but some agreeing the film struggles to reach the heights of its predecessors.
The third instalment in the Paddington live action adventure franchise sees the marmalade sandwich munching bear return to Peru to visit his aunt Lucy.
The film, that includes a return of much loved cast members including Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Hugh Bonneville, opened in *** cinemas on Friday 8 November.
Since the beginning of the film series in 2014, Paddington Bear has grown to become a national treasure with fans of all ages through its heart-warming appeal.
Of the latest film, Peter Bradshaw wrote in the Guardian that the experience was “just as jolly as the previous two films, but not really as funny” and likened it to a “special episode of a TV sitcom that takes the cast to the Costa del Sol”.
In the Hollywood Reporter, Leslie Felperin wrote that while the film “lacks the absurdist wit and decidedly dark edge that elevated the first two Paddington movies”, it was “serviceable enough given its limitations”.
Nick Curtis was more cutting with his two star review in the Standard, saying Paddington in Peru “misses the easy charm, the fluency and the icy sliver of jeopardy” from the first two movies “which had genuine cross-generational appeal”.
He added the pacing felt “ponderous and slow”.
Reuters
Ben Whishaw returns to voice the bear for the third time
The Telegraph’s Tim Robey was one of many critics to give Paddington in Peru a three-star rating, praising the addition of new characters portrayed by Hollywood heavyweights Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, calling them “assets” to the film, albeit not matching the previous “scene-stealing” from Hugh Grant.
Nick de Semlyen also agreed, writing in Empire: “Colman is perfect casting as sinister sister Reverend Mother, overseer of the Home For Retired Bears.
“Whether riffing on The Sound Of Music, strumming irritatingly on a guitar, or struggling to keep a phony smile plastered across her face, Colman is great fun, though a little underused. Antonio Banderas, meanwhile, goes full Kind Hearts And Coronets, playing not just a boat captain with a secret, but his many descendants.”
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1, Whishaw, who has voiced the character of Paddington in all three movies, said “I think they are beautiful films made with such care and love.
“A good film is a good film and they are hard to make, so I feel very proud of them and very proud to be associated in this way with this character.”
StudioCanal
Colman brings a musical charm to the film as the Reverend Mother
The director of the first two Paddington films, Paul King, has since moved on to new projects including Wonka, starring Timothee Chalamet, but he is credited with writing this latest story alongside Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton.
Clarisse Loughrey gave the film three stars in the Independent, calling Paddington in Peru “the worst in the franchise” but praised the production design, which takes full advantage of moving the cast away from the cosy comforts of London, and making “every interior look like an untouched escape room with secrets hidden under every trinket”.
Leila Latif of Total Film gave Paddington in Peru four stars, saying “despite the title, the film feels distinctly un-Peruvian”.
She added: “There are no Peruvian characters (unless you count the bears) and while the film alludes to the previous horrors of plundering Spanish colonizers in a surprisingly brutal montage, it’s still an uneasy shift that there is more screen presence from people of colour in London than there is in South America.”
Away from the big screen, a new Paddington musical is being developed for the stage, with McFly’s Tom Fletcher set to write the music and lyrics.
On November 7 the cast of the upcoming film unveiled special livery on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train that will travel through Devon and Cornwall.
Source link
#Paddington #Peru #film #charming #slow #critics
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
‘You don’t want it to be true’: Mitch Moses gutted to see Clint Gutherson leave the Eels as halfback reflects on wild 2024 season
‘You don’t want it to be true’: Mitch Moses gutted to see Clint Gutherson leave the Eels as halfback reflects on wild 2024 season
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses says it’s “sad” to see how Clint Gutherson’s time at the club ended, with the former skipper off to the Dragons in 2025 where he’s tipped to be “great” for the Red V after a tough end to his storied career in Parramatta.
Gutherson was officially released from the final year of his contract last week and was quickly snapped up by the Dragons for the next three seasons where he’s expected to replace Tyrell Sloan at fullback.
That role was off the table for him at Parramatta despite him giving it his all at the back during the good times and the bad at a club that is seemingly going in a very different direction under new coach Jason Ryles.
Camera IconClint Gutherson won’t be at the Eels next year after the former skipper joined the Dragons. Supplied Credit: Supplied
“It’s really tough. He’s one of my best mates and it’s sad to see how it happened and how it ended. It’s rugby league, and I think he understands that. Everyone understands it,” Moses said after helping Australia beat Tonga in the Pacific Cup final.
“It’s hard and you don’t want it to be true, but I’m going to miss playing with him. I’ve come through at Parramatta and we’ve been playing for the past eight years. To not have him at training will be a bit different…but I’m so happy for him.
“He’s got a great deal up there and he’ll be great for the Dragons. He’s one of my best mates and I’ll miss him, but I wish him all the best.
“I’ve been speaking to him. I speak to him almost every day. It is what it is, and I think he understands that.
“Footy is a business, and if it’s not working, if something needs to change, that’s just how it is and sometimes players that you don’t think are going to leave, it happens.
“He understands, the club understands, I think everyone understands. It’s sad to see, I don’t want it to be true, but it’s happened so we’ve got to move on.”
Camera IconMitchell Moses has had some incredible moments this year. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied
Moses is excited about what the future holds under Ryles, with the star halfback glad to move on from a rollercoaster 2024 that has seen him the enjoy the dizzying heights of making his Kangaroos debut, while he’s also had to deal with serious injuries and Parramatta’s struggles on and off the field.
He saw long-time coach Brad Arthur sacked by the club, but he also produced one of the great Origin performances to help the Blues keep the series alive at the MCG before they won the decider in ****** territory.
That night in Brisbane summed up his rocky year, with Moses scoring the sealer with a brilliant solo try, only for the halfback to suffer a ruptured biceps which ended his NRL season.
Moses had also fractured his left foot earlier in the year which meant he only played eight NRL games and five representative matches which culminated in him winning another trophy with Australia at his home ground CommBank Stadium.
Camera IconMoses has also had to deal with some major setbacks in 2024, including two serious injuries. Justin Lloyd. Credit: News Corp Australia
“It was a tough year for myself,” said Moses who is the leading candidate to replace Gutherson as Parramatta captain.
“I had the highs of Origin and the highs of this – the highs of rep footy for myself – but club footy didn’t go too well.
“I’ve got a whole change of scenery going back there so I’m really excited to go back and go to work. I’ll have a few weeks off and go straight back to it.
“It’s a whole new squad. It’s legit from players 18 to 30, it’s a whole new squad. Even our starting team will look completely different. We’ve added some great additions and hopefully we can add some more.
“I’m excited for the future, and I think under ‘Rylesy’ we’ll be all right. If everyone comes in with the right attitude at training, hopefully we’re in for a good year.”
Source link
#dont #true #Mitch #Moses #gutted #Clint #Gutherson #leave #Eels #halfback #reflects #wild #season
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Andor Season 2 premiere announced for April 2025
Andor Season 2 premiere announced for April 2025
After a relatively lengthy hiatus, Season 2 of the hit Disney Plus 2022 Star Wars show Andor is finally coming back to the house of Mouse’s streaming service.
Straight from the official Star Wars website, Andor Season 2 had its premiere date announced during the D23 Brazil Expo. This is among a number of other Star Wars news at the expo, with some sneak previews only available for in-person attendees. These exclusive announcements covered first looks of next month’s Star Wars: Skeleton crew and a video from Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni filmed from the set of The Mandalorian and Grogu as that movie’s production is under way.
Back to Andor Season 2, it is set for a Tuesday April 22, 2025 release. The second season will pick up where Season 1 left off, with Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) helping to lead the growing Rebel Alliance ****** against the evil Galactic Empire. Fans attending Disney D23 Brazil were also able to meet the feature droid B2EMO from the Andor series. The fun fan interaction with B2EMO can be viewed below:
As of this posting, it has been nearly two full years since Andor Season 1’s finale, with that episode releasing back on November 23, 2022 according to Screen Rant. SR also reports that Andor Season 2’s release date happens to follow right after next year’s Star Wars Celebration Japan in Tokyo. Overall, from the Disney Plus shows to the Star Wars convention, Disney and Lucasfilm have plenty of upcoming content to excite Star Wars fans in the following months.
Andor Season 2 kicks off on April 22, 2025 exclusively to Disney Plus.
Source link
#Andor #Season #premiere #announced #April
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Earning Less Than $176,100 Per Year? This Social Security Change Coming in 2025 Could Affect You.
Earning Less Than $176,100 Per Year? This Social Security Change Coming in 2025 Could Affect You.
A new year brings fresh changes to Social Security. One of the most prominent changes is the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will be 2.5% this year and is slated to boost the average retiree’s checks by just under $50 per month.
But the COLA isn’t the only change coming to the program. Every year, the program also adjusts various income limits that will affect everything from the maximum benefit amount to how much of your benefit might be withheld if you’re still working while on Social Security.
Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free »
If you’re not yet retired, there’s one figure in particular that could affect your finances both right now and once you begin claiming benefits: the maximum taxable earnings limit.
Image source: Getty Images.
There’s a limit to how much of your income can be taxed for Social Security purposes, and that cap is called the maximum taxable earnings limit. The more you earn up to this cap, the more you’ll pay in taxes — and the higher your future benefit will be.
The income limit will increase in most years to account for cost-of-living changes. In 2024, it will be $168,600 per year. Starting in 2025, though, it will increase to $176,100 per year.
This change will primarily affect those earning between $168,600 and $176,100 per year, as you’ll begin paying taxes on more of your income. But even those earning far less than the wage cap could still see an impact, as this limit will determine how close you are to the maximum benefit amount.
Starting in 2025, the most you can collect from Social Security is a whopping $5,108 per month. But one of the requirements for earning that payment is consistently reaching the maximum taxable earnings limit throughout your career.
The more you earn up to the limit, the higher your benefit will be. Once your income surpasses the wage cap, those earnings won’t be subject to Social Security taxes, nor will they affect your benefit amount. As the wage cap climbs higher each year, workers will need to continually earn more to have a chance at earning the maximum benefit.
Achieving the maximum payment is incredibly difficult, as it’s designed to be out-of-reach for the average worker. So, if you’re off-track, you’re in good company. However, there are other options for increasing your payments aside from simply earning a higher income.
Waiting a few years to claim Social Security is perhaps the single most effective way to substantially increase your payments. For every month you delay past age 62 and up to age 70, you’ll earn slightly larger payments.
Story Continues
In many cases, this can add up to hundreds of dollars more per month. According to December 2023 data from the Social Security Administration, the average retiree collects around $2,038 per month in benefits at age 70, while the average benefit at age 62 is just $1,298 per month — a difference of around $740 per month.
To calculate your benefit amount, the Social Security Administration averages your earnings over the 35 highest-earning years of your career. That figure is then run through a complex formula and adjusted for inflation, and the result is the amount you’ll collect at your full retirement age.
While you don’t need to work more than 35 years (in fact, you can generally qualify for retirement benefits after only 10 years of work), it can sometimes increase your benefit amount.
Most people see their income gradually increase as they advance in their careers. So, you’re likely earning a much higher wage by retirement than when you first started working. Since only your top-earning 35 years are included in your benefit calculations, working more years with a higher income can replace some of your lower-earning years in your average — increasing your benefit amount.
If you’re married or divorced, you could qualify for spousal benefits based on your partner’s work record. Divorced spouses must have been married for at least 10 years and be currently unmarried, and you’ll need to be at least 62 years old to qualify for either type of benefit.
In both cases, the maximum you can receive is 50% of the amount your spouse or ex-spouse will receive at their full retirement age. As of September 2024, the average spouse of a retired worker collects around $909 per month in benefits.
If you’re already entitled to retirement benefits, you can still collect spousal benefits if those payments are higher. However, you’ll only collect the higher of the two amounts — not both.
Social Security can go a long way in retirement, so it’s wise to know how any changes to the program might affect you. The more prepared you are heading into your senior years, the better off you’ll be.
If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.
View the “Social Security secrets” »
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Earning Less Than $176,100 Per Year? This Social Security Change Coming in 2025 Could Affect You. was originally published by The Motley Fool
Source link
#Earning #Year #Social #Security #Change #Coming #Affect
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
11/10: Face the Nation – CBS News
11/10: Face the Nation – CBS News
11/10: Face the Nation – CBS News
Watch CBS News
This week on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” a look at what’s next for America after former President Trump’s decisive victory. *********** Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California join to discuss what’s next for their parties. Plus, Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Karen Pierce, discusses the international reaction to the election.
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Not Now
Turn On
Source link
#Face #Nation #CBS #News
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Scotland falls silent as Remembrance ceremonies take place
Scotland falls silent as Remembrance ceremonies take place
PA Media
First Minister John Swinney joined veterans and service personnel at the city chambers in Edinburgh
Communities across Scotland fell silent in remembrance of those who have lost their lives in conflicts across the world.
In Edinburgh, First Minister John Swinney was joined by veterans and the city’s lord provost in laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance outside the city chambers.
Gatherings took place across the country, including George Square in Glasgow, Dunblane, and Grantown-on-Spey in Morayshire.
Elsewhere, buildings were lit up in red and adorned with poppies as a mark of respect before the traditional two minutes of silence at 11:00.
PA Media
John Swinney ***** a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh
Earlier, Swinney had shared the story of his uncle, Cpl Tom Hunter, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after dying at Lake Comacchio in Italy months before the end of World War Two in a post on X.
Alongside a picture, he quoted the biblical verse John 15:13: “Greater Love hath no man than this”.
The **** fired from Edinburgh Castle signalled the start of the traditional silence.
Rev Dr George J Whyte, interim moderator at St Giles’ Cathedral, led a short service of remembrance.
At the ceremony in Edinburgh, Swinney said it was a chance for generations of Scots to honour those who “paid the ultimate price” in conflicts across the globe.
“My uncle ***** down his life to protect his colleagues and his comrades,” he told BBC Scotland News.
John Swinney
John Swinney paid tribute to his uncle, Cpl Tom Hunter
“My grandmother lost her son and grieved until the day of her ****** and my mother felt the same, so in this Remembrance Sunday, I particularly think of the sacrifice that he made and the family, who mourned him for all the days of their lives.
“It is central to our understanding of our freedoms and our democracy today that we understand the sacrifices which were made by previous generation to make sure we could live in the type of society we live in.”
He added: “That is because people paid the ultimate price in the First and Second World Wars to ensure our freedom and in many other wars since then.
“We must remember, particularly in the modern world, with conflict raging around us, the important sacrifices that were made for our freedoms.”
Dozens of people gathered for the laying of wreaths at George Square in Glasgow
Three-year-old Poppy was among those paying tribute in Dunblane
In Glasgow’s George Square, mourners joined veterans and current service personnel in laying wreaths, with a guard of honour presented by representatives of the Royal Navy.
A band composed of members of the Royal Marine Band, the Royal Corps of Signals Pipes and Drums and the Police Scotland and Federation Pipe Band provided arrangements and the sounding of the Last Post.
Meanwhile, Kelvinside Academy was lit up in a red glow in memory of 177 former pupils who lost their lives in World War One and World War Two.
A display featuring the silhouette of a soldier and poppies designed by pupils were also placed outside the school building.
Elaine Livingston
Kelvinside Academy was lit up red in memory of the 177 former pupils who ***** in the First and Second World Wars
In London, the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and leaders of the other *** parties in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other senior royals also attended the event, but Queen Camilla missed out while she recovers from a chest infection.
The Princess of Wales watched from the balcony of the nearby Foreign Office in her first public appearance following her recent ******* treatment.
Eight former prime ministers; Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, were also present.
A ceremony was also held at Grantown-on-Spey
PA Media
Wreaths were ***** at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh
Source link
#Scotland #falls #silent #Remembrance #ceremonies #place
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are $100 off in this ****** Friday deal
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are $100 off in this ****** Friday deal
There is already a bunch of to check out, but if you’re on the lookout for a great set of wireless headphones for yourself or a loved one, here’s one that’s absolutely worth your attention. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones have . That’s a $102 discount.
This isn’t quite the lowest price we’ve seen for the over-ear XM5s. They dropped to $280 at one point earlier this year. However, the headphones haven’t gone back down to that point since, and this is still a great deal.
Sony
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones are $102 off for ****** Friday. They’re our pick for the best wireless headphones overall.
$298 at Amazon
The XM5s are our pick for the overall. We’ve long been recommending Sony’s 1000X line and this is the best iteration to date. They earned in our review.
The redesigned headphones are much more comfortable to wear for extended periods than previous models. Sony has improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature as well, thanks to the addition of a new chip and four more microphones. We feel that the company’s current flagship headphones do a better job of blocking out high frequencies and background noise (and even human voices) than the XM4s.
The XM5s can switch between noise modes depending on your location or activity, and they can pause audio automatically when you start speaking. They deliver better call quality than rival models and, in general, you’ll get clear, crisp sound, including punchy bass. You won’t need to charge the XM5s too often either, as they have a 30-hour battery life.
Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.
Source link
#Sonys #WH1000XM5 #headphones #****** #Friday #deal
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Stubbs inspires South ******* to T20 victory over India
Stubbs inspires South ******* to T20 victory over India
An unbeaten 47 from Tristan Stubbs, and a 42-run partnership with Gerald Coetzee have enabled South ******* to haul themselves over the line for a three-wicket win over India in their Twenty20 international at St George’s Park.
South ******* scored 7-128 in 19 overs in reply to India’s 6-124 to level the four-match series at 1-1 in a dramatic finish on Sunday after their top order were undone by India spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took a career-best 5-17.
Stubbs and Coetzee chased down a 40-run target in three overs of swashbuckling hitting at the ****** to rescue the result when it looked as if India would pull off an unlikely victory.
The visitors had been put in to bat and struggled to deal with South *******’s seamers, losing wickets cheaply before Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 39 gave them a respectable total to try to defend.
India opener Sanju Samson, who scored a sparkling century as the tourists beat South ******* by 61 runs in Durban on Friday, was bowled by Marco Jansen three ****** into Sunday’s contest, while Abhishek Sharma and captain Suryakumar Yadav also departed early.
Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) made valuable contributions to India’s total.
South *******’s top order were undone by a masterful display from Varun, whose googly bamboozled the home batsmen.
He castled Aiden Markram (3), Reeza Hendricks (24) and Marco Jansen (7) before having the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who sliced a full delivery, caught by Rinku Singh at long-off.
Varun’s next ball deceived David Miller, bowled first ball, to reduce South ******* to 6-66.
When Coetzee joined Stubbs at the crease at 7-86, they set about pulling the hosts out of a desperate situation.
“Fortunately the run rate never got away from us,” said Stubbs.
“I had 30 in mind to get off the last three, and the dew came in to help us also. He came in and said, ‘We can win this’. The crowd was behind us and it was amazing.”
Fast bowler Coetzee showed the way with 19 off nine ****** in a display of lusty hitting that turned the momentum of the contest while Stubbs saw South ******* to victory with successive fours to finish with 47 off 41 ******.
“Of course in a T20 game you don’t want to get 120, but I was proud of the way we bowled,” said Yadav.
The next meeting will be in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Source link
#Stubbs #inspires #South #******* #T20 #victory #India
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Cuba after hurricanes and blackouts
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Cuba after hurricanes and blackouts
HAVANA (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling.
The epicenter of the quake was located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Bartolome Maso, Cuba, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in ******* cities like Santiago de Cuba, as well as Holguin and. Guantanamo. Local media in Jamaica also reported that the island felt the tremors.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries in Cuba.
Residents in Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabío, 76, said that people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said that she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family she hadn’t heard of any damages.
“You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything,” she told The Associated Press.
Others reported hearing screams, adding that the quake was strong and stretched on. On social media, residents in the small town of Pilon reported minor damage, posting photos of crumbling roofs and cracks on building walls, not uncommon in Cuba where many structures are older and in need of repair.
The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba.
On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael ripped through western Cuba, with strong winds knocking out power island-wide, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations of hundreds of thousands of people. Days after, much of the island was still struggling without power.
Weeks before in October, the island was also hit by a one-two punch. First, it was hit by island-wide blackouts stretching on for days, a product of the island’s energy crisis. Shortly after, it was slapped by a powerful hurricane that struck the eastern part of the island and ******* at least six people.
The blackouts and wider discontent among many struggling to get by has stoked small protests across the island.
Source link
#magnitude #earthquake #shakes #Cuba #hurricanes #blackouts
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Enthusiast demos motherboard socket pin replacement — hot air, tweezers, and a steady hand
Enthusiast demos motherboard socket pin replacement — hot air, tweezers, and a steady hand
A tech enthusiast in China has demonstrated the skillful replacement of one of the ‘pins’ located in a CPU socket. Bilibili user and motherboard repair guru Mu Ziwen takes us step-by-step through the intricate process, demonstrating the success of their handiwork at the end of the brief video.
Current-gen Intel and AMD systems locate contact pins in the socket. While this makes processors more robust, we have to be more careful with motherboard sockets. Modern CPU socket ‘pins’ aren’t rigid, though. They have a thin kinked copper leaf at their business end, which exerts spring-like pressure for good contact on the corresponding CPU pad.
Damaged motherboard pins can sometimes be carefully, very carefully, pushed back into alignment with precision tools. However, there is a real danger that it can break if flexed too many times, or too strongly, because of metal fatigue. If the pin is too far gone to be prodded back into position or it breaks, as described, then most people would write off the motherboard. However, Mu Ziwen shows a full pin replacement process using a pretty basic toolset, seemingly completed pretty swiftly, too.
The damaged motherboard socket is causing the system to be unable to recognize the installed memory correctly – with just one pin out of action. That’s bad luck, as some pins aren’t needed, being functionally duplicated elsewhere, for example. The key symptom of the broken pin in this case was that one of the DIMM slots didn’t function.
Mu Ziwen takes us through the following process:
Fixing a broken pin affecting the memory bus
Remove damaged pin – using hot air and tweezers
Load new pin – heat **** temperature set to a little under 300 degrees Celsius
Test pin adhesion – tweezers
Test pin function – multimeter
Power on test – with CPU back in place
Success – both memory channels test OK
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Mu Ziwen on Bilibili)
(Image credit: Mu Ziwen on Bilibili)
(Image credit: Mu Ziwen on Bilibili)
(Image credit: Mu Ziwen on Bilibili)
So, the tech enthusiast only used three affordable tools throughout the repair process: a hot air ****, tweezers, and a multimeter. A hot air station temperature of a smidgeon under 300 degrees Celsius was just right for this delicate extraction and replacement job. The Bilibili user warned that anyone wielding hot air approaching 400 degrees Celsius would be in danger of melting the motherboard socket plastics.
Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
At the end of the video, we can see Windows Task Manager’s Process monitor confirm two of the motherboard’s DIMM slots are populated for a total of 8GB of DDR4-2666 RAM, running in dual-channel mode. This is a nice success story but be warned that skillful operators can sometimes make difficult jobs look very easy.
Source link
#Enthusiast #demos #motherboard #socket #pin #replacement #hot #air #tweezers #steady #hand
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
******** Rover Finds Evidence of Gigantic Ancient Ocean on Mars
******** Rover Finds Evidence of Gigantic Ancient Ocean on Mars
A ******** rover that has been exploring Mars’ northern hemisphere for more than three years has found evidence to suggest that this region was once covered by a gigantic ocean. This huge body of water could have spread out over as much as one-third of the planet’s surface, ******** scientists based in Hong Kong claim, in a newly published study that boosts the long-held theory that Mars was once a wet planet that could conceivably have supported life.
A Giant Crater with a Giant Sea
In May 2021 the ******** rover Zhurong, carried by its orbital lander Tianwan-1, landed on Mars in the southern Utopia Planitia region, which is located in the planet’s northern lowlands. This area is part of one of the solar system’s largest impact craters, which has a diameter exceeding 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers). This would have given it the required topography to have maintained an ocean 3.7 billion years ago, when the study authors believe this sea existed.
A combination of geochemical analysis of rock samples and a visual examination of the Utopia region’s features, plus supplementary data obtained via satellite, “unveiled features consistent with the existence of a nearshore zone in southern Utopia,” the study authors wrote in a new paper published in Scientific Reports. “Different types of water-related geomorphological features were separated by specific topographic contours, suggesting different types of marine environments.”
Mars crater in southwest Utopia Planititia. (NASA/Public Domain).
The most interesting evidence discovered included “pitted cones,” as well as “pancake-like ejecta, polygonal troughs, and etched flows,” the researchers wrote, concluding that “the Utopia Planitia region on Mars exhibits water-related features on its surface.”
The pitted cones they reference are common on the plains of the northern lowlands of Mars. It is thought they may have been formed by mud volcanoes, which develop in areas where there had once been significant quantities of water or ice. Additionally, the polygonal troughs they mention could have been created by alternating cycles of freezing and thawing water, caused by the existence of subsurface water and ice.
At some point this huge ocean froze, creating a long and distinctive coastline, before disappearing approximately 3.4 billion years ago, the ******** scientists estimate.
Lead study author Bo Wu, an associate professor in the Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Department at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, emphasized in an interview with the APF published by Phys.org that his team “does not claim that our findings definitively prove that there was an ocean on Mars.”
Zhurong rover and Tianwan-1 lander shortly after landing in southern Utopia Planitia in 2021. (NASA/JPL/Public Domain).
Nevertheless, he insists that what they’ve discovered is absolutely consistent with that idea, and notes that the rover Zhurong had been exploring an area of Mars where other researchers have claimed to have observed evidence of surface water in the distant past.
Is the Evidence Conclusive? One Scientist Says No
Interestingly, one scientist who has examined evidence for the existence of an ocean on Mars and found it persuasive is actually skeptical of the ******** scientists’ claims.
That is Benjamin Cardenas, an assistant professor of geosciences at Penn State University who has been studying Mars for many years. While admitting the data produced by the ******** researchers is sound and could have been related to oceanic activity, he ******** unconvinced.
Among other objections, he believes Bo Wu and his team did not factor in the effects of the persistently strong Martian wind, which has been whipping up sediment and blasting it against rocks and wearing them down for the last three or four billion years.
“We tend to think of Mars of being not very active, like the moon, but it is active!” Cardenas told the AFP.
What this means, he said, is that erosion would have so much impact on the planet’s surface features that most signs of an ancient ocean wouldn’t have survived. He noted that modeling research had suggested that “even the slow Martian erosion rates” would have wiped out any signs of a shoreline over the course of a few billion years.
Bo Wu acknowledged that wind erosion is a complicating issue. But he argued that meteor impacts on the planet would have “excavated underground rock and sediment to the surface from time to time,” explaining some of the signs that seem to indicate extensive wind erosion.
Where There is Water, There Could Be Life
The idea that Mars was once covered with water is a persistent one, despite the lack of any definitive proof. What is known is that Mars lost most of its atmosphere over time because of its weak magnetic field, and without an atmosphere to provide surface pressure any liquid water on the surface would have turned to vapor and disappeared long ago. Subsurface ice does still exist on Mars even today, however, and is close enough to the surface to be detected in some photographs.
Region of Utopia Planitia where ******* ice is close to the surface, photographed by NASA rover Sojourner. (NASA/JPL/Public Domain).
Even if Mars’ ocean evaporated completely billions of years ago, if it was ever there it raises the possibility that life evolved on Mars just as it did on earth.
“Most scientists think life on Earth sprung up either under the ocean where hot gases and minerals from the subsurface came to the seafloor, or very close to the interface of water and air, in little tidal pools,” Cardenas explained. “So, evidence for an ocean makes the planet appear more hospitable.”
Top image: China’s Martian rover Zhurong with its orbital lander, Tianwan-1, on Mars. Source: ******** News Service/CC BY 3.0.
By Nathan Falde
Source link
#******** #Rover #Finds #Evidence #Gigantic #Ancient #Ocean #Mars
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
World champ Springboks earn scrappy win over Scotland
World champ Springboks earn scrappy win over Scotland
Wing Makazole Mapimpi has scored a brace of tries as error-strewn South ******* defeated Scotland 32-15 in their Murrayfield Test with the help of forward power in a scrappy win.
The Springboks, who also scored tries through prop Thomas du Toit and No.8 Jasper Wiese, made 11 changes for Sunday’s match and looked disjointed, not helped by 21 handling errors that broke their momentum.
It was a ninth successive loss to South ******* for the Scots, but there will be aspects of their performance they will be pleased with, though they ******* to take their chances in the visitors’ 22, with all their points coming from the boot of flyhalf Finn Russell.
South ******* next travel to Twickenham to play England on Saturday, while Scotland host Portugal on the same day.
“It was a tough Test match, Scotland are always difficult to play against and they gave us problems in the first half especially. The scoreline flatters us a bit, it was closer than that,” Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth said.
It is the second meeting in a row that South ******* have kept Scotland from crossing their try-line having also kept them out at the Rugby World Cup last year.
South ******* dominated the early possession and Handre Pollard’s cross-kick was perfect for Mapimpi to gather and score in the corner.
Scotland were reduced to 14 when lock Scott Cummings was penalised on TMO review for a croc-roll at the ruck on Springbok counterpart Franco Mostert that met the threshold for dangerous play.
He initially received a yellow card, but on bunker review it was upgraded to a 20-minute red card which ended his participation in the game, though he was replaced later on by Max Williamson.
Russell added two penalties in the first half as Scotland looked to have managed their numerical disadvantage superbly with some ferocious tackling to apply pressure on the visitors.
But as the seconds ticked down to them being back to their full complement, the visitors scored a second try from a messy attacking line-out as lock Mostert missed the throw and the ball fell kindly for prop Du Toit to gather and have a clean run to the line.
The Springboks added a third when Scotland halfback Ben White took too long to clear from the base of the ruck and from the resultant scrum, fullback ******* le Roux’s kick was collected by Mapimpi to coast in.
The Springboks, who selected seven forwards on the bench, brought on six of them after 45 minutes, but Scotland fed off the visitors’ numerous errors to stay in the contest.
Mapimpi received a yellow just before the hour-mark for cynical play and Russell closed the gap to five with a penalty.
But South ******* are masters at closing out games and took control again in the final 20 minutes as they won several scrum penalties before Wiese crossed for a try with the final play of the game.
Source link
#World #champ #Springboks #earn #scrappy #win #Scotland
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
10 of the Strangest and Most Doubtful Myths of Love and ****
10 of the Strangest and Most Doubtful Myths of Love and ****
Some of humanity’s strangest stories come from mythology, and some of the strangest myths of all involve love and ****. Myths from around the world tell stories involving **** and love between gods and humans and sometimes other creatures. These stories often involve a lot of pathos and sometimes ********* and revenge. We hereby present a list of 10 strange myths that are too strange to be true but that may contain kernels of truths about human or divine nature.
10. Who enjoys **** more: men or women?
Zeus and Hera, heads of the Greek pantheon, got into an argument about who enjoys **** more, men or women. Zeus contended women get more pleasure. Hera said it’s men. They asked the long-lived Tiresias of the ancient city of Thebes to settle the dispute.
Tiresias had been a man who committed the abomination of striking a female snake that was mating and spent seven years as a woman for his sin. When he went before Zeus and Hera, Tiresias was now a man again because he later struck a copulating male snake and was returned to his native gender. Tiresias sided with Zeus, saying women enjoy **** nine times more than men. Furious, Hera blinded him. In recompense, Zeus gave Tiresias the gift of prophecy.
The gift of prophecy was ambivalent because people often excoriated prophets and discounted or denied their accuracy. Some stories say Tiresias lived a long life as a gift from Zeus.
The Greek mythological prophet Tiresias is transformed into a woman by the goddess Hera, after striking two copulating snakes with a stick. Engraving taken from **** Verwandlungen des Ovidii c. 1690. (Public Domain)
9. Goddess of love and beauty—and many partners
Freya, the Norse goddess of love and beauty, was so lovely that she was desired by all the supernatural beings of the Norse realms—the gods, dwarves, elves and giants. It seems she reciprocated. It wouldn’t do to *****-shame a goddess, but let’s say she got around some. One website calls her the “party girl” of the Aesir, one of the Norse pantheons. She is even said to have slept with a ****** more than once. Ironically Freya (Freyja) means “lady,” and our word Friday is related to it.
Her husband, Odur, who is sometimes but not always equated with the great **** Odin, went off on travels on Earth a lot. Freya missed him and sometimes went searching for him, shedding tears that seeded the earth with gold. Her footsteps left beautiful flowers in her path.
As the personification of earth she coupled with Odin, who is the sky; Frey, the rain; Odur, sunshine; and Vili and Ve, Odin’s brothers (or alter-egos). Loki accused Freya of sleeping with all the gods and elves. He even accused her of sleeping with her brother, Freyr.
The indiscretions of Frigg, a goddess often equated with Freya, are recorded for posterity in Semund’s Edda:
Be thou silent, Frigg!
Thou art Fiorgyn’s daughter
And ever hast been fond of men
Since Ve and Vili, it is said,
Thou, Virdir’s wife, didst
Both to thy bosom take
Freyja, by John Bauer. (Public Domain)
8. Iktomi the Lakota trickster courts a maiden
Iktomi, the Lakota trickster, knew about beauty. In the story “Oh, It’s You!” related in the book Native ********* Trickster Stories, edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz, Iktomi the spider-man was always thinking about **** and copulation. He had his eye on a beautiful girl with long ****** hair, firm breasts and graceful movements like a cat. From the first time he saw her he was preoccupied with how to get her in bed.
So, the ugly Iktomi courted her, playing his flute every day as she went to the river to wash her clothes. He told her what a great lover he was and that she was missing out on great pleasure by rejecting him. She was insulted such an ugly, ill-mannered man would want her. She told Iktomi’s wife, who said that’s nothing new, he wants to do ‘tawiton’ with everybody in the village—except her with her grey hair and potbelly. She told the girl she wished she could catch him and beat him. The beautiful wincincala says there is a way. She told Iktomi to come to her tipi that night, that her ****** and deaf grandmother won’t notice a thing. So Iktomi’s wife went there in place of the girl.
“Kiss me!” Iktomi told her in the dark, thinking it was the beautiful wincincala. “I love you. How sweet your breath is compared to my old woman.” He felt her all over. “Oh, what a beautiful, firm little body you have, not lumpy and saggy like that of my wife. What a joy to ********** to a young, beautiful girl instead of to an old, ugly hag!”
Next morning, in the light, he saw that it was his wife. “Oh, it’s you,” he said. “I knew it was you all the time. Wasn’t it great?”
She shouted that she’ll give him “sagging breasts” and a “lumpy body” and said she’ll beat the stuffing out of him. And she did so with a heavy club she had there. The story concludes that Iktomi was sore for a long time, but he kept on philandering.
As you can see, Iktomi’s wife was still as beautiful as any young girl, but Trickster didn’t realize it until he couldn’t see her.
Iktomi depicted sitting by the *****. (Public Domain)
7. Krishna Puts The ****** In A Dilemma
The unmarried gopi or cow-herd ****** of the village of Vrndavana were deep in love with the beautiful Indian man-**** Krishna even though they were supposed to be devoted to either Shiva or the goddess Durga. But like good ****** they were involved in the worship of Durga when they went to the Yamuna riverbank to bathe in the morning. There they would hold hands and sing of the wonderful exploits of Krishna, an incarnation of the supreme Godhead Vishnu.
One morning per tradition they left their clothing on the bank of the river and went into the water. Krishna arrived and took their clothes with him up into a tree. He told them to come out one by one and he will hand over their clothing.
The ****** were delighted and smiled at each other, but there was a problem: They can’t go before their lord ******. They told Krishna they were his eternal servants, and must do as he says, but if he didn’t give them their clothing, they would tell the elders and the king.
Krishna told them if they are his servants they must do as he says. So, seeing he wouldn’t budge, they came out of the water *****, one by one. Krishna was pleased with their modesty as they covered themselves with their hands. So, he took them to be his wives.
6. Don’t Go Chasing Butterflies
The Maidu Indians of Northern California tell a legend about a Tolowim woman who set out to gather food. She had with her child in a cradleboard. She set the child down when she saw a large butterfly flutter past. She chased the beautiful butterfly, almost catching it, then missing, chasing it on and on. She thought perhaps she was too weighted down with her deerskin robe and ditched it. Still unable to catch the butterfly she tossed away her apron. At night she ***** down to sleep and didn’t even think of her child.
Next morning there was a man lying next to her. He told her if she wanted to follow him always, she would have to pass by a lot of his people. So, she followed the butterfly man, and they came to a valley of butterflies. He told her no one ever came through the valley alive, and if she were to do so she must not lose sight of him and must follow closely.
They travelled a long time, and the man kept telling her to hold tight and not let go. Halfway through the valley a swarm of butterflies enveloped them, around their faces and heads. They wanted the Tolowim woman. She held her husband tightly for a while, but finally she let go. She reached out to grasp a butterfly but missed. Then she tried for another, and another, and another, but she never succeeded. She wandered in the valley for a long time, went crazy and *****.
Butterfly drawing by Mark Miller (Author Provided)
5. The Best of Both Worlds
The Greek **** Hermes and goddess Aphrodite, the gods of male and female sexuality, had a son called Hermaphroditus, who was originally male but then became both male and female. In the beginning their son was a handsome youngster who inherited the beauty of his parents.
Once he ***** down near the naiad ****** Salmacis’ well. She loved Hermaphroditus at first sight and tried to woo him, but he resisted. Then he swam in her spring, and she embraced him. She prayed to the gods to unite her to him, and they became one, neither man nor woman but both. Thereafter, by the will of Hermaphroditus, everyone who swam there at Salmacis became a hermaphrodite.
Hermaphroditus is depicted in ancient art with female face, thighs, breasts and hair and male genitalia.
Drawing of a relief depicting Hermaphroditus and Eros crowning a herm by Antonio Maria Zanetti (circa 1721) (Public Domain)
4. Maybe You Really Can’t Go Home Again
Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope, was a great musician. He loved his dryad wife Eurydice so much that when she ***** of snakebite, he determined to travel to the underworld to get her back. He charmed Charon, who ferried the ***** across the River Styx. He mesmerized Cerberus, the three-headed dog on guard, into sleep. Then he met with the recalcitrant Hades, who refused to let Eurydice return to Earth.
The goddess Persephone, Hades’ queen, heard Orpheus music and was so moved she pleaded on Eurydice’s behalf. Hades relented but set a condition: Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice as they left the underworld. Orpheus, scared she wasn’t following along, looked back—and she was swept back into Hades forever. Orpheus was overcome and wandered around **** with sorrow until Dionysus’ ******** followers the maenads ******* him.
The Lament of Orpheus, painting by Franz Caucig (Public Domain)
3. Perhaps The Saddest Love Triangle of All
To the Letts of the Balkans, the moon **** Menu, and his wife, Saule, the sun, were so brilliant their children were the stars. Saule had an affair with Perkuno, the **** of lightning. The child of this unfaithful union was so brilliant he was the Morning Star. Menu was so angered and ashamed he appeared only at night, but his wife continued to shine brightly all day.
2. How The Cosmos Became Suffused with Love
The Indian pantheon—the entire universe—was in trouble. The Great Lord Shiva had lost his beloved intended, Sati, and Shiva was meditating and doing austerities in great sorrow. He had withdrawn so much that reality was threatened with coming apart, and the Asuras, the forces of evil, were becoming strong again. Only a son of Shiva could lead the gods to victory, but Shiva had no wife, nor *******.
Indra told Brahma of the situation. Brahma revealed that Sati was reincarnated as Uma, also called Parvati. She was dispatched to Shiva’s mountain home to see to his needs. Days passed, but Shiva did not notice her or even open his eyes. The crisis was mounting, so the gods sent Kama, the **** of love, to smite Shiva with a dart that would awaken his ******* for Parvati so she could give birth to the hero who would save them.
Kama arrived with Vasant or spring and the ******-like Apsaras to arouse Shiva. A divine fragrance and beautiful birdsong filled the air, but Shiva continued imperturbably doing his austerities.
Kama strung his bow of sugarcane with an arrow with a flower tip, said a magical incantation and let fly. The arrow struck Shiva in the chest. Furious, Shiva blasted Kama with his third eye and burned Kama to a crisp. Love suffused the universe, unseen now by all but his wife, Rati.
Eventually, Kartikeyya was born to the divine couple, and he led the celestial troops and saved the world.
Shiva and Parvati (Public Domain)
1. Dawn, Go Away, You’re No Good for Me
Eos, the Greek titaness of the dawn, married Tithonus, who had been immortalized by the gods. Eos liked young men, but her husband had not been made eternally youthful when the gods made him immortal.
One day Eos spied Cephalus, who was married, hunting. Eos was smitten and took him as a lover. Cephalus’ life became wretched and later tragic because of the goddess’ love. Eos had told him he would regret marrying his wife, Procris.
Out hunting one day Cephalus ends up accidentally spearing Procris, thinking she was a ****** in the bushes. She’d been spying on him because she had heard he was calling out for the goddess Aura. After Cephalus went into the bushes, he saw what he’d done. Procris asked him to promise never to take Aura into their bed. He quickly explained he was just calling out “aura,” for a breeze, and Procris ***** with a smile.
Eos and the giant Orion the Hunter also had an affair.
Top image: Eos on her chariot depicted on an ancient Greek ceramic piece. Source: Public Domain
By Mark Miller
References
Erdoes, R. and Ortiz, A.1999. Native ********* Trickster Tales. Penguin Random House.
Hare Krishna Temple Portal. Stealing the Garment of the Unmarried Gopi ******. Available at:
McCoy, Dan ‘ Norse Mythology for Smart People: Freya’, Available at:
Mythology Unbound: An Online Textbook for Classical Mythology. ‘ Orpheus’. Available at:
Parada, Carlos, 1997. ‘ Greek Mythology: Tiresias’ Available at:
Shiva Knowledge website, ‘ Shiva and the Burning of Kamadev’. Available at:
Theoi Project website,
Theoi Project website. ‘Eos’. Available at:
Witches’ lore, 2011. ‘********* Indian Mythology’. Available at:
Witches’ lore website, 2011. ‘Norse Mythology’. Available at:
Source link
#Strangest #Doubtful #Myths #Love #****
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
The Indo-Pacific is an idea more than a region—and it’s pushing politics in a ‘pessimistic and paranoid’ direction
The Indo-Pacific is an idea more than a region—and it’s pushing politics in a ‘pessimistic and paranoid’ direction
Credit: Nick Wehrli from Pexels
Over the past decade, the idea of an important geopolitical space called the “Indo-Pacific” has become integral to the grand strategizing of countries inside and outside this vast geographical area.
The term is not new, however. Australia—one of a few truly Indo-Pacific countries—used it during the 1970s to paint an optimistic vision of a future in which it was interlinked economically and politically with its neighbors in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
However, since Japan (under the leadership of Shinzo Abe) first used the term in 2007 as a way of conceptualizing relations with India in the context of “broader Asia”, the Indo-Pacific has evolved significantly.
And with the advent of the AUKUS security pact in 2021, it is now common to refer to the Indo-Pacific as either a region or super-region. But this oversimplifies what is, in fact, a far more complex geopolitical reality.
What is a region?
A region is best thought of as a geographically enclosed complex. According to political scientist David Lake, regions are “so interrelated in terms of their security that actions by any one member, and significant security-related developments inside any member, have a major impact on others”.
The problem with thinking of the Indo-Pacific as a region or super-region is that at its widest definition—stretching from the east coast of ******* to the west coast of South America—it comprises more than half the geographic space of the surface of the Earth.
Simply put, the Indo-Pacific is too large to meaningfully conceive of as a region or even a super-region.
Furthermore, although many states have adopted an Indo-Pacific outlook in their strategizing, they typically (save for greater powers) still think of their national security in a strict regional sense.
So, the Indo-Pacific as a geopolitical space looks vastly different in Washington DC than it does in Jakarta, Wellington, Tokyo or Manila (to choose but a few).
This is not to say the Indo-Pacific concept should be ignored. It represents an important development in international security. The fact is, it has experienced the greatest geopolitical shift over the past decade or so—and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
The China factor
If not a region or super-region, then, what is the Indo-Pacific?
It is perhaps better thought of in terms of what international relations experts Barry Buzan and Ole Waever call “macrosecuritization“: the identification of an “existential threat” to something deemed precious and worth protecting which demands an immediate and, if necessary, extraordinary collective response to protect it.
This was given a major boost in 2017 when the ******* States—still by far the most powerful global actor—formally adopted the Indo-Pacific concept at the center of its strategic thinking.
In the process, it identified China as a clear strategic competitor. This decision had immediate real-world implications.
Firstly, it helped resuscitate the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) involving the US, Australia, India and Japan after nearly a decade of impasse.
Secondly, after Joe Biden ran for president on an “America must lead again” foreign policy platform, it led to the formation of AUKUS in 2021 and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in 2022.
Geopolitical complexity
Importantly, not only the US is involved in this macrosecuritisation. Australia, India, Japan and, more recently, the ******* Kingdom and ********* Union (and particular member states, such as France) are all involved.
Together they are pushing an Indo-Pacific concept that is built on the identification of the rules-based international order as being under existential threat due to China’s rise and perceived assertiveness.
The framing of China as a “threat” rather than an “opportunity”—which dominated the previous “Asia-Pacific” construct—means a radically different perspective in the countries adopting Indo-Pacific outlooks.
This clearly matters greatly to regional geopolitics. But it still does not mean the Indo-Pacific has to be seen as a region or super-region.
Rather, the concept is distorting the geopolitics of different regions—especially East Asia, South-east Asia, South Asia and the South Pacific.
These remain genuine regions with their own unique security dynamics. But the Indo-Pacific idea is enveloping them and shifting the dynamics in a more pessimistic and paranoid direction.
A ‘New Cold War’
There is now a concerning habit of treating the Indo-Pacific as a coherent unitary geopolitical space rather than a constellation of different regions.
This lends credence to the simplistic analogy of the Indo-Pacific becoming the ground zero of a “New Cold War”. And it ignores the perspectives of the smaller countries that find themselves being sucked into this growing contest.
Seeing the Indo-Pacific for what it really is—not a natural geographical phenomenon but a construct—is an important step towards developing more coherent and nuanced policies that adequately capture the geopolitical complexity of the Indo-Pacific constellation.
But this runs contrary to the macrosecuritisation process already in place.
There are many reasons why the current situation in the Indo-Pacific is nothing like the original Cold War. But the securitization process is simplifying the geopolitics, at least in perception, into something reminiscent of it. The ramifications could be devastating.
Provided by
The Conversation
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Citation:
The Indo-Pacific is an idea more than a region—and it’s pushing politics in a ‘pessimistic and paranoid’ direction (2024, November 10)
retrieved 10 November 2024
from
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Source link
#IndoPacific #idea #regionand #pushing #politics #pessimistic #paranoid #direction
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Forget CliffsNotes, this app will boil down big books into *****-sized pieces
Forget CliffsNotes, this app will boil down big books into *****-sized pieces
I love books. I can’t remember when my affection for the little paperback beauties began but I know for sure how I feel about them now. I love all types of books, including ******, thrillers, and historical novels, but the problem is that there are more books out there than I could possibly read in a lifetime.
More often than not, I read for pleasure but there is a whole genre of productivity and leadership books that I struggle to make enough time for, Books like ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or The 5AM Club. It’s books like these that my friends are always recommending and I respond, “Yep, it’s on my list; I’ll get around to it soon.” Unfortunately, I never seem to.
That is until now. I’m probably late to the game but I’ve recently discovered Headway, an app that summarizes books into 15-minute text reads or audio clips. By boiling all the main points down into a helpful digestible chunk, people like me can get all the salient points of a book without reading the whole thing.
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
The app experience begins by asking you a series of questions designed to narrow down your set of recommended book results. I choose productivity, leadership, and family, but you could also choose self-growth, negotiation, or sports. I decided to pick book subjects I’m usually too busy to read.
(Image credit: Future)
These categories can be adjusted at any time or you can use the ‘Explore’ tab. This provides you with all the latest summaries or you can choose a new category and scroll through the resulting options. I’m a big fan of the ‘Collections’ section. It groups similar summaries together so you can do a deep ***** across similarly-themed books. These include Think Like a CEO for learning how to plan, achieve, and succeed, or Sales & Trading Hacks for how to win big.
The final part of the explore tab is an intelligence-type test. This is an ingenious little test that helps you discover your strengths and weaknesses. It isn’t foolproof, but it does help identify dominant intelligence types and enable you to focus on filling in gaps in understanding.
With my subjects set, exploration carried out, and an intelligence test performed, I was now ready to jump on the bus towards reaching my full potential. This required a little intermediary step where I had to work out when and where I was going to listen to the 15-minute summaries. Even with a whole host of good intentions, I knew they would all be pointless unless I found a way to integrate them into my routine.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
(Image credit: Future)
I opted for a two-pronged approach and ended up listening to summaries before bed and reading them when out and about during the day. The ability to listen, read, and watch makes it possible for almost everyone to fit them into their day.
I found the summaries incredibly useful and they seemed, at least on the face of it, to be accurate representations of the books themselves. The challenge for me was putting what I was learning into practice. It was no use listening and forgetting; I needed some doing! The simple habit of making notes and coming up with action points is enough to turn content into habits, which then become truly life-changing.
Another option built into the heart of the app is the ability to highlight phrases, which Headway then transforms into interactive flashcards. You can go back to these at any time to help cement them into your memory. Finding a way that works for you is the key.
(Image credit: Future)
To keep you motivated along the way, Headway lets you collect achievements, track progress, and build up streaks. The collection of these rewards gives a real sense of momentum and progress. By setting goals, Headway keeps you accountable and motivated to keep moving toward them.
The free version includes one book summary per day and daily insights but offers nothing beyond that. If you think you’ll want more summaries, you’ll need a Headway plan, which is available at $12.99 / £7.99 per month or $89.99 / £35 for the year.
Download the Headway app on iOS or Android.
Source link
#Forget #CliffsNotes #app #boil #big #books #bitesized #pieces
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Tropical Storm Rafael weakens, ‘meanders’ in Gulf of Mexico: See storm tracker
Tropical Storm Rafael weakens, ‘meanders’ in Gulf of Mexico: See storm tracker
Tropical Storm Rafael is expected to weaken by Monday morning, days after it slammed into Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
On Wednesday, Rafael made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, causing another nationwide *********, before moving towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Rafael, which was a tropical storm Sunday morning, is expected to “meander over the central Gulf of Mexico” Sunday night and move south-southwest Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The National Hurrican Center is tracking two systems, including Tropical Storm Rafael, as of Sunday morning.
While it did have maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with higher gusts, it is expected to weaken to a post-tropical remnant low by Monday.
Tropical Storm Rafael trackerNational Hurricane Center tracking area of low pressure
The NHC is watching an area of low pressure near the Bahamas.
It is located around 200 miles east of the Caribbean islands, but will be less likely to form as it reaches an area with unfavorable conditions on Sunday.
Despite the conditions, heavy rain and gusty winds are expected as the system moves along westward across the Bahamas Sunday night, according to the NHC.
In the next 48 hours and 7 days, the system has a 10% chance for formation, which is low.
Contributing: Christopher Cann, Dinah Voyles Pulver; USA TODAY
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at *****@*****.tld
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Rafael tracker: Storm ‘meanders’ in Gulf of Mexico
Source link
#Tropical #Storm #Rafael #weakens #meanders #Gulf #Mexico #storm #tracker
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
UserBenchmark suggests you buy the i5-13600K over the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — says AMD drives sales with ‘aggressive marketing’ rather than ‘real-world performance’
UserBenchmark suggests you buy the i5-13600K over the Ryzen 7 9800X3D — says AMD drives sales with ‘aggressive marketing’ rather than ‘real-world performance’
UserBenchmark – the gift that keeps on giving! The website’s latest review of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has left many in shock as it now deems spending extra on a gaming CPU pointless. Continuing its never-ending saga of denouncing AMD, which it often refers to as “Advanced Marketing Devices,” UserBenchmark doubles down and names the i5-13600K and i5-14600K as worthy competitors, even though AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D has dethroned Intel’s fastest gaming CPU, the i9-14900K, by almost 33% per our testing.
This is not the first time we’ve encountered such an ‘intriguing’ take from UserBenchmark. The website has been in hot water for ranking the i3-8100 higher than the i9-9980XE merely based on clock speeds — make that make sense. A quick look at its CPU ranking chart based on performance from highest to lowest puts the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at the 12th spot, trailed by the “3D joker” Ryzen 9 7950X3D at the 25th place. The Ryzen 9 9950X follows suit, landing in the 28th position. No matter how you look at it – whether it be gaming, productivity, or efficiency – enthusiasts overwhelmingly think these numbers simply don’t add up.
(Image credit: UserBenchmark)
Moving over to their actual review, it doesn’t take an expert to discern fact from fiction. UserBenchmark asserts that the X3D design results in a 6% deduction in clock speeds but fails to address AMD’s redesign of the stacking hierarchy, which helps reduce the impact of this clock speed deficit, even in single-core scenarios. Better yet, the 9800X3D can keep up with the non-X3D 9700X in many production workloads.
The site further states that “AMD is looking to drive demand through aggressive marketing rather than delivering real-world performance,” even though the 9800X3D currently unanimously stands as the world’s fastest gaming CPU – beating Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K by almost 40%. UserBenchmark then suggests users choose the i5-13600K/14600K since spending more than $200 on gaming CPUs is “pointless,” but that is a purely subjective statement. In addition, the actual performance, efficiency, and platform differences between the i5-14600K and the 9800X3D are factors UserBenchmark didn’t consider.
(Image credit: UserBenchmark)
UserBenchmark’s entire argument pivots around the proposition that faster CPUs are “pointless” for gaming. It is the same as saying that you shouldn’t get anything faster than an RTX 3050 since the human eye obviously can’t see past 60 FPS – sarcasm intended.
Needless to say, the website is currently banned from r/Intel, and that speaks volumes. Enthusiasts are having a field day with this review from UserBenchmark and it should, at most, be taken as a harmless joke given the website’s track record.
Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Source link
#UserBenchmark #suggests #buy #i513600K #Ryzen #9800X3D #AMD #drives #sales #aggressive #marketing #realworld #performance
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Face the Nation: Khanna, Kashkari, Pierce
Face the Nation: Khanna, Kashkari, Pierce
Face the Nation: Khanna, Kashkari, Pierce – CBS News
Watch CBS News
Missed the second half of the show? The latest on…Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that the party “to have a vision on building new factories, on helping raise minimum wage, on dealing with child care, and emphasize that our party has a better economic story”, Neel Kashkari, the president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that another interest rate cut after the December Fed meeting is “certainly possible”, and Karen Pierce, Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” that amid the world reaction to President-elect Trump’s return to the White House, “it’s for any single ********* leader to say what President Trump might do.”
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Not Now
Turn On
Source link
#Face #Nation #Khanna #Kashkari #Pierce
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Trump tariffs could reheat inflation if countries retaliate
Trump tariffs could reheat inflation if countries retaliate
Neel Kashkari, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, speaks at the Milken Conference 2024 Global Conference Sessions at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 7, 2024.
David Swanson | Reuters
Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari said Sunday that President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff proposals could worsen long-term inflation if global trade partners were to strike back.
One-time tariffs, Kashkari said on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” “shouldn’t have an effect long run on inflation.”
“The challenge becomes, if there’s a **** for tat and it’s one country imposing tariffs and then responses and it’s escalating. That’s where it becomes more concerning, and, frankly, a lot more uncertain,” Kashkari said.
During his first term, Trump essentially sparked a trade war with China when he imposed a series of import taxes on ******** goods, which triggered the country to retaliate with its own set of tariffs on the U.S.
One of Trump’s primary economic proposals for his second term is to impose universal tariffs on all imports from all countries — with a specifically targeted 60% rate on China.
Economists, Wall Street analysts and industry leaders have repeatedly expressed concerns over the inflationary impact of that hardline trade approach, especially since inflation has just begun to cool from its pandemic-era peaks.
“We’ve made a lot of progress in bringing inflation down,” Kashkari said. “I mean, I don’t want to declare victory yet. We need to finish the job, but we’re on a good path right now.”
The Fed on Thursday passed its second consecutive interest rate cut, continuing its effort to loosen monetary policy as inflation approaches the central bank’s 2% target. Kashkari said he expects another cut to come in December, but that will depend on “what the data looks like” at that time.
As for Trump’s other major policy proposals like a sweeping immigrant deportation plan, Kashkari noted that the inflation threat is still unclear and so the Fed is still taking a “wait and see” approach before adjusting its policy.
Trump and his backers like billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk have also been outspoken about their ******* to give the president input on Fed policy decisions. The central bank views its political independence as a core feature that allows it to shape monetary policy exclusively based on the health of the U.S. economy, not election incentives.
But Kashkari said he is not concerned about politics permeating Fed decisions.
“I’m confident that we will continue to focus on our economic jobs,” he said. “That’s what should be dictating what we’re doing and that is what’s dictating what we’re doing.”
Source link
#Trump #tariffs #reheat #inflation #countries #retaliate
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
After McCarthy ouster, GOP to consider new requirement for House leadership elections
After McCarthy ouster, GOP to consider new requirement for House leadership elections
House Republicans are set to consider a variety of new internal rules proposals this week, including some proposals that tie back to the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
While there is a broader push to amend the one-member threshold needed to trigger a motion to vacate, there are also some GOP members aiming to make internal changes to their party’s leadership election moving forward. Republicans from the various corners of the conference have put forward their proposals for the 119th Congress, which will be considered this week when the party votes on its new rules package Thursday.
Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) put forward a rules amendment that would require someone running for any leadership spot to have to resign from their present leadership post to seek another, the Florida ************* confirmed to POLITICO this weekend.
If this proposed rules change had been in effect last October during the speakership race, it would’ve meant that a series of members who ran to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy would’ve needed to step down from leadership before seeking the top spot. They include Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), *********** Policy Chair Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), and even now Speaker Mike Johnson, who was then the GOP conference vice chair.
The proposal would offer more opportunities for Republicans to move up the ladder, but risk stunting those with strong leadership ambitions.
Mast described it as a lesson learned from the speakership election that ensued after McCarthy’s ouster — and one he wants to fix for the future. At the time of the speakership elections last year, he criticized the party’s leadership: “I can tell you in this moment. … I would not support any member of our current leadership … Leaders lead. And that’s not taking place,” he told CBS News at the time.
The full list of amendments that directly relate to the GOP conference, which were due Thursday evening, has yet to be reported. But centrists also filed an amendment setting internal repercussions for Republicans who oppose a procedural vote that allows the party to bring a GOP bill to the House floor for a vote, which comes after multiple instances of conservatives blocking bills from even getting proper consideration — and thus sinking leadership policy priorities under both McCarthy and Johnson.
There are also discussions about changing the discharge petition, as POLITICO first reported.
There are several broader rules discussions underway including some that impact how the floor is governed. That includes a push by some to make it ******* to attempt to oust a speaker.
While the majority of Republicans despise the tool that allowed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to lead a small cadre of Republicans in ousting McCarthy against the wishes of most in the GOP conference last October, there are some conservatives in the party who are expected to fiercely ****** to keep the threshold. And thin vote margins could scramble plans to adjust it.
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
Source link
#McCarthy #ouster #GOP #requirement #House #leadership #elections
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Trump ‘most likely’ needs 60 votes in Senate to enact tariff plan, Sen. Rick Scott suggests
Trump ‘most likely’ needs 60 votes in Senate to enact tariff plan, Sen. Rick Scott suggests
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump proposed sweeping new tariffs while on the campaign trail. The self-proclaimed “Tariff Man” has said he could impose such levies on U.S. imports without Congress’ approval.
There’s debate among economists and other experts as to whether he could do so.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. — one of three lawmakers vying to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-***, as Senate majority leader — suggested Sunday that Trump would probably need Congress’ help.
“The tariffs, that most likely is going to require 60 [votes in the Senate] unless there’s some way we can get that done through reciliation with 51 [votes],” Scott said on Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Reconciliation is a way to pass tax and spending bills with a simple majority in the Senate. It avoids a filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome.
Control of the House of Representatives, which would need to pass such legislation, ******** unclear.
A tariff is a tax on imported goods that is generally passed along to the consumer. Trump has vowed across-the-board tariffs of 10% to 20% on all imports arriving into the ******* States and at least a 60% tariff on ******** imports.
He’s proposed others, too, such as a tariff of at least 200% on vehicles from Mexico, and a similar amount on the company Deere & Co. if it were to shift some production from the U.S. to Mexico.
Economic experts dispute whether Trump’s tariff plan, especially the tax on global imports, can be done via executive action.
Alan Wolff, former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, wrote in September that “Trump doesn’t have the authority to do this.”
However, Trump could “assert national security” or use “a lot of different things in the law” to potentially impose across-the-board tariffs, Jason Furman, a Harvard University professor and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration, told CNBC.
“Although,” he added, “it would all end up in court.”
Source link
#Trump #votes #Senate #enact #tariff #plan #Sen #Rick #Scott #suggests
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
The Seagate 2TB Xbox Storage Expansion Card SSD is just $199 at Amazon
The Seagate 2TB Xbox Storage Expansion Card SSD is just $199 at Amazon
Right now at Amazon, you can find the 2TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card SSD available for one of its lowest prices ever since launching. It has a recommended price of $359 but today it’s been marked down to just $199. As of writing, it’s not clear for how long this deal will be made available, or if it’s a new floor for the drive. The discount is also available at Best Buy and on the official Seagate web store.
It’s important to note that this expansion card SSD was made specifically for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. Compatibility is somewhat limited as it’s designed to work with Xbox Velocity Architecture. We haven’t had the opportunity to review this SSD yet but reviews from customers for the drive are favorable across multiple vendors.
Today’s offer is for the 2TB model but the Seagate Storage Expansion Card SSD also comes in other sizes including 500GB and 1TB. All of the drives in this line have a compact portable form factor and connect using a USB interface.
Seagate confirms that this SSD was designed with Xbox and offers a quick resume function. This enables you to quickly switch between titles that have been saved locally to the internal hard drive or the SSD. With this card, you can store games that are compatible with older consoles like the original Xbox, the Xbox 360, and even Xbox One games.
According to the product details provided by Amazon, this 2TB card can reach speeds as fast as 5 GB/s, but the official Xbox blog suggests it will perform nearer to 2.4 GB/s. The purchase is backed up by Amazon’s 30-day return policy as well as a 3-year warranty from Seagate.
Visit the Seagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB SSD product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.
Source link
#Seagate #2TB #Xbox #Storage #Expansion #Card #SSD #Amazon
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Trump ‘most likely’ needs 60 votes in Senate to enact tariff plan, Sen. Rick Scott suggests
Trump ‘most likely’ needs 60 votes in Senate to enact tariff plan, Sen. Rick Scott suggests
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
President-elect Donald Trump proposed sweeping new tariffs while on the campaign trail. The self-proclaimed “Tariff Man” has said he could impose such levies on U.S. imports without Congress’ approval.
There’s debate among economists and other experts as to whether he could do so.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. — one of three lawmakers vying to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-***, as Senate majority leader — suggested Sunday that Trump would probably need Congress’ help.
“The tariffs, that most likely is going to require 60 [votes in the Senate] unless there’s some way we can get that done through reciliation with 51 [votes],” Scott said on Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Reconciliation is a way to pass tax and spending bills with a simple majority in the Senate. It avoids a filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome.
Control of the House of Representatives, which would need to pass such legislation, ******** unclear.
A tariff is a tax on imported goods that is generally passed along to the consumer. Trump has vowed across-the-board tariffs of 10% to 20% on all imports arriving into the ******* States and at least a 60% tariff on ******** imports.
He’s proposed others, too, such as a tariff of at least 200% on vehicles from Mexico, and a similar amount on the company Deere & Co. if it were to shift some production from the U.S. to Mexico.
Economic experts dispute whether Trump’s tariff plan, especially the tax on global imports, can be done via executive action.
Alan Wolff, former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, wrote in September that “Trump doesn’t have the authority to do this.”
However, Trump could “assert national security” or use “a lot of different things in the law” to potentially impose across-the-board tariffs, Jason Furman, a Harvard University professor and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration, told CNBC.
“Although,” he added, “it would all end up in court.”
Source link
#Trump #votes #Senate #enact #tariff #plan #Sen #Rick #Scott #suggests
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.
