Pelican Press

Amazon Games Continues to Fumble Lost Ark Amazon Games Continues to Fumble Lost Ark Debacle after debacle, how much more will the Lost Ark Community take? Source link #Amazon #Games #Continues #Fumble #Lost #Ark Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Easy Hand-Pulled Noodles (With Video!) Easy Hand-Pulled Noodles (With Video!) I’m a pretty fidgety person — apologies to everyone seated in front of me on planes whom I’ve accidentally bumped — so for me, a cooking project is just as much about the finished dish as it is all the handiwork that goes into it. I love folding dumplings, caramelizing onions, wrapping enchiladas, massaging kimchi, rolling meatballs. This “keep my hands busy” philosophy is the same reason I got into knitting. But you can’t eat a sweater, even if it’s knit in brioche stitch. This weekend, my kitchen arts and crafts project will be these hand-pulled noodles, a wonderfully doable recipe from Vivian Chan-Tam. Before you ask, yes, there’s a video! The dough comes together from just three ingredients — bread flour, water and salt — plus some important resting intervals so that your noodles are easy to pull and get that perfect boingy consistency. And while your dough rests, you can think about all the delicious ways to eat your noodles. Slicked with chile crisp? Swimming in soup? I’ll be piling mine on top of spicy big tray chicken, another excellent cooking project. Featured Recipe Hand-Pulled Noodles View Recipe → My farmers’ market has these glorious stalks of brussels sprouts, and while I could easily buy them loose, I want to sling one of those knobby stalks over my shoulder and bring it home for Melissa Clark’s five-star sheet-pan coriander chicken with caramelized brussels sprouts. I know I’m essentially adding extra prep time, but I don’t mind, and the rest of the recipe is super streamlined. Also showing off at the market: leeks, stacked and bundled in taut piles of shiny white and pale green. Washing and slicing them is a bit of a chore, sure, but less so with a Studio Ghibli playlist going in the background and Yasmin Fahr’s miso mushroom and leek pasta as the endpoint. For someone so fidgety, I’m extremely sluggish in the morning, so any breakfast recipes I want to make always end up bookmarked for dinner instead. That’s not a problem with Dan Pelosi’s new sausage and peppers frittata, which would be just as lovely as a Sunday breakfast as it would a Sunday dinner. Nestle that next to a pile of Ali Slagle’s sautéed kale with hot honey. Lastly: I make banana bread to use up all those brown bananas, yes, but also because I find mashing said bananas into a sweet, smooth goo to be incredibly satisfying. So next up on my to-bake list is this peanut butter-banana bread with chocolate chips, a new recipe from the baking wizard Samantha Seneviratne. This recipe kindly saves me the trouble of spreading peanut butter on my banana bread slice by mixing the peanut butter right into the batter; the chocolate chips are there because, well, they’re chocolate chips. A perfect bake for puttering around your kitchen on a quiet morning. Source link #Easy #HandPulled #Noodles #Video Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Return of Donald Trump puts *** defence spending at top of agenda Return of Donald Trump puts *** defence spending at top of agenda BBC You’re probably used to politicians telling you we’re living in the most dangerous times for decades. But who’s going to pay for our protection? Donald Trump is a lot less willing than the current president to pay for other countries’ defence. As one *** source told me, “it doesn’t make sense for Europe’s defence interests to be dependent on a few thousand votes in Pennsylvania.” So Trump’s return puts this question right to the top of the list. The *** government does plan, eventually, to hit the target the Conservatives committed to – of spending 2.5% of the size of the economy on defence, a level last hit back in 2010. But there’s a defence review underway, and a spending review of every penny spent in Whitehall to get through first. They’re expected to come one after the other, next spring. John Healey, the defence secretary, was granted an extra £3bn in the Budget, which is a chunky sum of money – but in terms of defence spending, not a transformative amount of cash. And it’s only a top-up for a year, with no certainty over long-term funding. A former minister said: “It’s very hard to order for the years ahead – how long can we be talking, when the need is now?” Getty Images Pictured with Defence Secretary John Healey (R), Rachel Reeves pledged nearly £3bn in additional funding for the military The government will not say when they expect to hit the 2.5% target – and won’t commit to hitting it before the end of the Parliament in 2029 – causing frustration in some quarters. A senior source said “you either believe it is the most dangerous time in decades and you fund it properly, or you just don’t really believe it, so you don’t.” And earlier on the Today programme, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace accused Labour of making an effective “cut in our defence budget” by including £3bn of Ukraine funding in it. If Labour reach the 2.5% target, he said he’d welcome it, “but it’s got to be real money with a timetable”. There is little disagreement that more resources are needed. John Healey himself has acknowledged the military “are not ready to ******”. A squeeze on funding over many years had made money tight – the forces “hollowed out”, according to Wallace. The ***’s support for Ukraine, which has almost universal political support at home, has added to pressure. According to the National Audit Office, the *** has committed nearly £8 billion to Ukraine – air defence missiles, drones, cruise missiles, tanks and ships, as well as clothing and personal equipment. Another former minister told me that funding “is absolutely urgent – it is urgent to help Ukraine but the most urgent is where our forces are in danger – it’s not hypothetical, in the Red Sea the Houthis are ******* at our ships.” And shortly before the election, the government’s new national security adviser Jonathan Powell wrote that a new administration would need to reinforce the ***’s defence and security “within the bounds allowed by a struggling economy”. Some insiders argue rising threats around the world mean the *** should spend way more than 2.5% in any case. Another former minister told me, “by any measure we are underspending – if you don’t buy the insurance policy you end up having to pay yourself and the cost of real conflicts would be immense in comparison”. A defence source told me, “we are going to have to make a move on spending or we can put our fingers in our ears and hope we get through it – the Treasury has to do the maths on this – the way to stop spending 5 percent of GDP in the future is to spend now.” Getty Images Kemi Badenoch criticised Keir Starmer during PMQs for not committing to a defence spending target of 2.5% of GDP by 2030 How it’s spent But it’s not just about how much money goes to defence – it’s also about how it’s spent. Recent history is littered with examples of Ministry of Defence projects that overrun and overspend, some in eye-watering proportions. One insider told me, “the worst thing we could do is spend more and spend it badly … the number needs to go up but we absolutely need to get a proper grip of procurement.” Several sources mentioned with some pride, and indeed surprise, the way the MoD had worked effectively and quickly with Ukraine to get the right kit into their hands quickly. One said the MoD had “proved it can spend cash well but it needs to show it can do it consistently”. Another said the British military had to shed its culture where “only the most exquisitely perfect products may be bought”. The MoD reckons it can ****** down on waste and improve the way things are bought and paid for with new more centralised methods – even hiring a new national armaments director to manage this. As methods of warfare evolve on the battlefield, so too do the ways militaries respond with kit. A former minister said: “forget your big new fantasy regiment – we can make what we have more lethal” instead. The government says it wants to shake up and sort out the mess that defence procurement has become. But there is no doubt that is easier said than done. Power era While as a political party, Labour is instinctively uncomfortable with Donald Trump’s re-election, when it comes to defence there is some sympathy with his attitude towards ********* defence funding. One insider said, “put on your incontinence pants, don’t listen to the rest of his politics, it’s none of our business.” Another source told me, “Trump set challenge to Europe last time and he was in part right to,” pointing out that after his term in office the number of NATO countries who did hit the target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence did go up. Twenty-three now meet the 2% target, up from just six countries in 2021. Rather than worrying about what Trump might do in office, they said, “a precondition for Trump to take ********* defence seriously is for Europe to take its own defence seriously.” It’s hard to see how that does not mean more countries on the continent spending more of their own cash. “Let’s not **** ourselves, NATO does deter Russia, and we have to make sure that happens,” said a defence source. America’s role in our security is vital. But sources in government acknowledge that Europe, with conflict on its fringes, must play a vigorous financial part. Eager to be seen as the leader in Nato, the *** is taking steps to boost defence cooperation across the continent – leaders recently signed a “landmark defence agreement” with Germany. Donald Trump’s return to the White House sets nerves jangling across the Atlantic about what it will mean for Nato, what it will mean for the US committment to support for Ukraine in terms of diplomacy and cold hard cash. There is instinctive political unease here with his behaviour, his attitude to the law, convention, and the truth. But perhaps in the words of one source “it’s not a rule of law era, it’s a power era”. Before the Trump victory, there were already profound questions for our politicians about how they protect our interests. The imperative to answer them is stronger now the unpredictable president is on his way back. Perhaps the *** and the rest of Europe may need to display and pay for more of its own power to have a chance of getting the Trump White House on board. BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analysis and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we’ll bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and deep reporting on the biggest issues to help you make sense of a complex world. And we’ll be showcasing thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. We’re starting small but thinking big, and we want to know what you think – you can send us your feedback by clicking on the button below. Source link #Return #Donald #Trump #puts #defence #spending #top #agenda Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bronny James to make G League debut Saturday: How to watch, time, what to expect from him Bronny James to make G League debut Saturday: How to watch, time, what to expect from him After recently making his NBA debut, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Bronny James is playing in his first G League game Saturday to further his development. James will play for the South Bay Lakers at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, Calif., which is also the Los Angeles Lakers training facility. Los Angeles plans for James to shuffle between the official Lakers roster and the South Bay roster during the season. On Saturday, James and South Bay will host the Salt Lake City Stars, the Utah Jazz’s G League affiliate, at 5 p.m. PT. Tickets for the game are sold out, South Bay announced Friday morning. The game is available for streaming on Tubi and Spectrum SportsNet locally, as well as on YouTube in Canada and Mexico. James, the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, debuted with Los Angeles on Oct. 22, where he and his father, LeBron, shared the court as the first father-son duo in league history to play together. In James’ second NBA appearance, on Oct. 30 in Cleveland, he scored his first basket after the hometown crowd chanted his name and cheered when he entered the game. How to Watch When: Saturday, 5 p.m. PT Where: UCLA Health Training Center Watch: The game is streaming on Tubi and Spectrum SportsNet locally and on YouTube in Canada and Mexico. GO DEEPER Bronny James’ ex-teachers, teammates in Ohio recall a **** who ‘wasn’t above anyone else’ How does Bronny handle the moment? Similar to NBA opening night, all eyes will be on James on Saturday. Nothing has gotten Lakers fans more excited at games — this past summer or this regular season — than him playing. Saturday’s game sold out more than 24 hours in advance. Resale tickets are starting at $200. It promises to be a raucous environment — at least by G League standards. Bronny and LeBron have said the 20-year-old is used to the pressure by now, but this will be the most he plays in a game since Summer League and relatively higher stakes. — Jovan Buha, Lakers beat writer What’s his offensive role? The Lakers are implementing the same systems and principles with their NBA and G League teams, so this will be the first look at how Los Angeles wants to use James offensively in competitive minutes. He projects more as a spot-up threat and secondary ball handler, but he’s been running more pick-and-rolls and taking off-the-dribble jumpers in his time in the NBA. With a clearer hierarchy — he has largely played in garbage time, which can often devolve into freestyle basketball — James’ usage and role will be telling. — Buha Required reading (Photo: Jonathan Hui / Imagn Images) Source link #Bronny #James #League #debut #Saturday #watch #time #expect Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Henry Cavill or Not, The Mass Effect TV Show Needs to Steal the Multiple-Endings Model from Netflix’s Bandersnatch Henry Cavill or Not, The Mass Effect TV Show Needs to Steal the Multiple-Endings Model from Netflix’s Bandersnatch It’s no secret that video game adaptations are quite trending nowadays and it seems like Amazon is determined to continue that trend after the success of the Fallout TV series. It has been revealed that the next franchise that is getting a TV show is BioWare’s Mass Effect video game series. There are various rumors that actor Henry Cavill will be a part of the main cast, however, nothing is confirmed as of now. Mass Effect video game series is getting adapted into a TV series (Image via BioWare) Regardless of Henry Cavill’s involvement, Amazon needs to consider an idea that was used by Netflix for 2018’s ****** Mirror: Bandersnatch. In case you don’t know, this interactive film allowed users to change the story’s outcome depending on their choices. If Amazon adapts this idea for the Mass Effect TV series, it would certainly be a treat as the video games in the series also feature in-game choices. Mass Effect 3, for example, had five different endings. Amazon Confirms That A TV Series Based On Mass Effect Franchise Is In Development This is the second attempt to adapt the Mass Effect franchise (Image via BioWare) As per Variety, a TV show based on the Mass Effect video game series is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. It is confirmed that Karim Zreik will be producing under his Cedar Tree Productions banner alongside Ari Arad and Michael Gamble of Electronic Arts. Daniel Casey is set to write and executive produce the adaptation. Many rumors suggest that actor Henry Cavill would make an appearance in the show, however, there is another star that diehard fans of the franchise would love to see. This is not the first time the video game series is getting an adaptation as the game was adapted into an animated movie called Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, which was released in 2012. The movie was set in the Mass Effect science fiction universe during the events of Mass Effect 2. Another attempt was made in 2010 when Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. acquired the rights to a Mass Effect film, however, the project never progressed further beyond the initial planning stages because it was difficult to showcase the essence of the series in a 90-120 minute movie. Amazon Must Steal This One Concept From Netflix’s ****** Mirror: Bandersnatch ****** Mirror: Bandersnatch was an interactive movie (Image via Netflix) 2018’s ****** Mirror: Bandersnatch was an interactive film that allowed viewers to play out the story however they wanted it to. Now, to make the Mass Effect TV series the best adaptation, the studio must also adapt its different endings. Almost every Mass Effect game gave players in-game options that directly affected the storyline and to capture the true essence of the franchise, the studio must steal this concept from ****** Mirror: Bandersnatch. This will certainly boost the show’s popularity and even convince viewers to watch the show multiple times to explore every possible outcome. The Mass Effect series stands as one of the most acclaimed sci-fi RPG franchises that is well-known for its rich storytelling, deep character development, and complex moral choices. Amazon must mirror that if they wish to make the TV show a hit among the fans. Source link #Henry #Cavill #Mass #Effect #Show #Steal #MultipleEndings #Model #Netflixs #Bandersnatch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Melania Trump will be a ‘semi-attached’ First Lady, spending more time in Mar-A-Lago and NYC than in Washington Melania Trump will be a ‘semi-attached’ First Lady, spending more time in Mar-A-Lago and NYC than in Washington Brief and bloodless, it was the classic Donald and ­Melania show of affection. As he turned to greet his wife on stage at his victory rally in Florida on Tuesday night, ­Melania, wearing a sombre grey Dior skirt-suit, offered him the usual chaste kiss on the cheek as she smiled serenely at the adoring MAGA crowd. Sphinx-like as ever, the 54-year-old acknowledged the applause with a wave as her husband — 24 years her senior — proudly told supporters her memoir was the “number one best-selling book in the country”. He went on: “She’s done a great job — she works very hard to help people so I just want to thank her.” But whoever Melania’s been working hard to help, it’s hardly The Donald. When she made a brief and stilted speech nearly two weeks ago in New York’s Madison Square Garden, it was the first time she’d appeared alongside him, let alone spoken at a rally during the campaign. In fact, during the past year or so, husband and wife have been seen together publicly on only a handful of occasions – and always at events that didn’t involve Melania having to travel more than a few minutes from home, whether in New York or Palm Beach, Florida. Melania — whose mother Amalija Knavs ***** in January — appears to have been preoccupied with raising her son, Barron, to whom she is clearly devoted. Aged 18 and 6ft 9in tall, he now towers over both his parents. Just as there’s nothing like a Melania Trump vanishing act to set the Washington rumour mill whirring — and there have been a few over the years — a reappearance is calculated to set off fresh speculation about exactly how much the Slovenian former model wants to be a part of her husband’s ­political life. That question has never been more ­relevant as she faces a return to the White House and reprising the role of First Lady. On election night 2016, this was a prospect she reportedly found so appalling that she burst into tears when it became clear Trump had won. Melania so hated the intense scrutiny she attracted as First Lady, she resisted moving into the White House for five months (blaming her son’s education) and frequently didn’t accompany her husband on official duties. Now sources close to the third Mrs Trump say that she will remain only semi-attached to the second Trump presidency. The public expect the First Lady to reside in the White House with the President, but insiders have revealed she is likely to divide her time between her private apartment there, the Trump resort of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, and their gold-encrusted ********** apartment in Manhattan. “She definitely won’t be going back to Washington to live,” said a source. “She’ll stay between ­Florida and NYC. This is not what she signed up for.” And the Big Apple will always be her preferred base. New York has been Melania’s favourite city since she moved to the US from Eastern Europe in 1996, and it now has the added attraction of being the place where Barron goes to university. None of this will come as a huge surprise to anyone who has read her autobiography, Melania, which revealed a carefully controlled if not icy woman — far from the helpless pawn of a domineering husband, as the Democrats first tried to claim. After all, she reportedly spent the best part of 2023 renegotiating the terms of the prenuptial agreement she has with her billionaire spouse. Melania was reportedly worried about how much money would be left over for her and Barron after his father had finished paying court-ordered damages and the lawyers’ bills incurred by his various legal cases. These now run into the hundreds of millions. A source told the New York Post: “Trump ******** very rich, but with mounting legal bills and judgments.” The renegotiated prenup would “provide a more solid future” for Melania and their son should the couple split. “It’s not that she threatened to leave him,” the insider told the Post. The Trump camp declined to comment on the claims. One of the prices Melania has to pay for being the most hands-off First Lady in recent history is endless jibes from her husband’s opponents when she does suddenly pop up next to him. “Melania Trump made a rare appearance in compliance with section 3, subsection 2.7 of her prenuptial agreement,” said late night chat show host Jimmy Kimmel after she showed up at the New York rally two weeks ago. It’s true that the couple’s physical chemistry can hardly be described as smouldering. Their public displays of affection rarely extend beyond some limp hand-holding and a few kisses on the cheek — although Trump did appear to move in for a kiss on the lips at the recent New York event. But what can Americans expect? Being married to Donald Trump is hardly for the faint-hearted — and the past 18 months have been a bumper ******* for spousal embarrassment. Many might think a ***** on the cheek is rather more than he deserves. Last year a jury in a civil case found that Trump ********* abused a writer and former agony aunt called E Jean Carroll in a New York shop changing room in 1996 but absolved him of ******* her. When Trump insisted the episode had never happened, Carroll argued he had damaged her reputation by calling her a liar and sued for defamation. In January, a New York jury ordered Trump to pay $83.8million in damages. Mrs Trump wasn’t seen at that trial nor was she present three months later when Trump appeared in another New York court, facing felony charges of falsifying business records over the Stormy Daniels scandal. The case hinged on a $130,000 “hush money” payment to the ex-***** star just before the 2016 election relating to Daniels’ claims that she’d had a brief ******* liaison with Trump ten years earlier, soon after Barron was born, at a Nevada golf tournament. Trump was reportedly ****** Melania didn’t show her face at the six-week trial, which ended with him being found guilty on 34 charges and becoming the first US president to be convicted of a ********* offence. Despite a newspaper report that Melania had accepted Trump’s argument that the case against him was a “disgrace” and a cynical attempt to damage his election prospects, his wife never made any statement in support of him. Insiders claimed she had privately referred to the Daniels farrago as “his problem”. In the final weeks of his election campaign, however, she rallied to his aid, giving two interviews (to the pro-Trump Fox News) in which she sang her husband’s praises — as she did in her book. Asked what she most liked about him in September, she was unexpectedly gushing. “His being. His humour. His personality. His kindness,” she enthused. “He’s very special. His positivity. His energy. It’s unbelievable. Yeah, so we have a beautiful relationship.” As we have seen, it is a relationship that has been sorely tested by scandals, lawsuits and accusations of infidelity and ******* misconduct, yet in her 182-page memoir Melania ignored them and dwelt on the finer side of a man she insisted “isn’t flashy or dramatic, just genuine and caring”. This is all very well but these qualities were clearly not sufficient to have her rushing to his side as he prepared for a second stab at the presidency. Nor have they left Washington insiders expecting to see too much of her during his second turn as the most powerful man on the planet. Source link #Melania #Trump #semiattached #Lady #spending #time #MarALago #NYC #Washington Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Top-ranked Kansas holds off UNC thanks to depth and ********* — or at least the threat of it Top-ranked Kansas holds off UNC thanks to depth and ********* — or at least the threat of it LAWRENCE, Kan. — Dajuan Harris Jr. doesn’t love his new existence on the deepest team he’s played on in his five seasons at Kansas — “I like playing,” he says — but because of the depth Bill Self added this offseason, Harris and Hunter Dickinson could save their best for last in the final minutes of a huge November matchup with No. 9 North Carolina on Friday night. A year ago, that’s maybe a game Kansas would have let slip away because of tired legs. But there was Harris on the final possession, looking as bouncy and quick as if it were the first minute of the game, disrupting what North Carolina wanted by making sure RJ Davis couldn’t touch the ball. Dickinson got the game-sealing stop when he switched onto Elliot Cadeau to challenge the shot that would have sent the game to overtime, and he scored the game-winning basket with just over a minute left. Last spring, Self wanted depth and ********* and landed one of the best portal classes in college basketball. And depth and ********* — or at least the threat of it — allowed the top-ranked Jayhawks to hold off North Carolina 92-89. Self said he didn’t think Harris and Dickinson would have finished the way they finished had they played their usual minutes load from a year ago. In games decided by 10 points or fewer last season, Harris averaged 37.8 minutes and Dickinson 34.5. Friday, they played 29 minutes apiece and Self had a rotation of eight players. In two games, KU’s bench has scored 87 points. Last season, KU’s bench topped 20 points only three times, one of which was Senior Night when starters KJ Adams Jr. and Johnny Furphy came off the bench. The potential for the Jayhawks was apparent in the first half when Self was able to play floor-spacers around Dickinson and made offense look easy. KU shot 59.5 percent and led 53-38 at halftime. “They were getting everything that they wanted,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said. “They were running their offense like they do in shootaround.” Davis put that on UNC’s defense, and there was some truth to that. But it’s also hard to keep up when Self is dialing up actions for his best players and everyone on the floor is a threat. Last season, teams could shrink the floor because of a lack of ********* and only a few guys who wanted to take shots. Now, with additions like Zeke Mayo (21 points Friday), AJ Storr (13 points) and Rylan Griffen (6 points), KU has perimeter scorers who must be respected. AJ showed out 13 PTS 3 AST#PayHeed x @storr_aj pic.twitter.com/ETyaNrYxJX — Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) November 9, 2024 Last year, Dickinson had to make his moves quickly. Friday, he could take multiple dribbles before UNC would even think about coming to double. “It almost felt a little weird when I had so much space,” Dickinson said. Last year when Dickinson went to the bench, KU was 30.2 points per 100 possessions worse, according to CBB Analytics. Against UNC when Dickinson went to the bench, the Jayhawks were just as good. Freshman Flory Bidunga is a nice changeup, providing a vertical lob threat and speed. In only 11 minutes, Bidunga had 8 points and eight rebounds, and KU was plus-six with him on the floor. It’s similar to what Connecticut had a year ago with Donovan Clingan and Samson Johnson. It’s like playing two teams. The Jayhawks still have a lot to iron out, as evidenced by blowing a 20-point lead and having to play from behind in the last four minutes. KU struggled to keep quick guards in front of it against Arkansas and UNC. The Heels put pressure on the rim with their speed, and that got them to the free-throw line, where they made 28 of 31. They also picked on Dickinson in the pick-and-roll, which is where he has struggled for most of his career. Self put some of the blame on himself, saying he would have changed up his coverage if he had it to do over again. And with so much roster turnover, the Jayhawks aren’t as connected as they need to be on that end. That’s the challenge of bringing in older players and not developing them in your program. There’s a learning curve that has to happen quickly in the portal era. “We got a couple of guys that the pieces don’t quite just fit yet,” Self said. “They just don’t know yet. And hopefully that’ll change.” But there is room for error because Self has so many options that he’s able to bring a guy like Storr, who led Wisconsin in scoring last season, off the bench. As coveted as Storr was in the portal, some coaches might feel the need to start him right away and let him learn on the job. Self has so much depth that he can wait for Storr to figure out what he wants from him and make him earn the job, which began to happen Friday. “One thing that we did see tonight, when AJ Storr plays downhill, he’s pretty good,” Self said. So is the Hall of Famer when he has the pieces to play chess late in games. On the final two possessions, he ran one of his favorite sets that set up Dickinson to score and get fouled. Late last year, KU was laboring to score, and it was clear Self needed to refill his board and get Harris, Dickinson and Adams some help. “I don’t even got to make a lot of plays,” Harris said of his new life. “You know, I barely even did anything in the first half; they did all the work. So I just fall in behind. They made it easier for me.” Harris’ time arrived down the stretch, and it was easier for him then, too. The last time the Jayhawks had another point guard who would allow Harris to get some rest, they won a national title; he played his best basketball in the final 20 minutes of that season. The Jayhawks have a long way to go to get to that point, but saving their veterans’ legs could help ensure they have enough if they can find a way to get there again. (Photo of KJ Adams Jr.: Jamie Squire / Getty Images) Source link #Topranked #Kansas #holds #UNC #depth #********* #threat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Wall Street Says Only 1 Will Head Higher From Here Wall Street Says Only 1 Will Head Higher From Here Enterprises are spending heavily on artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software to drive automation and efficiency, and use data to make smarter and faster decisions. And that trend may be just getting started. The enterprise AI market could grow at an annual rate of 37.6% between 2025 and 2030, according to analysis from Grand View Research. Two companies poised to see years of growth ahead in the enterprise-software space are Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Both companies have already seen the benefits of massive AI-related spending for their business and shareholders. Palantir stock is up 230% this year alone, as of this writing. Microsoft is up 77% since announcing an increased stake in generative AI leader OpenAI in early 2023. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Despite the strong outlook for the industry, Wall Street analysts only expect one of these enterprise-software leaders to keep climbing higher over the next 12 months. Palantir has a median-price target of $38 per share, based on the estimates of 22 analysts. That implies a downside of 30% from its share price, as of this writing. Microsoft has a median-price target of $500 per share, based on the estimates of 57 analysts. That implies upside of 18% from its share price, as of this writing. Here’s what investors need to know. Image source: Getty Images. Palantir develops software to help government agencies and commercial clients use big data to find insights and create operational efficiencies. Its initial focus on government contracts allowed it to develop a framework that it could apply to big commercial-enterprise customers as well. Palantir’s commercial-customer count is growing quickly, up 51% year over year. U.S. commercial revenue grew 54% year over year in the third quarter, fueling overall growth of 30%. At the same time, its adjusted-operating margin expanded to 38% from 29% a year ago, as it leverages its growing scale. It’s blowing past the Rule of 40, which suggests it could have even more room to grow faster if it spent more on sales and marketing. But CEO Alex Karp would rather focus his attention on building a great product for a few select clients with deep pockets. He suggests that leads to better results in the long term. Palantir offers two main software platforms, Gotham for government clients and Foundry for commercial clients. It introduced the Apollo platform in 2021 to ensure continuous operations for clients and allow them to run its software in virtually any environment. Story Continues More recently, Palantir added its Artificial Intelligence Platform, AIP, which lets customers use natural language to explore and understand their data and automate workflows. Clients can also use AIP to develop applications around their data. AIP has been an essential tool for Palantir to drive demand for its platform among clients, proving the product-focused thesis Karp espouses. Palantir is doing exceptionally well from an operational standpoint. The problem is the stock is really expensive. Shares currently trade for an enterprise value-to-sales (EV/S) multiple of 46. Even if you look at analysts’ 2025 estimates, the multiple only falls to 35. Jeffries analyst Brent Thill pointed out it’s the single most expensive name in software after Palantir reported its earnings earlier this month. It’s hard to see the company outperforming expectations by such a wide margin that it can make up for its extraordinarily high valuation. Microsoft has two ways it’s capitalizing on the growing investment in AI: its cloud-computing platform Azure and its Copilot AI agent built into its enterprise software solutions. Azure has emerged as the top cloud platform for developers working on AI. That’s bolstered by its early investment in OpenAI, which it added $10 billion to in January of 2023. Azure OpenAI usage more than doubled over the past six months, management said during its first-quarter earnings call at the end of October. As a result, it’s seen Azure revenue accelerate 33% year over year in the most recent quarter. Management expects Azure revenue to accelerate more in the second half of fiscal 2025 as many of its capital investments from 2024 will take time to get up and running. It’s seeing no shortage of demand for its capacity. Meanwhile, Microsoft is seeing strong demand for Copilot, which is integrated into Github and Microsoft 365. Github Copilot enterprise customers increased 55% sequentially last quarter, as they use the AI agent to generate code, improve workflow, and find vulnerabilities in their software. Nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft 365 Copilot, and the number of people using it daily doubled sequentially last quarter. Copilot Studio gives enterprises ways to create agents that work with their data and connect to various pieces of Microsoft’s software suite. Importantly, Microsoft’s stronghold in the enterprise-software segment supports the Azure business, as enterprises slowly shift more of their workload to the cloud. Microsoft makes it easy to operate a hybrid cloud environment using Azure, allowing clients to move at their own pace. At its current price, Microsoft’s stock looks attractive. Its enterprise value-to-sales (EV/S) multiple sits at just over 12. When you use analysts’ fiscal 2025 estimate, that multiple falls closer to 11. Some may think its 32.5 times forward-earnings multiple is expensive, but when you consider Microsoft is growing from two trends in AI and has a lot of capacity to repurchase its shares, its premium looks far more reasonable. Wall Street certainly thinks so. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Amazon: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2010, you’d have $23,446!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $42,982!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $428,758!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 4, 2024 Adam Levy has positions in Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group, Microsoft, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Palantir Stock vs. Microsoft Stock: Wall Street Says Only 1 Will Head Higher From Here was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Wall #Street #Higher Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NFL Week 10 roundtable: Cowboys’ downfall, ********** McCaffrey’s return, Lions-Texans NFL Week 10 roundtable: Cowboys’ downfall, ********** McCaffrey’s return, Lions-Texans Moves have been made, players swapped and teams remade with the NFL trade deadline passing Tuesday. Now, the unofficial back half of the season begins with Week 10. We’ll see another matchup of rookie quarterbacks, the Dallas Cowboys pivoting to Cooper Rush (and Jonathan Mingo?) against a hot Philadelphia Eagles team, ********** McCaffrey’s return to the San Francisco 49ers, a pair of Super Bowl hopefuls in the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions taking over Sunday night, and more. Our NFL writers Mike Sando, Jeff Howe and Zak Keefer check in once again, this time to preview Week 10’s storylines. New England Patriots–Chicago Bears gives us another matchup between two top rookie QBs: Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. Which franchise do you have more confidence in to properly build around its young QB? Sando: I lean toward Chicago simply because the Bears have already tried to put some pieces around their young quarterback, albeit with mixed results. New England hasn’t made a full effort yet. The Patriots have a newer group of team builders without much of a track record, and their organizational restructuring could still settle out over the next few years. It’s still an interesting question. How great should we feel about the situation in Chicago? I’m not overly optimistic, but I do think Williams can handle more over the long term. Howe: Maye is playing better than Williams, so Jerod Mayo and company deserve credit for the plan they have *********. However, the Patriots’ new regime ******** raw and unproven, and the Bears have improved quicker than expected over the past 18 months. Even though Matt Eberflus might be on the hot seat, you can’t argue with the talent the front office has put around Williams. Ryan Poles’ most pressing offseason need will be restocking the offensive line to help Williams get more comfortable in the pocket. The Patriots, on the other hand, still have a massive rebuild to undertake. Keefer: About 30 years of history tells me to resist leaning with the Bears here, but Poles has done an admirable job of setting up Williams for success. My biggest hesitation ******** with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, and perhaps with Williams’ inconsistent play style. Is he getting better? For a few weeks I thought he was, but that was mostly against bottom-tier teams. We’ll get a better sense of where Williams is at, and whether the Bears are doing this the right way, by the end of the season. The Patriots, on the other hand, are far from being consistently competitive. Drake Maye throws while in the grasp of Tennessee Titans safety Mike Brown. Maye might need to produce magic again against the Chicago Bears defense Sunday. (Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA Today / Imagn Images) Jerry Jones might believe the Cowboys still have much to play for, but with Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, things seem bleak in Dallas as a hot Eagles team comes to town. What are your thoughts on how the rest of Dallas’ season will unfold? Sando: Jones will continue to maximize the spotlight and profits, his top priorities. The team will miss the playoffs, and there will be much speculation about a potential coaching change, which will keep the team in the news. If this sounds a little cynical, it is. I’ve gotten to a point where analyzing this franchise can seem repetitive and futile. What is Jones striving for here? Howe: Since we can rule out the playoffs for the Cowboys, I’d like to see Trey Lance get an extended look sooner rather than later. Rush is a good backup who knows the offense and has proved his ability to keep the Cowboys afloat when the roster is at its best, but that hasn’t been the case this season. If the Cowboys don’t improve their standing in the next couple of weeks without Prescott, give Lance a showcase opportunity. Keefer: As far as I’m concerned, it’s fait accompli in Dallas this season. Prescott’s injury will only expedite the result that was already coming. Even if he were healthy, this team doesn’t have the firepower to go on a late-season run. The offense is too one-dimensional and the defense far too inconsistent to hang with the better teams in the NFC: the Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Eagles, 49ers and Atlanta Falcons. The disappointments of this year — and the playoff losses of the past several years — are damning indictments on Jones’ stubborn approach. This organization needs a new voice at the top. And it’s not getting one anytime soon. .@DMRussini and @ChaseDaniel don’t understand the Jonathan Mingo trade. And neither do NFL personnel. Listen: pic.twitter.com/mprxi7JCcX — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 8, 2024 The Lions are already playing like the best team in the league. How much does the Za’Darius Smith trade change things for Detroit? The Texans are 6-3 but look far from the contender many thought they would be. Is it time to start worrying about Houston if it loses this game? Sando: I’m worried about Houston already based on what we’ve seen in recent weeks. That seems strange to say about a team with a 6-3 overall record and a 5-1 record in the conference. Maybe I’m reading too much into the optics of that Thursday night performance against the New York Jets, when the offensive line was not competitive and C.J. Stroud seemed almost defeated. A victory over the Lions would improve my outlook on Houston much more than a defeat to Detroit would change how I’m already feeling about the Texans. Howe: Stroud’s performance has tapered off because of the injuries around him, so I’d expect him to turn it around upon Nico Collins’ return. Even if the Texans lose Sunday, they should win their next three to head into the bye at no worse than 9-4 with a couple of measuring-stick contests down the stretch against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. The Texans are in a new spot as a team that’s expected to win while its opponents show up each week with its undivided attention. That’s a challenge for any young team that’s looking to make the leap from a division champ to a legitimate playoff threat. Keefer: The Lions were never going to be able to replace Aiden Hutchinson, but Smith is a worthy addition and should add some pass-rush punch down the stretch. Detroit has separated itself quite a bit from the rest of the NFC, and that will be a tough place to play come January. As for the Texans, if any of the other three teams in the AFC South — the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars — were any good, I’d say the Texans should be worried. But all three are struggling. This is Houston’s division, and with Collins on his way back soon, the Texans will right the ship enough at some point to win another AFC South title. The Jets (at Arizona Cardinals) and New Orleans Saints (vs. Falcons) have fired their head coaches and have interim replacements in Jeff Ulbrich and Darren Rizzi. Who would you target for both jobs in 2025? Sando: Mike Vrabel comes to mind as an interesting second-chance candidate and someone with the personality to give a team an identity. The Jets could use someone who has done the job before. It’s an overwhelming job in that market and with that ownership. I’m less sure about the personality fit for Vrabel in that market. He might be better somewhere like New Orleans or, say, Jacksonville, whenever that job opens. The Saints should continue to pivot away from the Sean Payton tree as they establish a new identity, which they need. They should rethink their leadership structure, which could affect the type of coach they seek. Howe: The Jets should sell out for Ben Johnson, but he’s been highly selective. I also wonder how he’d handle the New York spotlight. Short of Johnson, I could see Zac Robinson making sense. This next idea might go over like a ***** in a spacesuit in New York, but Mike McCarthy would make sense to further the all-in approach with Aaron Rodgers. McCarthy won’t have a problem with the New York media, either. Vrabel would make sense for the Saints, but I wonder if they’ll want to go the offensive route with someone like Frank Smith or Bobby Slowik. Keefer: Mike and Jeff stole my picks. The Jets need someone like Vrabel, who won’t kowtow to the quarterback’s demands — that is, if Rodgers returns in 2025. I could also see Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as a worthy candidate. He’s been stellar since arriving in Baltimore last season. I wonder what the Saints’ coaching candidate pool looks like. Johnson will be first on just about everyone’s list, but with the Cowboys’ job likely opening as well, that could be a factor. Or will New Orleans pull the ultimate surprise and chase Bill Belichick? ********** McCaffrey is back (Sunday vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The 49ers added a defensive lineman, Khalil Davis, at the deadline. They are fresh off a bye. Time to believe the 49ers can start to put it all together? Sando: The 49ers lack the depth of their best teams, and I think that will show up in the end. They’ll likely finish in the 9-8 range and have a shot at advancing in the playoffs, but I don’t see them getting back to the Super Bowl. Howe: The personnel will improve as long as they curb the injury bug, although recent history suggests that’s a dicey proposition. The Niners need to stop giving away games. If they stop beating themselves and continue to get their stars back on the field, they’ll be OK, even if they’re not on the Lions’ level. Keefer: This team will look different from the minute McCaffrey’s back out there, especially in the red zone, where he’s among the most dangerous weapons in the league. But this isn’t the NFC West the 49ers are used to. The Cardinals have quietly improved, the Los Angeles Rams have won three in a row and fixed their defense, and the Seattle Seahawks remain very much in it. I bet the division title will come down to San Francisco and Los Angeles. (Top photo: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images) Source link #NFL #Week #roundtable #Cowboys #downfall #********** #McCaffreys #return #LionsTexans Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GTA 6 Has a Revolutionary Way to Break the 4th Wall ******* Than Ryan Reynolds Did in Deadpool GTA 6 Has a Revolutionary Way to Break the 4th Wall ******* Than Ryan Reynolds Did in Deadpool The anticipation surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is palpable. Gamers all across the globe are eagerly waiting for Rockstar Games’ next big release, which promises to push the boundaries of open-world gaming to new heights. With stunning graphics, an immersive world, and a narrative that’s sure to captivate, it is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Players are super excited about the game’s release and can’t wait to learn more about the game. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games But recently, a new idea has emerged among the GTA community—one that could break the fourth wall ******* than Ryan Reynolds did in Deadpool. Some players are calling for Rockstar to include the classic GTA 1 and GTA 2 inside GTA 6, turning them into a playable feature or even a mini-game. It’s a farfetched concept but it is perfect for the franchise and also the studio as it is always looking for ways to be innovative. Rockstar Games Should Bring GTA 1 and 2 Back in GTA 6 Players want to see the return of original Grand Theft Auto titles to make a return as a game inside a game. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games Released in the late ’90s, GTA 1 and GTA 2 were completely different from what players know the franchise today. They were top-down, pixelated experiences, completely distinct from the fully realized 3D open-world environments that GTA 3 and later titles introduced. At the time, these early games were revolutionary in their own right, offering players a taste of freedom and chaos. But as the series evolved, both the titles quickly faded into gaming history, overshadowed by the popularity and advancement of San Andreas and GTA V. However, in recent months, players on Reddit have been revisiting these old games with a sense of nostalgia. There’s even been a growing appreciation for the raw, unpolished creativity of these early titles. Due to these revisits, players have been thinking about creative ways of bringing them back in a meaningful way. The most popular suggestion: What if Rockstar could bring back these older games but not as mere Easter eggs or bonus content but as an integral part of GTA 6? Just imagine, the new title includes a hidden, fully playable version of both of these titles. They will be integrated into the world as part of a special mode or an in-game arcade machine. After hearing this concept, the community has been very excited and discussing various other ways to implement that. Posts from the gta6 community on Reddit Comment byu/GTWolfx from discussion inGTA6 Comment byu/GTWolfx from discussion inGTA6 Comment byu/GTWolfx from discussion inGTA6 The thread is filled with players who are excited about the idea and also think this will be a great tribute to the forgotten games in the beloved franchise. This concept of including as an arcade has the potential to create a seamless blend between the modern game and its history. Breaking the Fourth Wall to Honor the Legacy If incorporated, it will make the game even more immersive and also pay tribute to the forgotten titles. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games If Rockstar decides to implement this concept in the game, it could become a revolutionary way of breaking the fourth wall in gaming. In a way, players would fully realize that they’re not just playing GTA 6 anymore but are also stepping into the shoes of these revolutionary early GTA titles. For long-time fans of the series, this concept would not only serve as a nostalgic trip down memory lane. For the new players, it will highlight how the series has evolved, over the years, from the pixelated, chaotic gameplay of GTA 1 and GTA 2 to a hopefully refined one in GTA 6. In a gaming landscape where breaking the fourth wall is becoming more common, Rockstar could deliver an experience that blows Deadpool’s meta humor out of the water, crafting a moment in gaming history that feels as revolutionary as the GTA series itself. In the end, as players eagerly await the release of the game, they are hoping it will be the most groundbreaking title in the series yet: one that proves nothing is ever truly forgotten, especially in the world of gaming. Do you think Rockstar will include this concept? Tell us in the comment section below. Source link #GTA #Revolutionary #Break #4th #Wall #******* #Ryan #Reynolds #Deadpool Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Italy’s Pompeii to cap daily tourist numbers to 20,000 Italy’s Pompeii to cap daily tourist numbers to 20,000 Getty Images The Roman archaeological site of Pompeii will limit the number of daily visitors to the site to 20,000 a day after a steep rise in visitors. A record high 36,000 tourists visited the site on the first Sunday of October, when entry was free, local media reported. The park’s management said on Friday that the site would cap its daily visitor number from 15 November. Pompeii, the Roman city ******* in an eruption from nearby Mount Vesuvius in AD79, is one of the best-preserved Roman sites anywhere in the world. EPA Pompeii and its Roman inhabitants were ******* in a volcanic eruption from nearby Mount Vesuvius Nearly four million people visited the main Pompeii site in 2023, a third more than the previous year. Visitor counts had been climbing in the run up to the pandemic and in 2023 were above pre-Covid levels. More than 480,000 people visited in October 2024. In October 2024, there were more than 480,000 visitors, putting the average at about 15,500 a day. The busiest month so far this year was May, when about 517,000 people visited, or some 16,700 a day. The 20,000 cap is likely to only lead to tourists being turned away on a handful of occasions. A spokesperson for the park told Reuters that it had only exceeded 20,000 visitors when entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, as well as three or four fee-paying days. Getty Images Nearly 4 million people visited the main Pompeii site in 2023, a third more than the previous year Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director, said that reducing the effects of human visitors at Pompeii was important for conservation and safety reasons. The city was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which preserved swathes of it almost intact under a layer of ash for over 1,000 years. About a third of the site has yet to be excavated. It continues to be of huge interest to archaeologists, providing the most complete picture of daily Roman life anywhere in the world. Earlier this year, archaeologists revealed frescos of mythical Greek figures including Helen of Troy and Apollo. The artworks were found in a banqueting hall with dramatic ****** walls and a mosaic floor made of more than 1 million white tiles. Entry tickets to Pompeii start at €18 (£14.90; $19.30). Source link #Italys #Pompeii #cap #daily #tourist #numbers Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Penn State’s White Out — the stadium spectacle — ended up on Peacock How Penn State’s White Out — the stadium spectacle — ended up on Peacock There was no made-for-television moment last spring as the Big Ten’s television draft unfolded. With a flurry of emails between CBS, NBC and Fox executives — plus a few follow-up phone calls to the conference to ensure contractual agreements were being met — each network consulted with its big board and planned how to best position its broadcast packages with its picks. A network television draft for college football is every bit as sterile as it sounds. “It’s just emails flying back and forth,” said Kerry Kenny, chief operating officer for the Big Ten Conference. “We benefit from all these partners working to make the Big Ten the best it can be, but at the end of the day, they’re all competitors. What’s good for Fox, what’s good for NBC, what’s good for CBS isn’t always good for the other network partners in that moment.” The Big Ten is in the midst of a seven-year media rights agreement with Fox, CBS and NBC which began in July 2023. Penn State’s place in this agreement has been an interesting one in that so much of what fans have been accustomed to — like start times known for the White Out months in advance and the hope of playing Ohio State or Michigan in prime time for that White Out game — all look different now. Trying to protect Penn State’s annual White Out game and place it in a prime-time slot is ******* than ever before. This year, Penn State’s 16th full-stadium White Out will be played Saturday at 8 p.m. against Washington. The game comes on the heels of an emotional letdown after Penn State’s loss to No. 2 Ohio State. It feels strange that the annual spectacle with an envious atmosphere is being held this late in the season. It’s also odd that it won’t be found on traditional TV and instead will be streamed on Peacock. How Penn State ended up here is the byproduct of trying to ensure the game is held at night like Penn State fans desired and athletic director Pat Kraft lobbied for, while making sure the network partners get what they *******. No, Penn State wasn’t necessarily relegated to Peacock but instead was slotted into a window that met the night game request. When the television partners met in the spring to draft who picks which games first, second and third this week, Penn State had already made it clear that it hoped to have a White Out game in prime time. GO DEEPER Penn State’s No. 6 ranking backed by road wins, hanging with Ohio State, CFP committee says Thanks to an 18-team conference that spans three time zones and has more network partners than previous media rights agreements, fans must continue adapting. Only once before, in 2015, has the White Out been held in November. The 8 p.m. start time wasn’t announced until last Saturday. Even the raucous, White Out environment that’s become the calling card for the Penn State fan base, a bucket-list item for sports fans and a made-for-TV spectacle, will be a little ******* for fans to find Saturday with Peacock being a subscription-based streaming service. It’s the second time Penn State football has appeared on the platform, joining last year’s game against Delaware. Still, in some ways, it might feel like a relegation, which comes just one week after State College was the epicenter of the sport, hosting ESPN’s “College GameDay” and Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff.” But, part of the reason why the game ended up on Peacock is thanks to NBC’s long-standing relationship with Notre Dame. Part of that deal allows up to two games per year to be played in prime time on NBC. Florida State-Notre Dame was designated for the NBC prime-time slot well in advance of the Big Ten’s draft, Kenny said. However, NBC’s slot wasn’t the only option. Had Penn State beat Ohio State last week, this weekend’s game could’ve been at 3:30 p.m. on CBS or in prime time on Fox. “We always knew that with NBC’s first selection that week, November 9, the Big Ten selection, whether it was the number one pick that week, the number two pick, or the number three pick among the three broadcast partners that was going to always end up on Peacock,” Kenny said. GO DEEPER The ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ debate: Is Penn State-Ohio State too early? Another new twist this season is that the White Out will also be available in 23 different IMAX theaters, primarily catering to audiences in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington — inconveniently, the closest IMAX to Happy Valley is more than 90 minutes away in York, Pa. Still, it’ll be the first college football game presented live in select IMAX theaters, perhaps shedding light on what this next frontier of out-of-venue sports viewing could look like. NBC tried a similar approach with the Olympic opening ceremonies this year in IMAX and also found success showing the 2024 NBA Finals in non-mainland China and the League of Legends championship in China and Korea. Depending on each theater’s food and beverage offerings this weekend, fans could drink *****, order dinner and experience the game in a different way — all without having to navigate ******* Stadium postgame traffic. “It’s the whole communal experience first of all and then we’ve specifically designed each of our theaters for the most immersive experience possible both from a visual and an audio standpoint,” said Mark Welton, global president of IMAX Theatres. “It really feels like you’re at the game. The crowd, the noise. … People are up cheering. It’s like kind of being in the stadium.” Admittedly, the timing of the White Out, it being on Peacock and the possibility of watching it in IMAX all feels a little odd because Penn State’s biggest home game of the season — and one of the most important in ******* Stadium history — was played last week at noon as part of Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff.” For all the fan criticism of a noon kick — and there was plenty — the Big Noon exposure machine did its job. Penn State-Ohio State drew 9.94 million viewers, an uptick from the 7.3 million viewers who typically watch when the game has aired in prime time. Last 25 Years of Ohio State-Penn State Games: FOX Big Noon Games – 9.4 million viewers All Other OSU-PSU Games – 7.3 million Look forward to running it back next year. — Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) November 6, 2024 Fans will still show up in droves Saturday for the White Out, but this season Penn State has rolled out so many variations of a White Out theme — a “White Out energy” game against Illinois, a helmet stripe game, and a stripe out — that the lead up to Saturday feels different. Even head coach James Franklin, who usually wears white to his Monday media session the week of the White Out, didn’t do so this week. The whole tenor of the week coming off a loss to Ohio State doesn’t have the usual hype that comes in the lead-up to the annual stadium spectacle. Part of the challenge moving forward will be how willing the Big Ten is to help Penn State with the White Out while recognizing that the TV partners hold the cards. Kraft connected with the Big Ten last spring around draft time to state his case about what the White Out means to Penn State fans, the sport and the local community. It’s often used as a marquee recruiting weekend for other Penn State sports beyond football. Fans prefer the game to be held at night so the visual spectacle of 100,000-plus fans wearing white shirts and shaking white pompoms pops against the night sky. Hotels are booked months in advance. Penn State knew Fox was making the Ohio State game Big Noon. It also knew the September home game against Illinois for homecoming would be at night. It could’ve either doubled up on homecoming and the White Out or done a noon White Out for Ohio State. Instead, it opted for Washington knowing that the start time would at the earliest be at 3:30 p.m. Penn State wanted time to make fans aware of the game theme — which it did in July — and wanted ample time to put all the usual marketing efforts behind it. “Washington was unique because it’s a time of year where after daylight savings where a 3:30 game it gets dark pretty quick,” Kenny said. “We looked at that date and commissioner (Tony) Petitti and I spoke extensively with Pat about that.” It’s never too early to peek ahead to Penn State’s 2025 home slate which includes games in ******* Stadium against Oregon and Nebraska, among others. While a prime-time White Out against Oregon would seem like a shoo-in a few TV contracts ago, that’s far from a given now. “We’re committed to making sure that this continues to find a way even in this new changing environment of college football that the White Out is a tradition that has some legs to survive and really thrive in the future,” Kenny said. (Photo: Dan Rainville / USA Today) Source link #Penn #States #White #stadium #spectacle #ended #Peacock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sony Has Learned Absolutely Nothing as It Defends Helldivers 2 PSN Fiasco as Attempt to Let PC Users Enjoy Games “Safely” Sony Has Learned Absolutely Nothing as It Defends Helldivers 2 PSN Fiasco as Attempt to Let PC Users Enjoy Games “Safely” The relationship between Sony and PC gamers has always been complicated, but their attempt to mandate PSN account linking for Helldivers 2 several months after its PC launch ******** a sore point in that rocky relationship. What started as a celebration of PlayStation’s growing commitment to PC gaming quickly turned into a PR nightmare that’s still having ripple effects today. They claim they’ve learned, but have they really? | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios Now, months after the controversial decision that led to massive review ******** and community backlash, Sony’s leadership has finally addressed that controversial decision. But their response might just leave you wondering if they’ve learned anything at all from this debacle. Sony’s Baffling Defense of the Helldivers 2 PSN Requirement In a recent financial call (via GamesRadar), company president, COO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki attempted to explain the company’s stance on PSN account requirements for PC games. His words, however, seem to suggest that Sony is more interested in doubling down than making meaningful changes: We have learned a lot. The way to face the issues regarding PC, for instance. The PlayStation accounts that we have offered – well actually, by offering them, for instance, sometimes that tends to invite pushback. Well, “pushback” is certainly one way to describe the massive wave of negative reviews and community outrage that followed the PSN requirement announcement. But it gets better. According to Totoki, this requirement is apparently all about safety: But for the live service games, in order to maintain order of the gaming so that anybody can enjoy the games safely, we need to create an environment conducive to that and, of course, enjoy the game freely. Freely? That’s an interesting choice of words, considering the PSN requirement has effectively locked out players from 177 countries where PlayStation Network isn’t available. Nothing says “enjoying games freely” quite like being unable to play them at all! The Single-Player Paradox It’s difficult not to wonder what their counter-argument might be. | Image Credit: Guerrilla Games But here’s where Sony’s argument really falls apart. If we accept (for argument’s sake) that live service games like Helldivers 2 need PSN integration for “safety,” what’s the justification for requiring the same for single-player titles? Recent PC ports like **** of War: Ragnarök and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered still demand PSN account linking, despite having zero meaningful online components. It’s a bizarre situation that perfectly goes to show the disconnect between Sony’s words and actions. On the one hand, they’re expanding their PC presence and claiming to have “learned a lot” from past controversies. On the other, they’re maintaining arbitrary restrictions that serve no apparent purpose beyond frustrating potential customers. The irony isn’t lost on us: while major publishers lecture gamers about the evils of piracy, they simultaneously create barriers that prevent paying customers from accessing their games legally. It’s almost as if Sony is speedrunning “How to Alienate Your Own Audience 101.” Now, while the review ******** campaign succeeded in forcing Sony to backtrack for those who had purchased Helldivers 2 before the PSN mandate, countless others are still unable to buy the game due to PSN’s regional restrictions. And based on Totoki’s latest statements, don’t expect that to change anytime soon. What do you think about Sony’s stance on PSN requirements for PC games? Is there any merit to their “safety” argument, or is this just corporate doublespeak? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Source link #Sony #Learned #Absolutely #Defends #Helldivers #PSN #Fiasco #Attempt #Users #Enjoy #Games #Safely Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man arrested over alleged ***** at Edinburgh car showroom Man arrested over alleged ***** at Edinburgh car showroom BBC The ***** is understood to have taken place at a Peter Vardy BMW showroom A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an alleged ***** at a car showroom in Edinburgh. Emergency services were called to the Peter Vardy BMW premises in the Seafield Road area of Edinburgh at about 13:35 on 3 November following reports of a serious ******* ********. Police confirmed that a 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and has been released pending further inquiries. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Source link #Man #arrested #alleged #***** #Edinburgh #car #showroom Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Steph Houghton spoke from the heart – why have people been so quick to judge or condemn? Steph Houghton spoke from the heart – why have people been so quick to judge or condemn? It feels like we’ve seen more of Steph Houghton since she’s retired. Not literally — although maybe her burgeoning media career means she is more visible to rival fans who would only glimpse her twice a season — but in a deeper, more human sense. Houghton’s interactions with the media were always cordial and insightful, but you got the sense there was more under the surface. In recent months, Houghton has emerged from her shell to become a more candid, forthright voice. Consequently, it’s easier to glimpse the leader who not only represented Manchester City and England with distinction but transformed the women’s game along the way. Even more so in her memoir, Leading From The Back: My Journey to the Top of Women’s Football, out this week. In it, Houghton lays bare her role as off-field leader, chiefly in her negotiations with the Football Association over contracts and bonuses. Houghton’s England teams had it better than their predecessors but did not have the luxury, for instance, of direct or business class flights home from the World Cup in Canada in 2015, where they won bronze. They played in the Women’s Super League (WSL) four days later. The most moving chapters are on Houghton’s husband, the former footballer Stephen Darby, and his 2018 motor neurone ******** diagnosis, of plans derailed and a player forced to choose between family and football. There is doubtless a vulnerability and discomfort in drawing back the curtain, if a catharsis, too. As Houghton put it to Ian Wright on Crossways, their shared podcast, she wanted the book to be raw and real. “Sometimes people just see us as footballers, but there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes,” she said. This brings us to Houghton’s interview with the Guardian about the end of her England career — and, moreover, the backlash. Those who felt Houghton had spoken out of turn, and came across as entitled or bitter, were quick to let her know. (I wonder how many are newer fans of the women’s game and, unfamiliar with her career, have only ever seen Houghton in this light.) Houghton had received a similar response to a Daily Mail interview before the 2023 World Cup. She detailed the pressure she had put on herself and how hard it had been to justify that dedication when Darby had fallen at home and been rushed to hospital while she was on the bench for a game at Aston Villa. Houghton’s response on Friday’s podcast was to hope that people would read her feelings in their full context, in her book. Only then will they truly understand her side of the story. I have read it. I don’t think she came across as entitled or bitter. Rather, as Houghton told of the demise of her England career, all that came through was sadness. Houghton played her final game for England against the Republic of Ireland in a behind-closed-doors match at St George’s Park. Compare that to Jill Scott and Ellen White’s final bows for England: winning the ********* Championship against Germany at Wembley. Houghton was thrilled for them but inevitably wished she was among them. She did, at least, get a send-off at Wembley last month, leading the team out one final time, against Germany, in what might have felt like a facsimile of the Euros final — the alternate universe where Houghton has one last run of sold-out games. Steph Houghton with the England team before their game against Germany at Wembley last month (Marc Atkins/Getty Images) Houghton details the rehab programme for a torn Achilles that she undertook with England’s blessing — she recorded 10-hour days visiting a physio in Crewe — and says all parties had understood all along that she wouldn’t play for her club before the Euros in 2022. England checked in every six weeks. She made the provisional squad of 30 for the tournament. In the end, manager Sarina Wiegman’s view was that Houghton had not played enough games; the player’s view was that they knew this would be the case. Houghton recalls her tears when she takes the phone call from Wiegman in which she learns she will no longer be England captain. “I was upset that I’d found out over the phone,” she writes. “For me, that’s a face-to-face conversation.” I don’t disagree. Houghton never had anything against her successor Leah Williamson but was heartbroken that “the best thing (she) ever had a chance to do” was ending after eight years. World Cup rejection hits her less hard but is still painful. She felt she had done all Wiegman asked: playing regularly for her club, winning against Chelsea and Arsenal. Wiegman offers a tactical assessment and adds that she doesn’t feel she can take anyone out of the squad for Houghton. Houghton feels like Wiegman has moved the goalposts. Wiegman delivers this news at St George’s Park, where Houghton, allegedly unbeknownst to Wiegman, had been working with Nike. There, Houghton is told she will probably never play for England while Wiegman is in charge. “I also found myself wondering if this would have been a face-to-face conversation if I hadn’t already been at St George’s,” Houghton concludes. “The problem was more that I think she’d intended to have this conversation over the phone, and she knew she was going to tell me I wasn’t in her plans at all. I thought that called for a face-to-face conversation given the career I’d had.” Suffice to say it is, as Houghton promised, a little more complex than some responses would have you believe. This column isn’t about whether you would have taken Houghton to either of those tournaments or about Wiegman’s alleged handling of it all. It is about the reaction to Houghton’s pain, and the expectation we have of female footballers to expose all their vulnerabilities when the audience is not prepared to meet them with empathy. Why does everyone find it so hard to acknowledge that Houghton was in pain — and understandably so? Her last notable act for England at a major tournament was missing a penalty against the U.S. in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup. All of it — from the injury to missing out on the Lionesses’ first major trophy — will have triggered complex emotions in a player whose 121 caps were won in such a critical ******* for women’s football. That is before you examine how Houghton’s personal circumstances make the stakes, in that area of her life, so much higher. Of late, women’s football has seemed to steep itself in the idea that the sport moves forward when we hear of players’ pain in full. No varnish, no euphemisms: tell us of every horror of your rehabilitation from your anterior cruciate ligament injury, so that we can understand and make change. Tell us of your mental health struggles and your relationships — in which fans are invested — to inspire those watching. Tell us, Houghton, of what really happened with England, because after all this time, we want to know. Many players, from the WSL’s record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema to the two-time FIFA Best women’s goalkeeper Mary Earps, have been met with understanding for expressing their vulnerabilities. Why not Houghton here? Is it personal? The criticism of Houghton always seems to have a different kind of ***** behind it — is it that her replacement was the hugely popular Williamson, so among a newer, younger, more chronically online fanbase, it is convenient to cast Houghton as a villain? On some level do we still expect sportswomen to be compliant, grateful, and magnanimous when it comes to team selection and tactics? Or simply that the minute those feelings become complex or unpalatable — too much light and shade to fit in a tweet — people don’t want to hear them? That people can’t separate a divisive subject like team selection from the human at the centre of it all? EPISODE 7 @crosswayspod My guy helping with some context @IanWright0 — Steph Houghton MBE (@stephhoughton2) November 8, 2024 I don’t know, but many women’s football fans approached Houghton’s comments — and the end of her England career — with a lack of respect and understanding. Sportspeople, in particular, have devoted their lives to pushing themselves to lengths most of us would rather not, but surely most of us would have felt the same in Houghton’s position. Add in the extraordinary choices she had to make and I’m not sure how many of us would have even had it in us to keep chasing major tournaments. We should, as a minimum, allow Houghton to give voice to her experience without being so quick to judge, dismiss or condemn. Sport is a fundamentally human thing. You don’t have to agree with Houghton, but she’s allowed to say all this: allowed to say that it hurt and allowed to say that she wishes it all could have been different. At least let her speak. Given the ending, and the scale of her contribution, she deserves that. (Top photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) Source link #Steph #Houghton #spoke #heart #people #quick #judge #condemn Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure’s Cat DLC Is, In Fact, The Worst Life Is Strange: Double Exposure’s Cat DLC Is, In Fact, The Worst While Life is Strange: Double Exposure was a lot of fun and had a lot of great moments between using her powers to swap between timelines to be a *******-mystery detective, conversations dragged on and significant choices being made didn’t feel consequential at all. It’s a great experience, with a lot of twists, but some of it feels a bit too drawn out at times. Source link #Life #Strange #Double #Exposures #Cat #DLC #Fact #Worst Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal Election 2025: Voices for Forrest unveils Sue Chapman as candidate for South West WA seat Federal Election 2025: Voices for Forrest unveils Sue Chapman as candidate for South West WA seat Bunbury surgeon Sue Chapman can be unveiled as the community independent candidate for Forrest, pitching to voters she believes feel forgotten and disillusioned after 50 years of ******** representation. Source link #Federal #Election #Voices #Forrest #unveils #Sue #Chapman #candidate #South #West #seat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two new Macs, the PS5 Pro and more Two new Macs, the PS5 Pro and more Techtober rolled straight into November this year. The first week of the month was a busy one at Engadget HQ as we published a number of high-profile reviews over the last few days. There’s the MacBook Pro and Mac mini from Apple alongside the beastly (and expensive) PS5 Pro. Plus, we’ve got yet another VR headset and more ereaders for the bookworms. Read on to catch up on all of this week’s reviews and for a tease of what’s coming next. Apple MacBook Pro (2024) review Apple Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro is better than ever thanks to its M4 chips, Thunderbolt 5 support and slightly brighter screens. ***** Fast M4 chips Brighter display Sharp 12MP Center Stage webcam Thunderbolt 5 with M4 Pro/Max Long battery life $1,549 at Amazon Our Mac expert Devindra Hardawar had a busy week. Publishing four reviews in total, he primarily focused on an Apple double dip. He put the new M4-powered MacBook Pro through its paces in both 14- and 16-inch sizes. Unsurprisingly, the new chips offer a speed boost, but there are also updates to the display, webcam and battery life. Spec upgrades remain pricey, but if you opt for a machine with M4 Pro or M4 Max power, you’ll also gain Thunderbolt 5 support. “If you’re running an M1 MacBook Pro, or still trucking along with an Intel model, you’ll definitely see some notable performance gains from these machines,” he explained. “But if you’ve got an M2 or M3 MacBook Pro, the M4 hardware is less of a qualitative leap.” Apple Mac mini (M4 Pro, 2024) review Apple Apple’s smaller Mac mini is mightier than ever, thanks to the M4 and M4 Pro chips, and it’s a better deal with 16GB of RAM to start. ***** M4 Pro chip is incredibly fast 16GB RAM standard Front USB-C and headphone ports Smaller design takes up less space Thunderbolt 5 with M4 Pro ***** Spec upgrades are overpriced Fan gets loud with heavy workloads No SD card reader $580 at Amazon The second part of Devindra’s double-header was the new Mac mini, which is also now powered by Apple’s M4 chips. You’ll notice the biggest speed boost with the M4 Pro here and 16GB RAM is now standard. Of course, a key change is the smaller size, and the front-mounted USB-C and headphone ports will come in handy. “The Mac mini was the fastest computer I’ve reviewed this year, at least when it comes to CPU benchmarks,” he wrote. “I’ve grown used to being impressed by Apple Silicon, but the M4 Pro in our review unit (which was also equipped with 48GB of RAM) was still a ******* leap ahead than I expected.” Sony PlayStation 5 Pro review Engadget / Sony The PlayStation 5 Pro is the most powerful console ever made, but you’ll pay dearly for its performance. Thanks to a faster GPU, it finally delivers 4K and 60 fps performance for PlayStation gamers, with a dash of new ray tracing features. ***** Faster GPU enables 4K/60 performance PSSR AI upscaler works well New ray tracing capabilities Can slightly upgrade PS4 titles Comes with a 2TB SSD ***** Expensive So expensive No disc drive Not all games have Pro enhancements $699 at Amazon Devindra also assisted senior gaming reporter Jessica Conditt with the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 Pro review this week. It’s no surprise the duo confirmed that the PS5 Pro is the most powerful console ever, powered by a faster GPU that unlocks 4K/60 fps action. There are new ray tracing features too, and the console comes with a 2TB SSD. But, you’ll pay a high price for this one, and not every game has Pro-level enhancements for you to enjoy. “There’s no doubt that the PS5 Pro is a niche product, not an upgrade targeted at all PS5 owners,” they said. “It’s meant for the Sony devotees who want the absolute best PlayStation experience, and who will never upgrade to a gaming PC.” HTC Vive Focus Vision review HTC Vive The Vive Focus Vision is a sleek premium standalone VR headset that can also deliver solid PC VR. But it’s also running aging hardware, it’s riddled with software issues and it’s expensive compared to the Meta Quest 3. ***** Excellent build quality Comfortable fit Hot-swappable battery ***** Running 2020-era Snapdragon XR2 Small library of titles Pricey Uses old Fresnel lenses $999 at Adorama Devindra finished up his marathon week with latest HTC Vive VR headset. Unfortunately, great design is hampered by a high price, limited gaming library and older components. Simply put, “it still delivers decent standalone VR, despite using an aging CPU and lenses,” he explained. “But for a $999 headset, it’s a shame HTC Vive didn’t try ******* to make the Focus Vision stand out.” Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) review Amazon/Engadget The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is one of the most luxe ereaders you can buy, but some may not need to pay extra for all the nice-to-have features. ***** Screen displays crisp text with a lovely warm light Flush-front screen and soft-touch back feel premium Noticeably faster page turns and scrolling Auto-adjusting warm front light is helpful ***** Power button on the bottom edge is easy to accidentally trigger Can’t adjust touch screen controls Fewer page and font adjustments than the competition The features exclusive to the Signature aren’t essential $200 at Amazon Commerce editor Amy Skorheim reviewed both the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and the new standard Kindle this week, pitting them against each other in a direct face off. While the OG is still a workhorse, the more premium option offers more features. But, as Amy found, you might not need them. “It comes down to whether you think a heightened experience will make you read more,” she said. “If so, then it’s probably worth the price jump in the long run. But if you’re just looking for a no-frills way to read books, go for the base Kindle.” The next round of reviews I know I teased the Sonos Arc Ultra review for this week, but our audio expert (hi!) needed a little more testing time with the soundbar. I doubly promise that one is coming early next week for your Veterans Day reading. We still have one new Mac on the horizon, and we’re expecting to wrap up the iMac (2024) review next week too. And there’s yet another Amazon review coming soon with the updated ***** HD 8. Source link #Macs #PS5 #Pro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Gorilla Glass maker Corning is set to receive $32 million under the CHIPS and Science Act Gorilla Glass maker Corning is set to receive $32 million under the CHIPS and Science Act Corning is primarily known for its ruggedized glasses for smartphones and is barely known in the semiconductor industry. Yet, its contribution to the production of chips using leading-edge technologies is rather huge. To that end, the company is eligible to get money from the CHIPS and Science Act fund. This week, Corning and the U.S. Department of Commerce inked a preliminary agreement under which Corning is set to get $32 million. Corning makes various glass materials to build photomasks, such as high-purity fused silica, ultra-low expansion (ULE), and extreme ULE glass. A major advantage of ULE and Extreme ULE materials is their exceptionally low thermal expansion to ensure maximum consistency in harsh EUV environments (which are getting harsher as EUV tools gain more powerful light sources to increase performance) and exceptional uniformity to reduce photomask ‘waviness’ to minimize circuit variability (i.e., lower performance and power variability). Corning’s ULE glass is used to make photomasks for DUV and EUV lithography, whereas Extreme ULE material is projected for next-generation High-NA EUV lithography. Ensuring that companies in America that use advanced DUV, Low-NA EUV, and High-NA EUV tools have access to materials used to make photomasks is crucial for the whole industry in general and companies like Intel, GlobalFoundries, TSMC, Texas Instruments, and Samsung Foundry. Corning’s $32 million funding will support the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Canton, New York, to increase the production of specialized materials like high-purity fused silica (HPFS) and Extreme ULE glass. This project will add 130 manufacturing jobs and over 175 construction jobs. “Corning is proud to be an industry leader of specialty glass and precision optical lenses for the semiconductor industry, and our Canton facility plays a vital role in the nation’s mission to strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain,” said Corning Incorporated Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks. “This proposed investment and the continued commitment in Canton will enable us to establish the next-generation manufacturing capabilities needed to produce vital materials for lithography tools that will develop the world’s most complex microchips, strengthening our commitment to advancing semiconductor technology and job creation in the ******* States.” Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Gorilla #Glass #maker #Corning #set #receive #million #CHIPS #Science #Act Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rising smog levels shut down parks and public spaces in Lahore Rising smog levels shut down parks and public spaces in Lahore STORY: :: Officials close public spaces, including the zoo, in Pakistan’s second largest city due bad smog levels :: November 9, 2024 :: Lahore, Pakistan :: Mohammad Qasim, Visitor to Lahore “They have closed schools that don’t create smog. They have not closed the factories and brick kilns. They are not closing the things which create smog but closing places that do not create smog. This park will not create smog. They should close factories and brick kilns and seize vehicles that are emitting smoke and causing smog.” The provincial government was also considering closing down universities, after shutting schools earlier this week. The air quality in Lahore has deteriorated drastically, earning Punjab’s regional capital the rank of world’s most polluted city, according to Swiss air purification equipment maker IQAir. The air quality index stood at 553 around midday on Saturday. South Asia annually faces severe pollution due to trapped dust, emissions and stubble burning – the practice of setting ***** to fields after the harvest of grain. Punjab has attributed this year’s particularly high pollution levels to toxic air from neighboring India, where air quality has also reached hazardous levels. Source link #Rising #smog #levels #shut #parks #public #spaces #Lahore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hilarious Visual Bug Gives Valorant Players an Extra Set of Arms While Using New Arcane Melee Gauntlets Hilarious Visual Bug Gives Valorant Players an Extra Set of Arms While Using New Arcane Melee Gauntlets When it comes to first-person shooters, one name that pops up in your head immediately is Valorant. Since 2020, this game has been making its fanbase larger and larger. With its intricate maps, captivating tactical gameplay, and brilliant optimization on all systems, this game has won everyone’s hearts. Valorant was released in 2020. | Credit: Riot Games. Apart from all of these, there is one aspect of the game for which this 5v5 has become so popular. And that is its awesome skins. Likewise, Riot has recently launched an exciting bundle that League of Legends players are going to love. However, there is a hilarious glitch in the melee skin of that bundle, which is making the community go frenzy. New Arcane Melee Gauntlets Give Extra Arms in Valorant There is a melee skin in the Arcane Season 2 Collector‘s Set. | Credit: Riot Games. Glitches and bugs are nothing new in Valorant. Similarly, there is a glitch in the recently released melee skin of the Valorant Arcane Season 2 Collector‘s Set. This glitch has been showcased by a dedicated fan through a Reddit post. In this video, we can see when the player is using the latest melee skin before the start of a round. Now, when the player is punching with that melee skin, an extra arm seems to be appearing. Whenever a punch is thrown, an extra arm is seen beside the punching arm. The community is going crazy seeing this glitch. This fan thinks this might be an indicator of Four Arms into the game’s roster as the next agent in the game. On the other hand, Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen might feature in the game, as per another fan. This fan too thinks this might be an easter egg for the 28th agent. Another fan has brought up the reference of Ben 10 about this weird glitch. Anime fans can’t sit tight seeing this glitch as another fan has brought One Piece reference. This new bundle has been released on November 7 and will be available till December 5, 2024, during the Arcane Season 2 premiere event. The Arcane Vandal comes with a finisher, VFX, audio, and animations, as well as the melee ******* known as the Arcane Gauntlets. In addition, the bundle includes player cards, **** buddies, and sprays, including BLAH: Spray, Arcane Sisters: Player Card, Arcane Enforcer: **** Buddy About Arcane Season 2 Arcane Season 2 has been released on November 9, 2024. | Credit: Riot Games. Ambessa Medarda is the playable champion in League of Legends‘ Arcane Season 2. The first season of Arcane introduced the Noxian general, Ambessa Medarda. League of Legends players will be able to play on the Bridge of Progress in addition to the new champion. As part of an Arcane-themed update for ARAM mode, the Bridge of Progress map will be accessible starting on January 8, 2025. Along with new Piltover and Zaun-themed buffs, the update will also bring changes to the snowball. Additionally, Valorant studio head Anna Donlon has confirmed that the game will switch from Epic’s Unreal Engine 4.27 to the most recent Unreal Engine 5. Have you bought this Arcane Season 2 bundle in Valorant? And did you face any kind of glitches while using the Melee Arcane Gauntlet? Share your experience is us in the comment section. Source link #Hilarious #Visual #Bug #Valorant #Players #Extra #Set #Arms #Arcane #Melee #Gauntlets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AMD Strix Point CPU powers upcoming Ayaneo 3 gaming handheld — device sports up to Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and 7-inch OLED screen AMD Strix Point CPU powers upcoming Ayaneo 3 gaming handheld — device sports up to Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and 7-inch OLED screen Famous handheld console maker Ayaneo announced its latest flagship device, the Ayaneo 3. This builds upon the success of its predecessor, retaining a similar shape and button layout but comes with several hardware improvements. According to the Ayaneo blog, the Ayaneo 3 can be purchased with either an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor or the more powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. It also features a seven-inch high-refresh LCD or OLED HDR display, delivering the ultimate immersion. Ayaneo added two buttons at the back of the console to give users more control options. Unfortunately, Ayaneo hasn’t released additional information yet about the Ayaneo 3. So, we’ll have to wait for further details to learn more about its RAM, storage, and pricing information. Its predecessor, the Ayaneo 2, is currently available with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM and 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage. It also had a starting price of $1,099 and could go as high as $1,549 if you picked the limited-edition B.Duck model. Given that information, it’s likely that we will get the same options for the Ayaneo 3 at a slightly higher price point. Image 1 of 9 (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) (Image credit: Ayaneo) This new addition to the Ayaneo lineup makes it one of the first handheld consoles to utilize the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Although most current games do not use the NPU included in the HX 370 processor, its four extra cores, Zen 5 architecture, and AMD Radeon 890M integrated GPU will give it more oomph than the Ryzen 7 8840U processor. Just this processor makes it more powerful than some of the best PC gaming handhelds, which are mostly powered by the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The Ayaneo 3 will enter a market already saturated with great options. At the moment, we expect the ROG Ally 2, MSI Claw 8 AI+, and Lenovo Legion Go Gen Two to arrive before the end of the year or early 2025. We want to see how the Ayaneo 3 will differentiate itself from the competition and what kind of experience it will deliver to handheld console gamers. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #AMD #Strix #Point #CPU #powers #upcoming #Ayaneo #gaming #handheld #device #sports #Ryzen #CPU #7inch #OLED #screen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukrainian drones hit Russian weapons factory, Kyiv source says – National Ukrainian drones hit Russian weapons factory, Kyiv source says – National Descrease article font size Increase article font size Ukrainian drones struck a munitions factory in central Russia in an overnight *******, a source in Ukraine’s SBU Security Service told Reuters on Saturday. The ******* on the Aleksinsky chemical plant, which produces gunpowder, ammunition and weapons in the Tula region about 200 km (120 miles) south of Moscow, was part of a strategy to target factories that support Moscow’s war against Ukraine, the source said. As the war against Russia approaches its 1,000-day mark, Ukraine is on the back foot on the battlefield against its larger and better-equipped foe. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Russian troops are steadily advancing in the eastern Donetsk region, slicing through Ukrainian defence lines and wiping out towns and villages there with guided air ****** and artillery. The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that the frontline situation was complicated, reporting more than 170 combat clashes in the past 24 hours, the majority in the east. Trending Now ‘Moving to Canada’ searches spike after U.S. election, but it’s not so simple Woman’s family wants it known her ****** by ex-RCMP officer was intimate partner ********* Story continues below advertisement Ukrainian officials say strikes against military facilities, warehouses, and airfields in Russia would disrupt Moscow troops’ logistics and supplies and help turn the war in Ukraine’s favour. Since September, Ukraine has struck several ammunition warehouses in Russia with Ukrainian-produced long-range drones, according to Ukrainian security officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly urged Kyiv’s Western partners to supply more long-range missiles and lift restrictions on using them to hit targets deep inside Russia. More on World More videos Source link #Ukrainian #drones #hit #Russian #weapons #factory #Kyiv #source #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nintendo is suing a streamer of pirated software for millions of dollars Nintendo is suing a streamer of pirated software for millions of dollars Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against a streamer called EveryGameGuru, whom it’s accusing of streaming gameplays of pirated games before they were even released and of providing viewers access to ******** ROM copies and piracy tools. In its lawsuit, the company said the defendant livestreams himself playing games on YouTube, Discord, Twitch, TikTok, Trovo, Kick, Vaughn, Dlive, Picarto, Nimo, Facebook and *****, often with very little commentary. Apparently, EveryGameGuru streamed gameplays of at least 10 different titles before their official release date in at least 50 occasions since 2022. EveryGameGuru allegedly steamed Mario & Luigi: Brothership on October 22, 23, 24, 25 and 29, way before its official release on November 7. After Nintendo got the videos taken down from various platforms, including YouTube, he continued livestreaming on ***** and even included a QR code for his CashApp handle. He would also create new accounts after his old ones get disabled, and Nintendo said he sent the company an email, telling it that it has “a thousand burner channels” and that he “can do this all day.” We found a user with the same name on *****, with streams of Super Mario Jamboree before it officially became available on October 17 this year. In addition to those two games, Nintendo listed the other games that the defendant played on video before their release dates, including The Legends of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pikmin 4, Splatoon 3 and Mario Strikers: Battle League. Nintendo has also included screenshots of EveryGameGuru linking people to piracy tools in its lawsuit. One screenshot showed a post wherein he wrote a step-by-step guide on how to play illegally downloaded ROMs. He included links to the Ryujinx, Yuzu, Suyu and Sudachi Nintendo Switch emulators, links to websites that distribute game ROMs and a link to a website where people can get Switch decryption keys necessary to be able to play the console’s games. “Capitalism is *******,” he wrote in the post in all caps. “My channel is being deleted for sharing gameplay videos! This is your reward!” The company is asking for $150,000 in damages per violation of its copyright. As 404media notes, that could add up to millions, seeing as Nintendo is accusing the defendant of streaming at least 10 games illegally in at least 50 occasions. Source link #Nintendo #suing #streamer #pirated #software #millions #dollars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

M4 Mac Mini SSD modded from 256GB to 1TB — modder solders higher-capacity NAND to the removable SSD module M4 Mac Mini SSD modded from 256GB to 1TB — modder solders higher-capacity NAND to the removable SSD module Apple’s latest M4 Mini features NAND modules that can be upgraded if you’re proficient enough in micro-soldering, as dosdude1 shows in his latest machine teardown. The M4 Mac Mini starts at just $599, putting many Windows machines to shame in terms of performance and pricing. But like all Apple machines, these are not self-serviceable and upgradable—starting with a paltry 256GB of SSD storage. Users looking for higher capacities must pay a pretty penny since the 512GB version starts at $799, with a $200 upcharge for 256GB of extra storage. And for the unseasoned, this isn’t like the desktop landscape where you could swap in your old SSD with a fancier, faster, and larger version. The NAND modules are soldered onto a PCB, and the memory controller is on the SoC. Better yet, older designs had the entire assembly packaged onto the SoC – so any severe damage would’ve rendered the system as good as *****. (Image credit: dosdude1) Like the Mac Studio, the M4 Mac Mini has a PCB with two NAND chips – one at the front and one at the back. Theoretically, you could swap these two modules and replace them with more capacity. However, Apple employs a firmware lock that ties the serial number of each module with the controller on the SoC, so you cannot reuse already-programmed NAND modules from a spare machine. The user desoldered the existing NAND chips and replaced them with two blank 1TB “K6B2” NAND modules, as these chips were known to work with the MacBook Air M3 and even the iPhone 14, 15, and 16. UPGRADING a Brand NEW M4 Mac mini – YouTube Watch On The first attempt didn’t go as planned since one of the chips was a dud. After attempting the process again with two 512GB chips (1TB) and setting everything up, the system booted and reported “994GB” of storage—a great success! A quick search on AliExpress shows that you can obtain these chips for roughly $100, but we’re not suggesting you do so since this process is not intended for the average consumer. The takeaway is that blank or unused NAND chips can work with Apple’s proprietary controller. Still, you need a separate Mac to install the Operating System and might have to perform a DFU reset to restore the controller to factory settings. Such upgrades have been available for a while but come at the cost of potential damage to the system or the proprietary PCB. Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Source link #Mac #Mini #SSD #modded #256GB #1TB #modder #solders #highercapacity #NAND #removable #SSD #module Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]