Pelican Press

Pokemon TCG Pocket Has Crossed 30 Million Downloads Pokemon TCG Pocket Has Crossed 30 Million Downloads · · November 8, 2024 Pokemon TCG Pocket’s official X account (formerly Twitter) has just revealed that the game has been downloaded more than 30 million times globally. The digital card trading title was released on October 30 and within just 9 days it has managed to hit this significant milestone. Pokemon Go was able to cross 100 million downloads within the first month, it’ll be exciting to see whether Pokemon TCG Pocket can replicate that. Pokemon TCG Pocket is digital title available now on the iOS App Store and Android Play Store. This app allows players to enjoy their Pokemon card-collecting and trading passion online. The game is available in 89 countries, allowing players to open packs, collect cards, battle other players, and more. The collection features designs that many may remember, along with some completely new illustrations that have been designed specially for the game. Players can open two booster packs for free each day, allowing you to grow your collection. There is a new space for the community too, where players can display their most valuable cards. Additionally, a new Pokemon card experience has been designed explicitly for TCG Pocket, which features ‘Immersive Cards’ with three-dimensional illustrations. In other news, Pokemon TCG Pocket managed to rake in over $12 million in the first four days. Also, new details on Nintendo’s lawsuit against Palworld devs over alleged Pokémon patent infringement have emerged online. What are your thoughts on Pokemon TCG Pocket crossing 30 million downloads? Let us know in the comments or our new community forum! For more from Insider Gaming, read about the Nintendo Switch 2 being on course for an announcement before April 2025. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Pokemon #TCG #Pocket #Crossed #Million #Downloads Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US Stocks Q3 Fundamentals Look Fantastic, but Valuations at Dangerous Levels US Stocks Q3 Fundamentals Look Fantastic, but Valuations at Dangerous Levels The big US stocks dominating markets and investors’ portfolios just finished another earnings season. These elite companies continue to thrive, collectively reporting near-record sales and profits. Yet their valuations remain deep into dangerous bubble territory, which is always risky. Especially with ********* consumers drowning in debt following the ravages of serious inflation, forcing them to slow their spending. The flagship stock index has been on *****, enjoying a fantastic 2024. This week’s big 4.7% surge on Trump’s decisive election victory extended the SPX’s year-to-date gains to 26%, and its 48th record close this year. Interestingly that’s still underperforming gold, which was up 29.0% YTD midweek despite plunging 3.0% on Trump’s win. That launched the , triggering heavy gold-futures selling. The US stock markets are enjoying a mighty bull run, with the SPX soaring 44.0% in just over a year. The artificial-intelligence mania has been the main driver, fueling popular greed and even euphoria. Investors love this surging record-shattering run, and universally expect it to continue. They may be right, yet markets are forever cyclical with bears inevitably following bulls. And extreme overvaluations awaken bears. For 29 quarters in a row now, I’ve painstakingly analyzed the latest results just reported by the 25 biggest SPX components and US companies. Almost all ********* investors are heavily deployed in these behemoths due to fund managers crowding in. How big US stocks are collectively faring fundamentally offers clues on what markets are likely to do in coming months. This table includes key SPX-top-25-component results. Each of these elite companies’ symbols are preceded by their SPX rankings changes over this past year, and followed by their index weightings exiting Q3’24. Next comes their quarter-end market capitalizations and year-over-year changes, revealing how these stocks performed. Looking at market caps instead of stock prices helps neutralize the distorting effects of massive stock buybacks artificially boosting prices. Next comes a bunch of hard accounting data directly from 10-Q reports filed with the SEC. That includes each SPX-top-25 component’s quarterly sales, earnings, stock buybacks, dividends, and operating cash flows generated. Their quarter-end trailing-twelve-month price-to-earnings ratios are also shown. YoY percentage changes are included unless they’d be misleading, such as comparing positives with negatives. Overall the big US stocks’ Q3’24 results proved fantastic, confirming why these companies are the best. But despite their continuing size-defying growth, troubling signs abound. These include extreme concentration, extreme overvaluations, and the overwhelming probability that these outsized growth rates aren’t sustainable. And the US economy slowing down as Americans struggle with debt and inflation exacerbates risks. The sheer market dominance of these beloved ********* companies can’t be overstated. Their massive aggregate market capitalization of $25,069b exiting Q3 commands a staggering 48.9% of the entire S&P 500’s weighting. That’s just a little under the prior quarter’s record of 50.2%, still crazy-concentrated. The SPX top 25 are worth as much as the bottom 471 companies. These big US stocks effectively are the markets. High concentration really ramps stock-market downside risks. The fewer stocks fund managers crowd into, the easier it is for a handful of companies to drag down the SPX after disappointing news or quarterly results. Concentrated portfolios are inherently fragile, particularly in mature bull runs after big gains force valuations to extremes. In Q3’17 when I started this research thread, the SPX top 25 were 34.8% of the total. Fund managers’ concentrated monoculture of aggressively overweighting these same big US stocks results from the hyper-competitive nature of their business. If their fund performance consistently falls behind their peers’, investors will quickly shift their capital to better-performing funds. That leads to more-and-more money chasing fewer-and-fewer stocks, which is unsustainable but amplifies their gains while it lasts. Overall the SPX-top-25 stocks’ total market caps soared 42.6% during the year ending Q3’24. Such huge gains can’t continue off such colossal bases. And not surprisingly this past year’s massive gains came mostly in the beloved Magnificent 7 mega-cap tech stocks. Their market caps skyrocketed an epic 49.8% YoY to $15,885b, or 31.0% of the entire S&P 500. The Next-18-largest lagged well behind, up 31.5% to $9,184b. Astoundingly exiting Q3, Apple (NASDAQ:), Microsoft (NASDAQ:), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:), Alphabet (NASDAQ:), Amazon (NASDAQ:), Meta (NASDAQ:), and Tesla (NASDAQ:) averaged crazy-high $2,269b market caps. Such gigantic sizes make it almost impossible for these huge mid-double-digit gains to continue. The ******* any stock the more market-cap inertia it has, requiring proportionally-larger capital inflows or outflows to move. It’s far easier for a $200b company to soar 50% than a $2,000b one. The Mag7’s overwhelming dominance of US stock markets has left them increasingly bifurcated across all key metrics. Overall the SPX top 25’s revenues grew a solid 5.0% YoY last quarter to $1,282.9b. And that was despite one key composition change, with another tech market-darling Netflix (NASDAQ:) surging to force oil super-major Chevron (NYSE:) out of these elite ranks over this past year. NFLX merely did $9.8b in sales in Q3. CVX’s dwarfed that at $50.7b, so had it remained in the SPX top 25 these comparisons would’ve looked better. Yet all last quarter’s top-line growth came from the Mag7, where sales exploded up 15.3% YoY to a jaw-dropping $503.5b. The Next-18-largest US stocks actually saw their total revenues slip a slight 0.7% YoY to $779.5b. Again composition changes skewed this, but business is slowing for some elite companies. And despite their undeniable brilliance, the mega-cap techs aren’t immune. Nearly 70% of the entire US economy is driven by consumer spending. That has remained robust in recent years, but only because of soaring debt levels. The Federal Reserve tracks those statistics, revealing mortgages, home-equity lines of credit, car loans, and credit-card debt keep surging up to new record highs. That’s an ominous omen. Much of that frenzied borrowing was to maintain lifestyles through raging inflation. After March 2020’s pandemic-lockdown stock panic, the Fed absurdly mushroomed the US money supply by 115.6% or $4,807b in just 25.5 months. Relatively-far-more dollars chasing relatively-less goods and services really bid up their prices. Trump won this week because Americans are struggling with the resulting crushing inflation. While far-higher groceries prices have been big political news, they are the tip of the iceberg. Most major expenses that have to be paid are way higher than during Trump’s first term, including mortgage payments and rent, house and car insurance, property taxes, medical insurance and bills, electricity, and the list goes on. Paying all these higher non-discretionary expenses every month leaves less spending money left. The large majority of SPX-top-25 companies sell discretionary goods and services that Americans want but don’t necessarily need. Apple’s iPhones are essential tools to function in modern society, but is the latest model far superior to the last few years’ ones? Not really. Cash-strapped consumers could easily delay their iPhone upgrade cycles another year or two, which could start shrinking Apple’s revenues. Microsoft essentially rents productivity software and servers to businesses. Yet if their own customers scale back purchases, their demand for MSFT services will eventually follow. Rather than paying every month for software, companies can buy it outright then use it for years. Alphabet and Amazon are also quite dependent on server rentals, their cloud businesses would suffer too if customers have to retrench. When sales slow, one of the easiest expenses businesses can cut is advertising. Both Alphabet and Meta are overwhelmingly reliant on business ad spends. Those could wane considerably as Americans’ tight budgets and high debt loads force them to slow discretionary purchases. That’s also true of the goods-selling side of Amazon, where a likely big majority of stuff sold there is for wants rather than needs. NVIDIA is the ringleader of this massive AI stock bubble, with its stock launching a stratospheric 179.9% higher over this past year. Other mega-cap-tech companies have scrambled to buy all the graphics-processing-unit chips NVIDIA can manage to get produced, at wildly-inflated prices compared to their manufacturing costs. Many tens of billions of dollars are being spent to ramp up AI models and capabilities. But despite these epic investments in AI infrastructure, so far end-user demand has remained very weak. Is ChatGPT that much better than a standard Google search? Are Americans willing to pay monthly for access to large language models? While AI has really improved certain aspects of businesses like customer service, for normal people AI seems to be a solution in search of a problem. AI is neat, but not essential. While it will slowly integrate into our lives, that will likely take many years. With the bubble valuations in all the AI leaders, investors will need to see AI fuel strong sales growth way sooner. The vast majority of these SPX-top-25 stocks including all the Mag7 aren’t immune to weaker revenues as belt-tightening Americans are forced to slow their spending. Lower sales quickly multiply to much-lower profits, a serious risk. There are a handful of exceptions though. Walmart (NYSE:) and Costco (NASDAQ:) both benefit from this inflationary budget-busting environment. The more expensive groceries get and the less cash left over every month to buy them, the more the great deals at this leading discounter and wholesaler matter. I brave Costco once a week to buy fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, and bread for my family, and my local ones are bursting at the seams. The big US stocks’ earnings last quarter were strong, surging a hefty 14.7% YoY to $211.3b despite not including Chevron. Again those were heavily bifurcated though, with the Mag7’s profits soaring 22.3% to $115.5b while the Next-18-largest US companies’ only grew 6.0% to $95.8b. But that overall earnings growth was really overstated by Warren Buffett’s legendary investment conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:). Accounting rules require BRK to flush its massive unrealized and realized gains and losses on investments through its income statements every quarter. This drives Buffett crazy, he has railed against this countless times over the decades. Of BRK’s massive $26.3b in profits last quarter, fully $20.5b or 78% were gains on investments. That compared to an ugly $12.8b bottom-line loss in Q3’23 after investment losses of $29.8b. Back all that out, and Berkshire’s earnings ex-investments actually plunged 66.3% YoY to $5.8b. That is really interesting because BRK’s extensive holdings are very diverse across many industries, suggesting the US economy is slowing. If BRK’s ex-investment earnings are used in both Q3’23 and Q3’24, the overall SPX top 25’s profits actually fell a sizable 10.9% YoY to $190.8b. That’s a big problem in a stock bubble. And Buffett and his handful of top lieutenants running Berkshire sure seem to agree these stock markets are scarily overvalued. While not included in this table, BRK’s cash balance last quarter skyrocketed 106.8% YoY to a staggering $325.2b. That accounts for 31% of the cash treasuries of the entire SPX top 25, and rivals the $464.2b warchests held by the Mag7. Why is the world’s greatest investor rushing into cash? Either he can’t find any good deals in these expensive stock markets, or he fears a bear is looming that will maul stock prices much lower. Berkshire’s entire business is investing, and its sterling reputation also grants it unique access to countless deals outside stock markets. So BRK’s brain trust hoarding cash in record amounts rather than deploying it is ominous. Odds are the SPX’s extreme bubble valuations factor in. Absolute stock prices don’t matter, or even market caps to some extent. A $500 stock price or $1,000b market capitalization for a company trading at 14x trailing-twelve-month earnings is way cheaper than a rival priced at $100 or $200b but sporting a far-higher 28x price-to-earnings ratio. Over the past century-and-a-half or so, fair-value for the US stock markets has run around 14x while bubbles start at double that or 28x. Exiting Q3, these big US stocks averaged crazy-high TTM P/Es of 42.4x which is deep into dangerous bubble territory. Interestingly that was the only place that bifurcation vanished, with the Mag7 averaging 42.6x while the rest of the SPX top 25 averaged 42.4x. So at these prevailing stock prices, it would take these big US companies about 42 years to earn back those prices investors are paying. That’s a long time. Such extreme overvaluations are only seen late in secular bulls, after huge gains fuel universal greed and euphoria. The whole mission of inevitable subsequent bears is to maul stock prices lower or sometimes sideways for long enough for underlying corporate profits to catch up with prevailing stock prices. Bears tend to run until SPX-top-25 valuations fall back under 14x, sometimes even as low as half fair-value at 7x. While euphoric traders have forgotten about stock bears, they are serious and not to be trifled with. From March 2000 to October 2002 after the last time the SPX was this overvalued, it plunged 49.1% over 30.5 months. Later from October 2007 to March 2009, the SPX plummeted 56.8% in 17.0 months. There is plenty of modern precedent for bears gutting excessive stock prices, especially starting from bubble toppings. And even milder minor bears are dangerous, with the last one clawing the SPX down 25.4% from early January 2022 to mid-October that same year. Before that bear, Wall Street asserted that fundamentally-strong mega-cap techs were among the safest stocks. Yet surrounding that SPX-bear span, the Mag7 market-darlings averaged brutal 54.6% losses more than doubling the SPX’s. Bubble stocks are never refuges. As if that wasn’t menacing enough, slowing discretionary consumer spending will exacerbate bubble valuations giving any bear more fodder. If a big US stock’s revenues slump 5%, its earnings could easily drop 20%+. That means if it had a current average 42x P/E, that could surge near 53x. That makes for proportionally more downside as a bear does its gory work of realigning stock prices with underlying earnings. Falling profits as sales come under pressure are also a major risk for massive stock buybacks. These have been the primary driver of stock-market upside over the past decade or so. Last quarter the SPX top 25’s soared 23.8% YoY to $92.0b. That’s still well under Q4’21’s record $107.3b, but in line with the past-four-quarter average of $83.5b. Cutting buybacks is the easiest way for large companies to preserve cash. If revenues start flagging as Americans’ discretionary spending power wanes, buybacks will soon follow. Buybacks boost earnings per share, retiring existing shares leaving fewer outstanding ones to spread net income across. So the EPS growth prized by Wall Street analysts will take a major hit if buybacks slow, leaving big US stocks even more overvalued. These bear-spawning bubble valuations could get even worse. Buybacks are far easier to cut in challenging economic times than dividends, which are sacrosanct. Last quarter the SPX top 25’s total dividends grew 12.0% YoY to $46.7b. Plenty of investors rely on those dividend streams, so the rare times companies really cut dividends their stocks usually plunge sharply. I suspect most big US companies would slash their stock buybacks to zero before they dared reduce dividends. Operating cash flows generated last quarter by the big US stocks weren’t as strong as sales or profits. They only edged up 1.2% YoY to $263.6b for the SPX top 25. OCFs were also really bifurcated, with the Mag7’s soaring 21.6% YoY to $163.1b while the Next 18 largest’s excluding mega-banks plunged 23.6% to $100.5b. That’s more of a Chevron-booted-out thing though, reflecting a shifting SPX-top-25 composition. That oil super-major’s OCFs ran $9.7b both a year ago in Q3’23 and in this latest Q3’24. Meanwhile Netflix’s OCFs were way smaller at $2.0b and $2.3b. So had the latter not edged out the former, the SPX top 25’s operating cash flows would’ve looked stronger. They still remained ahead of the past-four-quarter average of $242.5b. A weakening economy should grow evident in OCFs before revenues and earnings. Despite Trump’s remarkable comeback win, these stock markets also face big political risks. One of the reasons the SPX surged so much over this past year was many big upside surprises in key economic data, led by monthly US jobs reports. Unfortunately the Biden Administration bureaucrats running those reporting agencies were chronically overstating market-moving economic data for their party’s political gains. In recent years headline jobs numbers have mostly come in well above expectations, which gooses the stock markets. Then those big beats are soon revised away in subsequent months, after traders no longer care. There have been even-******* annual downward revisions, the last claiming 818k fewer jobs on top of earlier monthly downward revisions in the year ending Q1’24. What if that economic-data skewing vanishes? Maybe the Biden guys will stop making data-boosting assumptions with their party losing power. Maybe Trump will replace data-reporting agency heads with his own people. Either way, there’s a good chance economic data will better reflect economic reality as thumbs are removed from scales. Big misses in key economic data in coming months could ignite sizable selling pressure in these bubble-valued stock markets. So how should investors prepare for an overdue bear market to normalize extreme valuations? Diversify. Large holdings in these popular big US stocks can be pared, reallocating some of that capital to cash like Buffett. Also gold and its miners’ stocks tend to thrive when stock markets weaken, and the latter remain very undervalued relative to these record prevailing gold levels. Battered gold stocks have vast upside potential. The bottom line is the big US stocks dominating markets and investors’ portfolios just reported another fantastic quarter. Revenues hit record levels, while earnings weren’t far behind. Yet with valuations still deep into dangerous bubble territory, even **** profits were way too low to justify these lofty stock prices. That’s a real problem, portending a looming bear market to maul prices back down in line with earnings. Even worse, these extreme valuations will likely head higher until that bear really roars. Corporate sales and profits should come under increasing pressure as cash-strapped Americans cut back on discretionary spending. Inflated necessities’ prices are consuming more of their incomes. Declining revenues will be amplified by earnings, leaving US stock markets even more bubbly. Traders need to reallocate some into gold. Source link #Stocks #Fundamentals #Fantastic #Valuations #Dangerous #Levels Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is COP29 and where is it? What is COP29 and where is it? Reuters Global leaders will meet at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11-22, 2024, to address climate change challenges World leaders are set to arrive at a big annual UN climate meeting hoping to rein in rising global temperatures, which are making deadly events like the recent floods in Spain far worse. A key aim at this year’s meeting in Azerbaijan is agreeing on how to get more cash to poorer countries to help them curb their planet-warming gases and to help them cope with the growing impacts of climate change. But the US election victory of Donald Trump – a known climate sceptic – as well as wars and cost of living crises are proving a distraction, and some important leaders are not attending. Hosts Azerbaijan are also under intense scrutiny over their human rights record, as well as accusations they are using the meeting to line up fossil fuel deals. Getty Images People are evacuated as wildfires sweep across Rhodes, Greece in July 2023 What is COP29 and where is it? COP29 is the world’s most important meeting on climate change. It is led by the UN, and this year’s event, the 29th such gathering, will run from 11-22 November. It is being held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a central ****** country located between Russia and Iran. What does COP stand for?Reuters COP stands for “Conference of the Parties”, and in this case, the parties are the countries that have ratified a treaty called the UNFCCC (******* Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). That document was signed back in 1992, by almost 200 countries. The COP is the decision-making body of that agreement and representatives of these countries meet every year to negotiate the best approaches to tackling the root causes of climate change. Who will go to COP29? Presidents and prime ministers normally attend these conferences at the start to provide impetus. But this year the leaders of some of the biggest economies and biggest carbon emitters are notably absent. US President Joe Biden, China’s leader Xi Jinping and France’s President Emmanuel Macron will be absent, as will ********* Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s Olaf Schulz and India’s Narendra Modi. They are staying away for a range of reasons, but it won’t help the conference get off to a strong start. Leaders who do attend will also have lots of other issues on their minds, including two expensive and difficult wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and global financial problems. “No world leader is arriving with climate change at the number one spot in their inbox,” Prof Thomas Hale at Oxford university explains. There’s also an underlying feeling that Azerbaijan doesn’t have the diplomatic or financial clout to secure a significant agreement in Baku. Many leaders are taking the view that progress is more likely at next year’s COP30 in Brazil. What will be discussed at COP29?Getty Images Climate change is a critical issue for Bangladesh A key question this year is money. Under the Paris agreement signed in 2015, world leaders pledged to try to prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C. For that to happen countries need to ramp up their efforts to cut warming gases. As part of the agreement, countries committed to develop a new cash target for developing nations by 2025. This money would be used to help emerging economies cut their carbon and adapt to the worst impacts of rising temperatures. Getting agreement on a new finance target is seen as a critical step in building trust between rich and poor nations as, so far, the track record hasn’t been great. ******** countries and small island states want to see climate finance in total reach over a $1tn a year by 2030. Up to now countries like China and the Gulf States have been classified as developing economies and been exempt from contributing. According to the EU and other wealthy countries, that must change if the overall amount of cash is to be increased. Governments’ plans for tackling climate change in their own countries could also be a tricky issue. They must update their action plans every five years (the next deadline is February.) Some countries will release their strategies at this COP, but if they’re weak and look unlikely to stop global warming rising beyond 1.5C, then it could cause problems with countries on the front lines of climate change. And are the fossil fuel agreements passed at the last climate talks still standing? There were signs in the G20 talks this year that some countries wanted to roll back on promises to move away from burning oil, coal and gas. You don’t need to look far to see trouble brewing. Major UN talks on protecting nature collapsed two weeks ago in Colombia when nations couldn’t agree key goals. Why is holding COP29 in Azerbaijan controversial? Azerbaijan has big plans to expand gas production, by up to a third, over the next decade. Some observers worry that a country with that goal is in charge of a conference that aims to transition away from fossil fuels. These fuels are one of the main causes of climate change because they release planet-warming greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide when burned for energy. There are also concerns, reported by the BBC, that Azerbaijani officials are using the climate conference to boost investment in the country’s national oil and gas company. There are also deep reservations about holding this key event in a country with a poor human rights record, where political opposition isn’t tolerated. How will Donald Trump’s election impact COP29?Getty Images Donald Trump attends the 2019 G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, during his first presidency The US president-elect is a known climate sceptic who has called efforts to boost green energy a “scam” and his victory has been seen by climate experts as a major setback. He won’t actually be at COP29, and President Biden’s team will push for progress, but they know that anything they agree to will not bind the new administration. With Trump’s election the US will likely withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and from providing finance. However it’s also possible that Trump’s re-election might drive a new sense of unity, even building a coalition who might agree a major step on money for poorer countries. Experts argue that the climate crisis, and our collective response to it, will outlast a second Trump term. What’s going on with the world’s climate this year?Getty Images Firefighters battle flames as they work to contain a wildfire near a village in northern Spain The warning alarms from the climate could not be stronger this year. It is now “virtually certain” that 2024 – a year punctuated by intense heatwaves and deadly storms – will be the world’s warmest on record, according to projections by the ********* climate service. And we’ve seen the impacts of warmer oceans with very powerful hurricanes Helene and Milton slamming into the US in the summer. The devastating flooding that ******* at least 200 people in Spain in October was also fuelled by higher sea temperatures in the Mediterranean. “Climate change is a cumulative problem. That means that with every year of delay, there is additional warming that we commit our planet to. Now is the time that we need to take action,” explains Prof Joeri Rogelj at Imperial College London. How could these talks impact me? In the short-term, agreements at COP can change how nations build their economies, like pushing the development of green power. That can affect where we get our energy from and how much we pay for it in our bills. It can also commit countries to paying large sums of money into funds for poorer countries. In the *** this currently comes from aid budgets paid for by tax-payers, although private financial institutions are expected to contribute significantly. In the long-term, the talks aim to build a safer, cleaner world for everyone and prevent the worst of climate change. Source link #COP29 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Have the Chiefs supplanted the Cowboys as America’s top TV team? Have the Chiefs supplanted the Cowboys as America’s top TV team? Cris Collinsworth made a notable, bluntly honest quip last year about NFL broadcast scheduling that got a lot of attention. “If NBC had their choice, we would do 17 Dallas Cowboys games,” the NBC “Sunday Night Football” analyst told “The Dan Patrick Show.” “I’m not kidding. It doesn’t even matter what their record is. They could be 4-6, we would take them. ‘You guys can take any game you want this week.’ ‘OK, we’ll take the Dallas Cowboys.’ It’s insanity, but it’s true. They draw the ratings.” Historically, this is unquestionably true. The Cowboys have been the NFL’s viewership bell cow for decades, and there’s a reason every network lobbies the league’s broadcasting department for as many Cowboys games as possible. Take this year’s schedule: The Cowboys have six prime-time slots for 2o24 as well as five weeks where they anchor Fox’s late-afternoon Sunday window, a late-afternoon Thanksgiving Day game (against the New York Giants) on Fox, and a game coming Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles that anchors CBS’ late-afternoon window. But the Cowboys are struggling, with a middling 3-5 record and starting quarterback Dak Prescott looking at multiple weeks on the sidelines. They are hardly a compelling watch at the moment outside of seeing how long the slide continues. So stay with me for a moment as I argue that the Kansas City Chiefs, and not the Cowboys, deserve the title of “America’s Team” as far as a network viewership play in the near term. In some ways, the change might have happened already as the NFL selected the Chiefs for its newest deep-pocketed partners — Amazon’s ****** Friday game (against the Las Vegas Raiders) and one of Netflix’s Christmas games (against the Pittsburgh Steelers). For example, let’s take a look at the 10 most-watched games this year, per the NFL: 1. Chiefs–Baltimore Ravens (Week 1): 29.2 million viewers on NBC 2. Cincinnati Bengals–Chiefs (Week 2): 27.9 million viewers on CBS 3. Cowboys-Ravens (Week 3): 27.3 million viewers on Fox 4. Chiefs–San Francisco 49ers (Week 7): 27.1 million viewers on Fox 5. Chiefs–Atlanta Falcons (Week 3): 25.1 million viewers on NBC 6. Chicago Bears–Washington Commanders (Week 5) (airing in 51 percent of country); Chiefs-Raiders (airing in 41 percent of country): 25 million viewers on CBS 7. Detroit Lions–Green Bay Packers (Week 9): 24.2 million viewers on Fox 8. Los Angeles Chargers–Chiefs (Week 4): 24.2 million viewers on CBS 9. Cowboys-Lions (Week 6): 24.1 million viewers on Fox 10. Cleveland Browns–Cowboys (Week 1): 23.9 million viewers on Fox For a quick comparison, here were the five most-watched NFL regular-season games, excluding Thanksgiving, in 2022 — when the Cowboys went 12-5 and earned a wild-card spot in the playoffs: 1. Cowboys-Packers (Week 10): 29.2 million viewers on Fox 2. Cowboys-Eagles (Week 16): 27.8 million viewers on Fox 3. Cowboys–Minnesota Vikings (Week 11): 27.7 million viewers on CBS 4. Bengals-Cowboys (Week 2): 27.4 million viewers on CBS 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Packers (Week 3): 26.4 million viewers on Fox Look at all the Chiefs games in this year’s top six. The team’s recent run — four Super Bowl appearances in the last five years and a 59-16 record since the start of the 2020 season — has prompted the NFL to place them in high-profile windows. They were the primary reason CBS finished last year with its most-watched season since 1998 (an average of 19.3 million viewers) and how CBS edged out Fox (24.64 million to 24.62 million) in the 2023 late-afternoon window battle. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ season-opener against the Ravens is the highest-rated game of the NFL season so far. (********** Petersen / Getty Images) This year, CBS has seven Chiefs games, NBC has four (including three prime-time games), ESPN has two, Fox has one, Netflix has one, and Prime Video has one. There is an open game Week 18 against the Broncos that will likely head to a big window. Kansas City plays five times in the late-afternoon slot, the most valuable real estate on television. Management at all these networks should be advocating heavily for the Chiefs above all other teams, including the Cowboys, for their 2025 schedule. Dallas will still get its heavy share of prime-time games and high-profile windows, but the Chiefs will end up with higher-profile windows, including (just a hunch here) more than one game on Fox. But William Mao, the senior vice president of global media rights consulting at Octagon, says, well, not so fast, cowboy. “I think the Cowboys are still a big draw, so if you’re asking whether they will continue to consistently be, as you called it, the network’s No. 1 pick, it ******** to be seen,” Mao said. “Do the Chiefs as a dynasty change things, and particularly at this moment in time given they are undefeated? The counterpoint is there was another dynasty before the Chiefs in the (New England) Patriots, a long dynasty with multiple championships. I don’t recall during that ******* of time there was a thought that they would supplant the Cowboys from a pick and flexing perspective on the scheduling. There is something to be said about longstanding brand building and the brand value of teams as opposed to just kind of how someone did the prior season. Generally speaking, the Cowboys are usually on in pretty much the entire country.” Mao asked analysts at Octagon’s sister agency, Futures Sport & Entertainment, which looks at international media monitoring and has done measurement work for the NFL, to provide a global look at where the Cowboys remain in the age of the Chiefs. He said the findings came back that the Cowboys remain the NFL’s most popular team. “Across all the markets that Futures monitors, the Cowboys remain the top NFL team in popularity regardless of their results,” Mao said. “There’s brand value to them that is a little bit immune to the week-to-week performance and record.” Both of us are in agreement that Kansas City will be the ******* television draw down the stretch given the current trajectories and the fact the Chiefs are on a historical run. What was interesting from Mao is that he observed that the Chiefs, given all their success and prominent star players such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, benefit from hate-watching. (They do have a famous fan who famously sings about how the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.) “Fandom has two edges to it,” Mao said. “There is this notion of I love this team because they are playing well or they have these star players. There’s also the negative side of fandom, which is we watch them because we want to see if they’ll lose, or because we hate them. I think the Chiefs benefit from both of those in the same way the Patriots once did.” GO DEEPER He called Patriots games during the dynasty years. What’s the job like now? (Top photo of Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes meeting after a 2021 game: Cooper Neill / Getty Images) Source link #Chiefs #supplanted #Cowboys #Americas #top #team Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Pokemon Company & Nintendo Declare Legal War on Palworld, Serve Pocketpair With Lawsuit Worth Over 10 Million Yen for Patent Infringement The Pokemon Company & Nintendo Declare Legal War on Palworld, Serve Pocketpair With Lawsuit Worth Over 10 Million Yen for Patent Infringement In September, the developer of Palworld, Pocketpair, got hit by lawsuit filed by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd. for patent infringement. Pocketpair has now revealed some interesting information, including the three patents that were infringed, about the lawsuit, including the amount of money that The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd. is seeking. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd filed a lawsuit against Palworld‘s developer, Pocketpair (Image via Pocketpair) Not just money, but the lawsuit also demands an injunction against Palworld, preventing the ***** of the game in Japan in the future. Pocketpair has confirmed that it will continue to assert its position in this case through future legal proceedings. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd Filed A Lawsuit Against Pocketpair Palworld is similar to the Pokemon franchise in many ways (Image via Pocketpair) It’s no secret that Pocketpair’s Palworld shares similarities with the Pokemon franchise. Everyone knew that Nintendo will soon come knocking at Pocketpair’s door with a lawsuit and it finally happened in September. At the time, not much information was revealed but everything has been shared in a recent statement released by Pocketpair on its official website. Pocketpair has confirmed that it was accused of infringing on three of their patents: patent numbers 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390, all filed in Japan between May and July 2024. To sum things up, the first patent about aiming and ******* some sort of item toward a character “in a field.” The second patent is about being able to capture creatures in the wild and finally, the third patent is about riding creatures in an open world. The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd Is Seeking 10 Million Yen From Pocketpair Pocketpair must pay 10 million yen plus late payment damages (Image via Pocketpair) Pocketpair has also confirmed that The Pokémon Company and Nintendo Co., Ltd is demanding 10 million yen (5 million yen for The Pokémon Company and 5 million yen for Nintendo Co., Ltd) plus late payment damages from them, which is not a lot considering the amount of money video game publishers seek nowadays. The demand is 10 million yen, which is about $66,000, an amount of money that Pocketpair will easily be able to pay given how successful the early access release of Palworld was. The concerning demand is the injunction against Palworld as it will affect the game’s sales. Palworld was released on January 19, 2024, through Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview, and is expected to remain in early access until at least 2025. A PlayStation 5 version was also released in September 2024. The open-world in Palworld is full of animal-like creatures called Pals, which players can battle and capture to use for base building, traversal, and combat. The concept was so similar to the Pokemon franchise that players labeled Palworld as “Pokémon with guns.“ Do you think the lawsuit was justified? Share your opinions in the comments! Source link #Pokemon #Company #Nintendo #Declare #Legal #War #Palworld #Serve #Pocketpair #Lawsuit #Worth #Million #Yen #Patent #Infringement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Despite pressure on Sotomayor, Supreme Court unlikely to change before Trump takes office. Here’s why. Despite pressure on Sotomayor, Supreme Court unlikely to change before Trump takes office. Here’s why. Washington — President-elect Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday has stirred up whispers about whether Justice Sonia Sotomayor should step down from the Supreme Court to allow President Biden to nominate a successor before Republicans take control of Washington. But any changes in the composition of the nation’s highest court are unlikely in the coming months, even as lawmakers return for a lame-duck session to finish their business before Trump is sworn in for a second term and the GOP assumes the Senate majority. Sotomayor hasn’t responded publicly to the chatter about a retirement, and she did not return a request for comment about her future. She ******** an active questioner during ***** arguments and has become known for biting dissents in hotly contested cases. At 70, she is not the oldest member of the Supreme Court — Justice Clarence Thomas is 76 and Justice Samuel Alito is 74 — and she is newly into her tenure as the senior-most member of its ******** wing, a position she assumed following the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer in 2022. Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice, is also a decade younger than Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was when she faced pressure to step down from the Supreme Court in 2013 and 2014. Ginsburg, who was treated for early-stage colon ******* in 1999 and pancreatic ******* in 2009, rejected any suggestion that she retire to allow then-President Barack Obama to name a successor while Democrats had control of the Senate. She remained on the Supreme Court until her ****** in September 2020, after which Trump, nearing the end of his first term, selected Justice Amy Coney Barrett to fill her seat. Barrett’s confirmation by the GOP-led Senate widened the Supreme Court’s ************* majority to 6-3. With a second term for Trump on the horizon, and Democrats losing control of the Senate come January, when Republicans will hold at least 52 seats, progressives are fearful of a repeat of what happened with Ginsburg’s seat. “We have no idea how long it will be until somebody who shares Justice Sotomayor’s jurisprudence, her values will be in a position to be nominated again,” Molly Coleman, executive director of the People’s Parity Project, a progressive judicial group, told CBS News. “Of course we all want to hope for the best, but unfortunately we’ve been left in a position where that’s all we can do.” The circumstances of more than a decade ago are different from today, making it far from a sure thing that even if Sotomayor were to retire, the Senate would confirm her replacement before the GOP takes over. For one, Democrats currently have a narrow 51-49 majority, which includes the four independent senators who vote with the party. One of those senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, told Politico in March that he would not support nominees who do not have GOP support. “Just one ***********. That’s all I’m asking for. Give me something bipartisan. This is my own little filibuster. If they can’t get one ***********, I vote for none. I’ve told [Democrats] that. I said, ‘I’m ***** and tired of it, I can’t take it anymore,'” Manchin, who is retiring from the Senate, said. He later appeared to slightly reverse course, voting in September to advance the nomination of a candidate for a federal appeals court. A spokesperson for the senator told Axios at the time that Manchin learned opposition to the nominee was based on how the White House handled the process, not qualifications. Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the University of California Berkeley Law School, said there is not enough time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate by early January. Incoming House and Senate members will be sworn in on Jan. 3, and the results of the election will be reaffirmed by Congress on Jan. 6. “Joe Manchin made clear he would not vote for any nominee without *********** support and no *********** would vote for a Biden nominee to replace Sotomayor. Sotomayor retiring now would likely just give Trump a vacancy to fill. It is totally different from whether Ginsburg should have retired in summer 2014 before the election,” he told CBS News in an email. Chemerinsky wrote in September 2014 that Ginsburg should have retired that summer and warned her decision not to “could end up hurting her legal legacy.” Democrats had control of the Senate at that time, but lost it following the November 2014 midterm elections. Even some progressive groups that called for open discussions about Sotomayor’s future on the court months ago are recognizing that the window has closed. “The reality is it’s too late. It’s too late for Democrats to be having this conversation. It’s too late to be launching a pressure campaign. The ship has sailed,” Coleman, of the People’s Parity Project said. She said discussions should have happened earlier this year and warned the consequences of waiting may be “catastrophic.” Instead, ******** judicial advocacy groups are turning their focus to the confirming Mr. Biden’s remaining nominees to the federal district and appeals courts. There are currently 47 open seats on the federal bench, and 17 nominees are awaiting Senate action. There will be another 20 vacancies in the coming weeks, and 11 nominees are pending for those seats. “Hand wringing about the unknown doesn’t help anyone right now,” said Maggie Jo Buchanan, managing director of the judicial group Demand Justice. “Right now, we are firmly focused on the fact that there are still 30 pending Biden nominees before the Senate that deserve, and need, confirmation. The Senate should be focused on working late, working weekends to get these talented individuals on the bench.” Trump saw immense success with judicial confirmations during his first term, appointing 234 jurists to the Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, district courts and U.S. Court of International Trade. But Mr. Biden is closing in on that number, with 213 appointments so far. The U.S. Supreme Court More More Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for outlets including the Washington Examiner, Daily Signal and Alexandria Times. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Source link #pressure #Sotomayor #Supreme #Court #change #Trump #takes #office #Heres Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brigginshaw to enter elite club in Pacific Cup final Brigginshaw to enter elite club in Pacific Cup final Tahnee Norris hopes Ali Brigginshaw breaks her record for most games for Australia as the halfback enters an elite club facing New Zealand in the Pacific Cup final. Co-captain Brigginshaw will join Norris, Natalie Dwyer, Karyn Murphy and Teresa Anderson as one of only five women to make 25 appearances for the Jillaroos when she runs out at CommBank Stadium on Sunday. Brigginshaw is the only player to have reached the milestone playing in the NRLW era, with the remainder of the quintet retiring before the premiership’s inception in 2018. The achievement is particularly impressive given the Jillaroos went more than two years without playing a game amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m just really proud,” Brigginshaw told AAP. “You only dream of pulling on the green and gold jersey once when you’re little but to be able to do it 25 times, it kind of snuck up on me, I guess, but I’m just really proud.” Brigginshaw has impressed her Queensland State of Origin coach Norris by juggling international commitments with NRLW duties at Brisbane. The 34-year-old’s 43 NRLW appearances make her the most-capped player in premiership history alongside Sydney Roosters duo Isabelle Kelly and Keeley Davis. “It’s a big ask to keep going, with the amount of games she’s already played,” Norris told AAP. “She’s an adaptable player and she does everything off the field to maintain her health and recovery.” Brigginshaw would equal Norris’ mark of 33 games across the next two years if she played three matches in next year’s Pacific Championships and then five at the World Cup in 2026. That would require staying fit for the entirety of both tournaments, and assumes Australia will make it to a fifth consecutive World Cup final. Norris is confident in Brigginshaw’s ability to reach beyond her milestone. “I hope so, I think she can,” said Norris, who will coach Papua New Guinea against Samoa on Sunday. “She can hold that record, that’s all for her, to put her hand up and keep playing. We’ll see how she goes.” Brigginshaw will be 37 by the end of 2026 but has not put a time-frame on her career. “I think there still is time to go,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that’s a goal (to break the record) that I have on the list but I just love playing for this jersey, this country. You get to play with the best in the world, so who wouldn’t want to keep playing?” The Jillaroos defeated the Kiwi Ferns in Christchurch a fortnight ago but are wary of their foes, who waged an upset in the 2023 Pacific Cup final despite losing to the Jillaroos earlier in that tournament. Coach Brad Donald felt the Jillaroos had learned their lessons from the 12-6 defeat in last year’s final. “We were definitely complacent last year,” Donald said. “The Kiwi Ferns of 2024 are way better than 2023 so we’ve been making sure we’re dotting every I and crossing every T to make sure that we’re ready on Sunday.” Source link #Brigginshaw #enter #elite #club #Pacific #Cup #final Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey has a vision to turn the Cards (back) into contenders Louisville men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey has a vision to turn the Cards (back) into contenders LOUISVILLE, ***. — It looked perfect, like a stolen dream … except for that ***** wall of windows. You see, Pat Kelsey’s always had an eye for design. When his father, Mike, dug up the family backyard in Finneytown, Ohio, and poured enough concrete for a basketball half court, he trusted Pat — a nine-year-old — to paint the lines. Decades later, when Kelsey got his first head coaching job at Winthrop in 2012, one of his earliest “official” acts was inviting a longtime carpenter buddy down to Rock Hill, S.C., so the two could remodel the Eagles’ facilities (including painting the locker room). Kelsey taught himself Microsoft PowerPoint and other graphic design tools, so he could make custom pitches for recruits — including, at least once, a pop-up, proposal-style ring box. Then, in 2016-17, Kelsey promised that season’s Eagles that he’d get his first tattoo if they made the NCAA Tournament. So when Winthrop clinched its bid, Kelsey ponied up; he found a local tattoo artist and described the general Polynesian print he liked and wanted on his left biceps and shoulder. Nine hours later, the coach was inked. “I’d always wanted to do it, but I’m like, hey, I’m a Division-I coach,” Kelsey said, rolling up his left sleeve to reveal the final product. “But you know, life’s too short. This is who I am.” Which is to say, someone who’s always had an idea how things should look. It should be no surprise, then, that in Kelsey’s Finneytown backyard, in college down the road at Xavier, in all his coaching stops thereafter — Wake Forest, Winthrop, College of Charleston — the now-49-year-old has always had a vision of his dream program, down to the ****** of the carpet. And then came March, when Louisville hired him as its men’s basketball coach. After the worst two seasons in program history — the Cards’ disastrous 12-52 record not befitting a program with three national titles — Louisville needed someone with a grander vision. Someone who understands how one of college basketball’s most storied brands is supposed to operate, and what it should look like, and feel like. The Cards aren’t just this city’s de facto pro team; they’re as deeply ingrained in the culture as bourbon and horse racing. Sure, Kelsey’s job is to win games and hang banners — but it’s also to restore a city’s lost pride, to resuscitate a fan base on the brink of flatlining. That program he viewed as “picture perfect?” It desperately needed a facelift. Which brings us back to the windows. From the first time Kelsey saw his Louisville office, he loved it. The oversized ****** marble desk. The matching leather sofas, with finely primped red pillows. But most of all, the wall of sliding glass doors, opening onto a second-story balcony overlooking UL’s state-of-the-art practice gym. It’s a direct sightline from his office seat to any player getting up late-night shots. “This is my office?” #GoCards pic.twitter.com/QAhj3VfiNZ — Louisville Men’s Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) March 29, 2024 But therein ***** the importance of design. Because while a wall of glass makes for a beautiful view, it basically couldn’t be worse for soundproofing. Kelsey learned that the hard way this spring. Before he bought a house in Derby City, Kelsey needed a place to ******. So in the back-corner closet of his office — behind a tall ****** door with a single sheet of printer paper, reading PRIVATE — Kelsey had a bed installed, to go with the shower already there. He ducked into the closet for a few hours rest — only to hear a ball bouncing through the drywall. And then, *****: The gym speakers roared to life, with a hip-hop soundtrack cranked to full blast. It’s the only time in Kelsey’s 13-year head coaching career, he joked, that he ever wished a player wasn’t in the gym. A few design tweaks are probably in order. “I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t tell you 1,000 percent this thing’s going to end up the way that I want it to, because that’s life, but I’m a confident person,” Kelsey said. “That might go against the code of coaching — hey, you’ve got to under-promise and over-deliver — and I just … can’t. If we’re taking the floor, we’re going to win.” Tucked away in the janitorial closet of a first-floor men’s room in the Louisville practice facility, amid mops and a cart full of cleaning supplies, is a life-sized cardboard cutout. A familiar face. So much for moving on from Rick Pitino. Can you blame Cards fans? During Pitino’s 16-year tenure, he piled up wins, titles, glory — until the scale finally tipped, and off-court scandal eclipsed his overwhelming on-court success. Down came the 2013 national championship banner — even if we all saw the Cards win it — and with it, Louisville falling from its rightful place among the college hoops hierarchy. Pitino was unceremoniously fired in October 2017, a month before what would’ve been his 17th season in town. Louisville hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since. GO DEEPER Rick Pitino is obsessed. He doesn’t have time to stop Instead, four coaches have come and gone over the past seven years, none coming close to replicating Pitino’s gravitas. (The “interim” qualifier doesn’t feel necessary, considering how temporary all four were.) The most recent aspirant, Kenny Payne, felt like the closest thing UL had to a slam-dunk option, until he wasn’t. He’d helped hang the program’s 1986 banner and developed countless future NBA stars at Kentucky, but ******* to rally the city like he had as a player. The program became a borderline embarrassment; UL was the nation’s worst high-major team in Payne’s debut season, per KenPom, and second-worst last season. By March, athletic director Josh Heird practically had no choice; he paid Payne just over $7 million, per public records, to pass the sticks. “As an alum,” said Peyton Siva, the point guard on Pitino’s 2013 title team, and currently UL’s director of player development, “it’s just been pretty tough to watch.” Heird’s job this offseason, then, was not just hiring the best X’s and O’s tactician. “There’s a lot of good basketball coaches,” he said. “Where the list gets whittled down pretty quickly is when it comes to, can you handle all the other things around this job?” Heird fired Payne on a Wednesday. He started calling candidates — Kelsey included — on Thursday. Heird went into the search without one name in mind and acknowledged he “knew it was going to be called a little bit of a mess from an outsider’s perspective.” That’s what transpired, especially when high-profile candidates — such as Dusty May, who wound up at Michigan — started coming off the board. But considering the court of public opinion had practically appointed Payne for Heird, he couldn’t afford to not be thorough. It helped that Heird and Kelsey had met before, in Dec. 2020, when Kelsey’s final Winthrop team came to Louisville for a series of pandemic bubble-like games at the KFC Yum! Center. And while they only occasionally crossed paths thereafter, that connection at least greased the wheels in their early conversations. Heird was already aware, for instance, that after Kelsey left Winthrop in 2021, he compiled a 73.5 percent winning rate in three seasons at Charleston, including consecutive 27-win campaigns, two Coastal Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles, and even a Top-25 ranking. But after a few productive chats, the trail went stale. Kelsey told his wife, Lisa, not to get her hopes up. “When it kind of goes silent,” Kelsey said, “they’re probably going in another direction.” What Kelsey didn’t know was that Heird was vetting him, even reaching out to a close confidant for advice: former Villanova coach Jay Wright. (Heird was at Villanova from 2016-2019, when Wright won two national championships.) Kelsey’s final Winthrop team drew Villanova in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats won, 73-63, but Wright was impressed by Kelsey, his staff and his team. Heird was starting to think he had his guy. But he wanted Wright to call Kelsey and report back. Heird still has Wright’s voicemail with the Hall of Famer’s endorsement. Kelsey sent Heird one final text, a few days after his call with Wright: I want Louisville. I would run there. Heird texted back 15 minutes later. “Can you do a Zoom tonight?” At 9:30 that night, Kelsey and Heird reconvened — and Heird told Kelsey he was close to offering the job. But he wanted them both to sleep on it. On the following morning’s video call, Heird started talking terms, Kelsey’s first duties when he landed — but he never flat-out offered. Kelsey interrupted: “I go, Josh, are you offering me the job?” Heird said yes — and Kelsey shot up out of his seat, fist pumping and skipping in full view of the camera. “When I’m driving home, I’m floating,” Kelsey said. “(Josh) wanted somebody who really, really, really wanted to be here — and this is Louisville, man. The greatest honor of my professional life would be to be the head coach here. To be a blue blood. Denny Crum, Rick Pitino. National championships. You wait your whole life for that perfect opportunity.” To celebrate Kelsey’s hiring, Heird and his wife took Pat and Lisa out for dinner, to a local Italian spot called Volare. When Kelsey and Lisa walked in, Heird noticed other diners lean sideways out of their seats for a glimpse of the newcomer with thick-rimmed ****** glasses. Volare’s patrons quickly confirmed that, yes, that was Louisville’s new coach — which is when seemingly the entire restaurant stood up and cheered: C-A-R-D-S, Cards! “Was totally not prepared for that,” Kelsey said, with a chuckle. “Like, I knew the coach at Louisville was a big deal, but I had no idea how much. Gosh *****, it’s everywhere.” If Kelsey’s pumping gas, or picking up Jimmy John’s for lunch, fans follow — and usually ask some variation of the question: When can we expect to win again? “The city wants to cheer on somebody. They want to be able to get out there and support,” Siva said. “It’s what makes Louisville, Louisville: the fan base.” That fandom hasn’t dissipated since Pitino left; it just mutated, manifesting in anger and hyper-fixation and not much patience. It’s Kelsey’s job — he signed a five-year contract that pays $2.3 million annually — to swing the pendulum back, to let hope be a rising tide that turns the Yum! back into one of college basketball’s best venues. Basically, he has to harness the power of Louisville’s passion, rather than be consumed by it, like his predecessors. Pat Kelsey knows how to work a room and a crowd. (Matt Stone / Courier Journal / USA Today / via Imagn Images) The early returns are promising. Hope is not just an abstract sentiment anymore; it’s quantifiable, through NIL donations and helicopters greeting high-profile recruits when they land in town. What does it say, then, that UL’s 502Circle collective set a single-day new membership record the day Kelsey’s hiring was announced? Or that it hit a million-dollar match campaign in days, filling the Cards’ NIL coffers? “Nationally, I think a lot of people questioned: Does Louisville still have it?” said Dan Furman, 502Circle’s CEO and a former school administrator in charge of major gifts. “That debunked that pretty quickly.” Kelsey, the son of a car salesman, hasn’t been shy about community outreach. He’s as liable to speak to dozens of students after an open practice — goodwill doesn’t have to cost anything— as 10 donors at a fancy steak dinner. “What we do is sell hope,” Furman said, “and right now, there’s a lot of hope.” That second-story balcony off Kelsey’s office is a prime example. It’s become a de facto turnstile for donors, a new set of suits at seemingly each practice. Every visitor receives that day’s practice plan, plus a sheet with photos of every scholarship player. People should know what they’re paying for, right? “He’s shown he can handle all of this,” Heird said, gesturing with both hands. “Now, can he coach basketball?” The pass was pristine: in traffic, in stride, from the top of the key right through the center of the lane. But 6-foot-10 center Frank Anselem-Ibe — one of Louisville’s 13 new scholarship players this season, since the previous roster scattered — couldn’t corral it; instead, Khani Rooths’ would-be dime hit him in the knees, before bobbling out of bounds. A whistle blew. There went Kelsey. “Oh, my ****, that was a fantastic pass. I freaking love that pass!” Pause. “But, Frank, what’s better for you? “I can corral those passes,” Anselem-Ibe said, pointing at the ceiling while retelling the story, “but it’s easier for me to get it up there.” Three possessions, voila: Rooths hit springy forward James Scott — one of three players who followed Kelsey from Charleston — for an alley-oop dunk. Kelsey’s rose-******** version of constructive criticism seems particularly effective. That four-word phrase — “I love it, but …” — gets worn out regularly. Like any coach, Kelsey can snap, but largely? His relentless, unyielding optimism is contagious on the court, much like it has been throughout the community. Plus, that sentiment hits a little ******* coming from someone who radiates kinetic energy. The late Skip Prosser — Kelsey’s college coach and mentor — used to say coffee was allergic to Kelsey, not the other way around. “I’m going into my fourth year with him,” said Reyne Smith, another Charleston import, “and I’ve never left a practice thinking, ‘*****, PK was a little off.’” When J’Vonne Hadley and his mother visited campus this summer, they were waiting for Kelsey in Louisville’s film room when suddenly music started playing. Seconds later, Kelsey quite literally ran into the room, blowing up the door like he wants his players to ******** screens. “He loves,” Hadley said, “his entrances.” Kelsey’s teams play how he acts. Eight of his past nine teams have been top-50 nationally in tempo, per KenPom. (The lone exception came last season when Charleston finished 51st.) Early in Kelsey’s Winthrop tenure, a stranger walked into his office one day and asked to watch practice. Kelsey obliged (shocker), before questioning if the man was a coach. It turned out to be Nick Nurse — then a Toronto Raptors assistant, now head coach of the 76ers — whose now-wife, Roberta, was an assistant volleyball coach for the Eagles. Nurse and Kelsey developed a friendship, and over the years, Kelsey’s leaned further into the 3-point-centric offense currently proliferating in the *****. Ten of his 12 teams have been top-75 nationally in 3-point rate, per KenPom, with each of the past two ranking top 20. “We’ll ****** 45 3s in a game,” said assistant Brian Kloman, Kelsey’s right-hand man who was also with him at Winthrop and Charleston. “You don’t do that (if you’re uptight).” It’s attractive to fans and players alike. When former Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn entered the transfer portal this offseason, his chief priorities were finding a quicker pace of play and a coach who’d “put that confidence back in me.” After consulting with his agent, Louisville — really, Kelsey — checked both boxes. But another reason Hepburn wanted to come to Derby City? He remembered the good days. Siva was Hepburn’s favorite point guard when he was little, and he fondly remembers that 2013 championship team. Even growing up in Omaha, Neb., “it’s hard to miss out on Louisville,” Hepburn said, “whether they’re doing good or bad.” Through a TV screen, he saw the Yum! bumping at its best. He knew the Cards as the then-kings of college hoops. Why can’t they be again? “Louisville needed a revival,” Hadley said. “It needed something to happen. And having a winning coaching staff come to Louisville, that’s the first step. … We’re all hungry to bring Louisville back to where it was.” (Top photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images) Source link #Louisville #mens #basketball #coach #Pat #Kelsey #vision #turn #Cards #contenders Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed Review | Console Creatures Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed Review | Console Creatures CCG writes – “Technically, it’s got some control issues but the rest isn’t too horrible. Morally, it’s pretty suitable for older children on up. If you need some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fun, this is provisionally recommended for that if you can stomach the poor controls.” Source link #Teenage #Mutant #Ninja #Turtles #Mutants #Unleashed #Review #Console #Creatures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BlackRock’s Rick Rieder sees an opportunity for attractive yield BlackRock’s Rick Rieder sees an opportunity for attractive yield Opportunities abound for income-seeking investors, even as the 10-year Treasury has seen a volatile week, according to BlackRock’s Rick Rieder. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield has been steadily climbing this fall, taking a sharper turn higher as Election Day approached. The rate was at about 4% a month ago, and surged 15 basis points to top 4.4% on Wednesday in the wake of Donald Trump winning a second term in the White House. The 10-year yield has cooled since then. It traded at roughly 4.3% on Friday, one day after the Federal Reserve dialed back interest rates by a quarter percentage point. Bond yields and prices have an inverse relationship, so yields rise when prices fall. Further, bonds that have longer maturities tend to have greater price sensitivity to fluctuations in rates, which is known as duration. Longer-dated issues, like the 10-year Treasury, have faced considerable volatility and seen their prices slide lately, pushing up yields. But investors don’t have to anchor themselves too far out on the yield curve to snap up solid income, said Rieder, chief investment officer of global fixed income at BlackRock, in a phone call with CNBC. “I think fixed income is interesting,” he said. “There is so much yield everywhere.” Managing duration risk Rieder, who is also a portfolio manager on the iShares Flexible Income Active ETF (BINC) , likes the front-end and the belly of the yield curve, aiming for a duration of about three to four years. Issues that are closer to the front of the curve tend to have shorter duration, and thus less price sensitivity to swings in rates. Corners of the market he finds attractive today include high yield bonds – or those issues with a rating below BBB from Standard & Poor’s or below Baa from Moody’s Ratings. They also tend to have relatively shorter duration compared to other fixed income assets. The iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) , for instance, has a duration of 3.2 years and a 30-day SEC yield of 7.22%. Meanwhile, the Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund (VWEHX) has an average duration of 2.9 years, and a 30-day SEC yield of 6.03%. These bonds are riskier than their investment grade counterparts and Treasurys, but they can offer some diversification benefits in a broad fixed income portfolio. Collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs, are another favorite for Rieder. “I love the CLO market, and it’s one of the best opportunities today,” he said. These are floating rate loans that are made to businesses, which can themselves be non-investment grade. CLOs are made up of tranches with their own risk characteristics. Those that are deemed AAA by ratings agencies are at the front of the line to get paid if a borrower has to be restructured, recapitalized or goes bankrupt. Investors piled into CLO ETFs earlier this year as a play on the higher rate environment . Though their short-duration nature means that their income could come down as rates fall, portfolio managers who specialize in the sector say CLO ETFs still offer attractive returns compared to other fixed income classes. “You can stay higher quality, floating rate oriented, and clip yield,” Rieder said. The iShares AAA CLO Active ETF (CLOA) has a duration of less than a year and a 30-day SEC yield of 6.24%. The Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA) is one of the big players in the CLO ETF space, with a 30-day SEC yield of 6.32% and a duration of less than a year. Rieder also likes fixed income in Europe and securitized assets. He thinks it’s prime time for income investors to snap up yield without stretching into lower quality. “There are epic amounts of cash sitting out here, and if you can get that yield and marry it to an equity portfolio, I think it makes a ton of sense,” he said. Source link #BlackRocks #Rick #Rieder #sees #opportunity #attractive #yield Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Italian restaurant that arrived in Wichita five years ago is about to pack up, leave town Italian restaurant that arrived in Wichita five years ago is about to pack up, leave town An Italian restaurant chain that Wichita excitedly greeted at the Wichita Waterfront in the summer of 2019 is about to close. The Old Spaghetti Factory at 1421 Waterfront will open for the last time on Sunday, Nov. 24. After that, the chain will pack up all the velvet couches and antique decor inside the restaurant and move it back to its warehouse in Portland for use in another restaurant, said district manager Jason Davis. “We had a short-term lease, and financially, it wasn’t one of our busier restaurants,” he said of the chain’s decision to leave Wichita. “We didn’t have the success we hoped to have there.” When the restaurant took over the former Fox and Hound space at the Waterfront development, 13th and Webb, a little more than five years ago, it was the 43rd Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant in the chain. The original Old Spaghetti Factory was opened in Portland in 1969 by Guss and Sally Dussin. The Old Spaghetti Factory has operated at The Waterfront, 13th and Webb, since the summer of 2019. The restaurant is known for its brightly-********, antique-filled interior, which also featured a full-sized trolley car that people could sit in while they dined. The Old Spaghetti Factory is not related to the Spaghetti Works that once operated downtown Wichita. Spaghetti Works was the name for the Kansas franchise of the Spaghetti Warehouse chain, which was an imitator that came along three years after The Old Spaghetti Factory. Spaghetti Works, which also had a trolley car, closed in Wichita in 2004. Stephen Clark II, one of the developers of the Waterfront, said that a couple of groups already had expressed interest in the space and that he was just starting to have discussions with them. This restaurant has locations on both the east and west side. But one of the two is closing. Three Wichita restaurants announce that they’re closed, but owners say it’s only temporary Here’s your chance to walk through some of Wichita’s oldest, grandest homes Source link #Italian #restaurant #arrived #Wichita #years #pack #leave #town Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How many majors will Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm win? Predicting golf’s future in 2025, beyond How many majors will Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm win? Predicting golf’s future in 2025, beyond As professional golf’s fall season continues and the sport ******** in its general offseason, it’s a good time for The Athletic to ***** into some broader debates and discussions about what we expect in 2025. Consider it a chance to engage in barroom golf discussion. If you have any topics or ideas you want to hear about from our writers, please do suggest them in the comments. This time, we’re debating how many major championships some of the world’s best men’s golfers will win in their lifetime. This is Part 1 — we’ll discuss Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and more next time. Scottie Scheffler o/u 6.5 majors Right now: 28 years old, two majors Brody Miller: Under I’m as high on Scheffler as anyone, but nobody other than Tiger Woods has made the jump to seven wins in the last 40 years. Tom Watson was the last outside of Woods, winning eight from 1975 to 1983. Even Lee Trevino and Phil Mickelson at six each came with outside-the-norm major wins at 44 and 50. Scheffler competes in a time with Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas (all with multiple majors) still in their contention windows, plus plenty of young golfers coming up without one like Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland. Golf isn’t the NBA, where you generally feel like the best team and stars come away with the title most years. Scheffler has been the undeniable best golfer in the world for roughly three years now. He won two majors out of 12. It’s really, really hard. Six would be an incredible accomplishment. Gabby Herzig: Over Out of any active players on either the PGA Tour or LIV, Scheffler has the best chance at making a Tiger-esque separation from the rest and winning a historic number of majors for his generation. I’m not saying he’s going to win 15, but from what I’m seeing right now in the men’s professional game, he is in the best spot to build an elite resume and capitalize on the majors specifically. I’m a firm believer in the longevity of Scheffler as a player, his ball-striking consistency, his unique ability to prevail on the toughest tests and his approach to improving his own game — he is only focused on the fundamentals. I don’t see that among other elite players. It’s not hard to imagine Scheffler winning two majors in a season, like Schauffele did this summer. Then, after that, he’d only have three more titles to knock off to hit the “over.” And he’s only 28 years old. Brooks Koepka returned from an injury to win the 2023 PGA Championship. (Warren Little / Getty Images) Brooks Koepka o/u 6.5 Right now: 34 years old, five majors Miller: Under What would you put the odds of Koepka winning another major at — 40-60? 30-70? That’s not a slight. If he wins another it will not be a surprise, but it will further mark Koepka as one of the 21st century’s greatest competitors. Because he’s a 34-year-old golfer making boatloads of money on LIV who didn’t finish in the top 25 of a single major in 2024. It’s important to remember that even an elite golfer like Koepka goes into majors with an implied probability of winning of 8 percent to 10 percent in his best stretches. Can he win two more? Certainly. He’s different from normal golfers. It’s just a lot to ask. Herzig: Under Koepka is a ******* in the majors, that’s without a doubt. But two more at 34 years old with a questionable knee? I can’t exactly fathom it. Players go through peaks and valleys in their playing careers, and yes, Koepka is attempting to climb his way back up. But since securing his fifth major at the 2023 PGA Championship, Koepka has one top-20 finish in the game’s most prestigious events. The LIV Golf schedule and format won’t undergo significant renovations anytime soon, and right now, it’s not proving to enhance the games of its best players (DeChambeau the glaring exception). Over the next few years, I don’t see Koepka elevating enough to win two more majors against players like Scheffler and Schauffele. Jon Rahm’s 2023 Masters win was his second major. (********** Petersen / Getty Images) Jon Rahm o/u 3.5 Right now: 29 years old, two majors Miller: Over Rahm had a really bad year in public perception. And he had a really frustrating year at majors, going T45-CUT-WD-T7. But it would be a massive mistake to view that as the reality. He ******** one of the four best golfers in the world. He’s still No. 3 on DataGolf. And even if we concede something was off in the spring (my guess is the public criticism got to him), from June on Rahm was fantastic. He finished seventh at the Open Championship, won two LIV events, should have won the Olympic gold if not for a historic collapse, and had a run of three straight top-seven finishes on the DP World Tour the last month. The point is Rahm hasn’t fallen off. He’s not even 30 yet. Rahm gets to five. Herzig: Over My critique of LIV from a competitive standpoint still holds for Rahm. Though there were a variety of factors, just look at the Spaniard’s 2024 tournament record compared with 2023. But I still believe he has two more majors in him. He’s a young 29, he’s still settling into a new phase in his career, and as a Masters champion, we already know his game is suited to the venue that men’s golf returns to every year. I’m especially bullish on Rahm’s ability to win another Masters. If Rahm can figure out how to capitalize on the LIV structure as DeChambeau has, he’ll make it happen. GO DEEPER Why Justin Thomas could be headed to a comeback year in 2025 Cameron Smith joined LIV right after his 2022 Open win and hasn’t been the same since. (Stuart Franklin / R&A via Getty Images) Cameron Smith o/u 1.5 Right now: 31 years old, one major Miller: Over Smith is going to win one more weird major. I’ve never been more sure of something. I am ready to doubt Smith will ever get back to that 2021-2022 run, when he was one of the best golfers in the world. I’ve conceded the fishing-loving, go-with-the-flow Aussie probably lost some ***** with north of $100 million banked and a chill LIV lifestyle. All the power to him. But even as his game’s declined, he has three top 10s in the last seven major starts. He always plays well at Augusta, a place where people can age gracefully. I’ll be shocked if Smith gets to three majors. But I’ll be just as shocked if he doesn’t win one more scrappy Open or Masters. Herzig: Under I’m going with the under here because logistically, Smith has to turn things around pretty quickly if he wants to keep winning majors. He hasn’t won an event outside of LIV since the *********** PGA Championship in November 2022, and T6-T-63-T32-MC wasn’t exactly a promising major performance in 2024. Smith will be exempt into The Open until he’s 60 years old, but unless the *********** puts up some results in the next few years, his major shelf life is expiring. Smith is only exempt into the Masters, PGA and U.S. Open through 2027. The clock is ticking for the 31-year-old to re-establish himself on the biggest stages. Offseason wrist surgery has Jordan Spieth’s future in question. (Tracy Wilcox / PGA Tour via Getty Images) Jordan Spieth o/u 3.5 Right now: 31 years old, three majors Miller: Under I can’t be so cold and cynical about the rest and then be optimistic about Spieth. Spieth’s winning another major would be an incredible sight. He ******** the most popular golfer to so many fans. He’s somehow only 31, and maybe his wrist surgery really will get him back on track. Even this year at Valhalla, Pinehurst and Royal Troon he had good stretches when he was in the mix. Spieth just has not been able to put 72 holes together for a long time. It would be naive to expect him to reach the pinnacle of the sport again until we, you know, see it. Herzig: Under I desperately want to see another Spieth miracle. If anyone can pull something off that is so far against the odds — even if it’s just an escape shot that weaves between three different trees, a pond and a bunker — it’s Spieth. But I’m worried about his wrist, I’m worried about the time he has been dedicating to the PGA Tour board and I’m worried about the changes he has been attempting to make to his swing. Spieth’s majors era could be over, but I don’t think that means he won’t win again, *******. If Spieth can get his body back on track, he’ll win more PGA Tour events. I just don’t think he can compete like Scheffler and Schauffele can at the majors, especially with the physical and mental setbacks he has been coping with for the last few seasons. (Top photo of Scottie Scheffler: Andrew Redington / Getty Images) Source link #majors #Scottie #Scheffler #Jon #Rahm #win #Predicting #golfs #future Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 will include Crazy Taxi with a live backing band Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 will include Crazy Taxi with a live backing band It’s almost time again for Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), the zany speedrun-fest for a good cause. The ***** for this year’s event is a run of the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi with a live backing band. Funds raised from this year’s showcase will benefit the nonprofit Prevent ******* Foundation. AGDQ 2025 runs from January 5 to 12 in Pittsburgh. The live instrumental band rocking out during a Crazy Taxi run sounds like a fun centerpiece. You can check out a preview in the video below, which showed the same band rocking out to a recorded run of the game at Summer Games Done Quick (SGDC) 2024. On Saturday, January 11 at 4:48PM ET, you can catch a fully live version. To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so. Other highlights on the agenda include a run of the instant PlayStation classic Astro **** on Sunday, January 5 at 6:30PM ET, a speedrun of Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire for 3DS on January 11 at 8:18AM ET and a play-through of the Wii port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the same day at 4PM ET. You can check out the full schedule for more. Last year’s AGDQ (also in Pittsburgh) raised $2.5 million for the Prevent ******* Foundation. Among its best bits were a no-hit run of Resident Evil 2 (2019), Super Mario 64 completed on an electric drum kit and a pup named Peanut Butter lending a paw to help his person beat the NES classic Gyromite. The Games Done Quick Organization has raised $51.8 million for various charities throughout its 15 years. You can stream AGDQ 2025 on Twitch. Or, if you want to attend live at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh, you can register now. Source link #Awesome #Games #Quick #include #Crazy #Taxi #live #backing #band Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Demand for Roth IRA conversions may increase under a Trump presidency Demand for Roth IRA conversions may increase under a Trump presidency dowell | Moment | Getty Images Before the election, some advisors increased Roth individual retirement account conversions for clients amid the threat of higher taxes after 2025. Now, tax hikes are less likely under President-elect Donald Trump. However, demand for Roth conversions will continue as investors seek long-term tax planning strategies, experts said. “In general, we see an uptick in Roth conversions at the end of the year and into the new year ahead of the tax filing deadline in April, and we expect to see these trends again in 2025,” said Rita Assaf, vice president of retirement offerings at Fidelity Investments. More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. Fidelity saw a 45% year-over-year increase in the volume of Roth conversions as of July, Assaf said. But while Roth conversions are on the rise, many investors are still learning about the strategy. “I think you are only going to see an increase in Roth IRA conversions,” said certified financial planner Byrke Sestok, a partner at Moneco Advisors in Harrison, New York. “The percentage of people who know about the benefits of Roth IRA conversions is still low,” he said. “The number of people who actually ******** a conversion is even lower.” The benefit of Roth conversions Roth conversions shift pretax or nondeductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA, which can jump-start tax-free growth. The trade-off is paying regular income taxes on the converted balance. With Trump’s 2017 tax cuts scheduled to expire after 2025, including lower federal income tax brackets, some advisors have accelerated Roth conversions for their clients to leverage the lower tax rates through 2025. However, Trump has vowed to extend his 2017 tax breaks, which would keep lower tax brackets intact. That plan could be easier if Republicans control the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. Even without tax increases from Congress, experts said, Roth conversions can reduce long-term taxes on your portfolio, particularly for older workers and retirees with sizable pretax balances. However, whether Roth conversions make sense depends on your “unique financial situation,” Assaf said. Filling up tax brackets Advisors often complete Roth conversions in lower-income years, such as early retirement before claiming Social Security benefits or taking required minimum distributions. The strategy can minimize the upfront tax bill while reducing your pretax balance. Currently, you may consider “filling up the 12% and 24% tax brackets” with income triggered by a Roth conversion because there’s a big jump to the next tier, Sestok said. However, it’s important to run a complete tax projection, including all other sources of income, before executing the strategy, tax experts say. Each bracket is based on “taxable income,” which you calculate by subtracting the greater of the standard or itemized deductions from your adjusted ****** income. The taxable income thresholds will increase in 2025. Source link #Demand #Roth #IRA #conversions #increase #Trump #presidency Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WTA Finals 2024: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to set up final against Zheng Qinwen WTA Finals 2024: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to set up final against Zheng Qinwen Sabalenka secured the year-end world number one ranking this week after a stellar season, but she was frustrated, error-prone and annoyed throughout against Gauff. Her forehand faltered – such a crucial component of her game – with 16 unforced errors coming off it in the first set. She and Gauff traded breaks early on but Gauff was serene on serve, able to extend the rally in the knowledge that Sabalenka would eventually hit an error. Despite the chaos, Sabalenka broke for a 6-5 lead and served for the set, but a netted backhand sent it to a tie-break, which Gauff dominated. After a lengthy bathroom break, Sabalenka started the second set better but another backhand miss hurried Gauff to an early break. Gauff reeled off four games in a row for a 4-1 lead before Sabalenka eventually retrieved one of the breaks – but she needed eight break points to do that after a mammoth Gauff service game. Given the erratic nature of the match, a break of the Sabalenka serve in the next game felt inevitable, and it was – as was Gauff being broken when she served for the match at 5-2. But Sabalenka could not delay the inevitable even on her serve, and a final netted backhand – her 37th unforced error of the night – secured victory for Gauff. Source link #WTA #Finals #Coco #Gauff #beats #Aryna #Sabalenka #set #final #Zheng #Qinwen Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trinity Rodman: My game in my words Trinity Rodman: My game in my words Trinity Rodman has a particular magnetism about her, taking contradiction and finding harmony. She’s a world class talent but self-identifies as being in her “student era.” The 22-year-old is far from done. Rodman’s the first to admit that she tends to lead with her emotions, seeing that as part of what makes her the player she is. Sometimes, it works out, but other times, it has cost her, like the yellow card she received during the U.S. women’s national team’s game against Colombia in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup earlier this year. “I feel like everyone has kind of accepted it,” she says as we sit in front of my laptop reviewing highlights from the last four years of her career. “Like, ‘Oh, there goes Trin again.’” She has felt people have perceived her as unapproachable in those moments but wants to hear the criticism because she wants to grow. Her emotions are crucial in that process. “It’s a balance because, for me, I think the emotional part of my game makes me entertaining, and I think it makes me Trinity,” she says. “I don’t ever want that to change. I don’t want to be a ****** ever.” Her natural athleticism and talent could come with an air of being uncoachable, but that’s hardly been the case for Rodman. With a different club head coach every season and three national team managers in three years, she has found calm in the chaos. “It’s almost scarier when it’s smooth sailing, or when we’re winning every game with no issues,” she says. Rodman has the makings of a superstar, identifying as an entertainer as much as she’s an athlete. “I always want to be the player (that has people asking), ‘What is she going to do today?’” she says. Yet off the field, Rodman embraces fans as if they are lifelong friends, taking time to discuss the game or appear in a TikTok video. The “Trin Spin”, a youth soccer move she has made her own, captivates crowds with a sense of child-like wonderment, and she enjoys laughing over highlights with fans after a game. “My teammates will hype me up about it,” she says of her signature move, smiling. “I’m like, ‘Guys, we learned this in U-10. Like, this is actually the easiest thing you could possibly do in soccer. But everyone thinks it’s this magnificent thing that no one can ever do. “I think having a trademark move is *****, but having a trademark move that is that simple is even better.” “It feels like forever ago,” Rodman says as we watch her first goal with the Spirit. She scored five minutes into her debut with the team during the 2021 Challenge Cup, then a preseason competition. Being the youngest player drafted in 2021 comes with certain expectations, yet the 18-year-old wasn’t even expecting to play. “I had no expectation of coming in,” Rodman says. “In preseason, all I was thinking was, ‘I’m a practice player. I’m just going to get better and better.’ Like I’m young. They have no idea what to expect. “One thing about the 2021 Washington Spirit is we loved playing the ball over the top. That was a game plan for us,” she says, watching as defender Natalie Jacobs lobs a long pass looping up over the field dropping to Rodman’s knee. “I do remember specifically thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t really tell where the ball is gonna land. Thankfully, it landed right on my thigh, and it honestly just trickled perfectly for that prep touch. I didn’t even need another one. “I was going to dribble a little bit more, but once I saw that the keeper was so far off the line, I was like, ‘OK, I need to do something.’ “A focus for me was getting into dangerous areas with my speed and athleticism. That’s all I was thinking going into the game, was to be on the back shoulder, be in between center backs, and find a way to get in behind. “But in terms of the actual control and goal, I feel like all I was thinking was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to make this.’ No one expected me to make it.” 2021 NWSL regular season: Washington Spirit 3-0 Racing Louisville As Rodman said, long ****** over the top were a Spirit signature during the 2021 season. She could set them up as much as she could score them. During the first 10 minutes of a regular-season game against expansion team Racing Louisville, Rodman stole the ball off defender Erin Simon. “That’s a part of my game that sometimes gets overlooked,” Rodman says. “Obviously, people know that I defend a good amount, but I think what also has improved in my game is the front-foot energy in the attacking half — but defensively. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better at adjusting my body really quickly and just staring at the defender; watching their hips, watching their feet, watching their eyes, watching everything. I’ve had a couple like that this year, winning the ball in that exact way.” The play starts with Rodman reading the defender. It’s something she has seen in her teammates as well, pointing out that Washington rookie Makenna Morris did something similar against the North Carolina Courage in the Spirit’s 2024 regular-season finale last week. Going back to the 2021 clip, Rodman says: “I love that goal, but for me, it was just the whole team effort of winning it and knowing immediately, ‘OK, we need this in behind,’ and obviously quality. “I’m really happy with how that turned out. I knew that I had to get it in behind the defender and (forward Ashley) Hatch could honestly do the rest if I put it in the right place. She had it.” Playing defense in opponents’ halves has come and gone through seven head coaches and interims with the Spirit. It’s one of the many tools Rodman keeps in her box. “I do run a lot defensively, but (it’s about) doing that work as quickly as possible,” she says. “Our team likes to say, ‘First five, big five,’ — like (in the) first five seconds we’re winning the ball back. “It’s not defending to win the ball, it’s defending to score a goal. Having that mentality has always been there, and obviously it’s just gotten better and better, and my positioning has gotten better. “I feel like even in the first couple of years, it was more so me running so far to track back, and now I’m in the right position to cut off the pass so that pass doesn’t even happen. It’s always been there, but I’m getting smarter with it.” Something that has helped this year is the Spirit’s more possession-based style of play, implemented by former FC Barcelona Femení and Champions League-winning head coach Jonatan Giráldez, who took over the team in the summer. 2022 international friendly: ******* States 9-0 Uzbekistan “I’ll never forget that.” Before going pro, Rodman was nominated for the 2020 U.S. Soccer young female player of the year, thanks in large part to her nine goals that helped the U.S. win the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. (She lost the award that year, but won it in 2021 after also racking up NWSL rookie of the year, NWSL Best XI and a championship trophy with the Spirit). But playing for the senior team is a completely different experience. “I think the entire first year of being with the national team, I lacked a lot of confidence, just not knowing the role that I was going to play and not feeling as good of a player,” Rodman says. “Obviously, you’re stepping in the national team where everyone’s good, everyone’s great. For me, I just wanted to keep this spot. “It took a while for me to figure out that I could be the same player on the national team as I could for the Spirit. I was overthinking and trying too hard to have a different role when I really could have the same role, just in a different way.” When Rodman finally broke through with the team, it was via a play set up by two of her Spirit teammates. Former Spirit midfielder Ashley Sanchez controlled the ball with three Uzbekistan players closing in. From there it was a quick triangle pass to Hatch… … who hit it first time to Rodman (No 14, below) to score. “Having them there, just knowing that they knew my tendencies… I didn’t have to second-guess it,” says Rodman. “I didn’t have to overthink, ‘Oh, if I mess this up, they’re gonna get ****. “It was more so an acceptance that they’re used to either me scoring or me having this turnover. It definitely helped me be less scared in that moment.” Rodman compared the feeling, and the following celebration with Hatch, Sanchez and fellow Spirit players Kelley O’Hara and Andi Sullivan, to having her mom or siblings supporting her. Now it’s Rodman who is among a young veteran class with the USWNT, welcoming in an even younger group. “It’s definitely different because… it’s not all eyes on this one teenager coming in,” Rodman says. “We relate on a lot more things, and I feel that helps with the young players coming in and having that confidence because we have that goofy, funny interaction on and off the field. I think that kind of eases the nerves for them, and I don’t want to speak for them, but that’s how I feel.” 2023 NWSL regular season: Washington Spirit 3-1 San Diego Wave “I love this game,” Rodman says with a sigh. Her exasperation isn’t because the team lost. They won handily over the San Diego Wave. It’s pining for that “special” connection with Sanchez, so rare because it happened so early in Rodman’s career. “Playing with somebody that you connect with so well, it just makes me happy to see those clips. We had a special connection, for sure,” she says of Sanchez, who joined the Spirit a year before Rodman. Rodman and Sanchez directly combined for six goals in their three seasons together before the Spirit traded the latter to the North Carolina Courage during the 2024 NWSL Draft in exchange for $250,000 in allocation money. It was a move that “hit the soul” and “shocked” both players. “I love that clip too because I remember that game, that had happened multiple times, too, where I was driving and I’d pass it to her, and she would look at me and be like, ‘My bad. I got the next one.’ And it was just really funny.” In the run-up to the goal, Rodman uses her speed to break away from the Wave’s defender before choosing to play the open pass. “That’s just another part of my game I feel has improved,” she says. “I feel like 2021 Trinity would have tried to ****** that with three defenders closing in on her. For me, it was just the unselfishness of ‘I’m going to drive as far as I can and allow everyone to come over and just slide it over to Ash.’ I just wanted to attract as many people so that she had a better opportunity.” She timed her run right too. “It’s been really nice to be gifted with (speed), but I think it’s helped a lot to use it in different ways,” Rodman says. “Even this Olympics, I watched a couple of clips of my dribbling, or even pausing before and then using that acceleration instead of just going immediately. I feel like it’s easy to just kick it and run, knowing you’re faster, but to find different ways to use it, I think is really cool.” This season Rodman has had far fewer opportunities to find those moments. “I feel like it has to do with the defenders that go against me,” she says. “They’re studying me more, which is a compliment that sucks. At the same time, they’re playing a lot differently. They’re tighter on my back. They know that I like it at my feet all the time. “Now that I have less space to do so, and fewer times where I’m getting those little slip passes in the pocket, in the seam, it’s figuring out then when my moment is to use that to my advantage. I feel like creating separation, even if it’s pinned against the sideline, I still feel like I can use that and find ways to get an inch of space to accelerate. So that’s been really hard to navigate, but it’s been fun to figure out when and how to do it.” Mastering her emotions and finding confidence with the USWNT When we get to Rodman’s brace against Wales in 2023, we don’t actually watch the clip. But Rodman has a near-photographic memory of her game. “That was honestly one of the only games where I felt really confident (with the U.S. in 2023) and I really was playing like myself,” Rodman says. “You can tell I wasn’t scared. … And those two goals, I feel like we’re just an automatic thing. “The first goal was me just getting in front of the goal. The second one was that I didn’t want (the Wales defender) getting out of this. We had tried scoring. We were going to get this goal. Like, same energy.” “In that game, I was just like, ‘Finally, I’ve kind of broken the seal and I can be me. I’m good,’ Rodman says. “Even through the (2023) World Cup, I was still trying to find my way, but that was, I think, the breakthrough game for me.” The U.S. fell in the round of 16 during that World Cup, losing on penalty kicks against Sweden. “This was something that we battled through and this is something that’s going to help us grow, but it’s not a setback, and I don’t feel like any of us looked at it in that way,” she says about the tournament. “It was obviously horrible right after, but we had always looked at it in a positive way afterward.” The U.S. rebounded eight months later, winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup under interim head coach Twila Kilgore with the promise of Emma Hayes on the horizon. In the quarterfinal, the U.S. faced a physical and emotional match-up with Colombia that resulted in 31 total fouls and seven yellow cards, one of which went to Rodman. The game featured plenty of players expressing their frustrations. “I feel like because I am emotional, people think that I’m not as coachable or approachable in those situations,” she says. “But I’m extremely open to criticism. I want coaches’ opinions, players’ opinions. I want the people that I’m around, I want to know what they’re feeling.” USWNT coach Hayes has embraced this approach. “I’ve learned a lot, and Emma’s honestly helped me because she’s made it clear, like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to force you to be somebody you’re not.’ She just says there’s a time and place for that. “From the Olympics until now, I feel like it’s been a completely different me, and I’ve still had those moments where I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ or I’m mocking someone, or talking ****** or whatever. I think it’s a balance, for sure, it’s finding the time to do it strategically. “Even with the lack of time she had with me, (Hayes) knew how to say it to me without overstepping in a way… It was really nice in the way that she did it, and just the way that she did it as a coach and a human. “The coach side is like, ‘Alright, we need to chill. We want you on the field. We don’t want you getting reds. We don’t want the ref to not side with us because of this.’ But at the same time, like, ‘I get it. You can have those moments, but if you have those moments, we’re going to have Lindsay (Horan) come over, we’re going to have Soph (Smith) come over. We’re going to have Rose (Lavelle) come over to mediate, like, good cop, bad cops situation.’” We watch Rodman’s assist at the end of the first half to Jaedyn Shaw against Colombia. The USWNT’s opponent was playing a high defensive line, trying to catch the U.S. forwards offside. “It’s a really dangerous game to play, to be honest. I think it’s really smart, but if they get it a little bit wrong,” Rodman warns. “I’m always trying to get the advantage, and I realize that I don’t need to be on the back line to get the advantage. My momentum is already going forward. “So for me in this clip, I was trying to just get my distance, get my positioning first, and I knew that by the time that I had rounded to get the space I’d be able to then just go and still have that momentum to beat them. “I think I’m just trying to create separation and still have my momentum. I feel like that’s something that is so important, especially with this, if you can still be running the whole time on an offside trap. You don’t have to stop to make sure you’re on.” The origin of the ‘Trin Spin’ A key part of Rodman’s game is her daring to try new things, which is how the ‘Trin Spin’ came about. Has she ever practiced it? “No, because I know that it’s not going to work in training,” she says. “Everyone I go against here, they’re like, ‘Don’t try it. It’s not going to work.’ I know it’s not going to.” Rodman started doing the move in 2023. She tried it one game against the Seattle Reign just to see what would happen. “Now I am smarter with it. I’m able to really figure out when the right timing is and how to do it,” Rodman says. “It’s not even like knowledge. When this happens, it’s the weirdest thing. I can feel exactly when they’re at their last step to get behind me. I don’t even know how to explain this in a better way, but I think there’s obviously a lot of times I get on the sideline where my body’s not open and it’s facing backward, and I’m like, ‘OK, there’s literally only one logical way to get by.’” She waits for her moment, which is sometimes not until she feels a player’s hand on her back. She knows if she’s standing with her feet apart, so is the defender. Over the summer, Rodman debuted the move on the biggest stage, using it to score the opening goal of the Paris Olympics against Zambia. The U.S. won the game 3-0 and went on to win gold a few weeks later. THE USWNT IS OFF AND RUNNING. Trinity Rodman with a tidy turn and finish to open the scoring against Zambia! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/yyorSnoMSD — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2024 “I feel like the Trin Spin has also been the entertainment of soccer. This is proof that soccer should be fun. “Even when I do it, I’m like, ‘he he.’ I feel like I just did it to my brother growing up, and I’m like, ‘Gotcha, try again tomorrow.” Obviously cool on the soccer piece, but it’s even more rewarding to know that the entire stadium is just like, ‘Oh my gosh.” I think that’s the coolest part, entertaining and people want to watch it because I’m fun, not just because I’m good.” It’s what brings her joy during the game and after when she gets to share those moments with fans. “I think it gives them something to talk about, but also it’s fun to interact with the fans about silly moments like that as if they’re my friend,” she says. “It’s humbling, but also a very social interaction.” For Rodman, the last four years have been about learning. “When I look back and go through the years of my development, I would say there’s been more selflessness in my game,” she says. “I love setting players up as well as having the attention and doing cool things and drawing defenders in and *********. But for me, I feel like the improvement has really come with the connection that I have with my team, the awareness of the spaces that they’re filling and running off of me.” In her rookie year, Rodman experienced highs of winning the NWSL Championship and earning rookie of the year. But off the field, the team’s head coach was removed after reports of verbal and emotional ****** — the first of six coaching changes she’s gone through at the club level. The team also went through a public ownership change with Michele Kang eventually buying the team from previous owner Steve Baldwin. Off the field, the club was getting pulled in multiple directions. On it, players were finding ways to pull together. “I feel like my biggest takeaway that year was that it’s so important to learn from other players, even if you’re fighting for the spot against them,” Rodman says. “For me, even watching games from 2021, if I had one good play, I would get kind of selfish and want to outshine other people. I cringe when I watch those games, because I’m like, “Ew! Why did I take that shot? Why did I dribble there? That was ******.’ “I’m learning from even the rookies this year. … It’s crazy to accept the fact that you’re not going to be the best player on the field every game. And as talented as I am, I know that, and that’s helped me so much.” And Rodman is still learning. She sees herself as an incomplete player, in a positive way. “I always want there to be 10 percent that we could find, so in my game right now I would say it’s incomplete,” she says. “I’m at my most confident and aggressive style of play, but also I’m in my student era of soccer.” (Top photos: Brad Smith/ISI/Getty Images; Design: Meech Robinson) Source link #Trinity #Rodman #game #words Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get Persona 4 Golden And 7 Other Games For Just $12 At Humble This Month Get Persona 4 Golden And 7 Other Games For Just $12 At Humble This Month The November lineup for Humble Choice is now live, and this month’s selection includes RPGs, Pokemon-likes, and superhero action games. If you’re new to this subscription service, Humble Choice costs $12 monthly and offers a bunch of perks, including a monthly batch of PC games that are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your subscription. Other benefits include exclusive discounts at the Humble store and access to the Humble Vault–an additional rotating library of games exclusive to members. Humble Choice November 2024 Games Persona 4 Golden Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Cassette Beasts The Lamplighters League The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales Karmazoo Hexarchy Garden Life The highlight this month is Persona 4 Golden, a 2023 re-release of the classic PS2 game from 2008. This edition includes a ton of new content and gameplay additions to help modernize the experience, and while some elements are a bit dated, it’s still a terrific entry in the series that features memorable characters, new locations to explore, and a heck of a mystery at its core. The other noteworthy game here is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, a four-player co-op action game that has received major updates since it was first released. It had a troubled launch back in 2022, but developer Fatshark has remained committed to improving the game and the results really do show. Just recently, the studio introduced sweeping changes class and ******* progression, and the game is in a much better state now thanks to various other improvements. You might have overlooked The Lamplighters League when it came out last year, but this is a good time to check it out as we head into a quieter part of the year. It’s a mix of pulp action novels, occult mystery, and fantastical technology, all wrapped up in a rock-solid stealth-action package. For Pokemon fans, you won’t want to sleep on Cassette Beasts as this homage to Game Freal’s series takes the foundation of pocket monster fun and adds a surprising amount of strategy to the mix. Other cool games you can check out this month include Garden Life, Karmazoo, Hexarchy, and The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales. Humble Choice members can download the full lineup now. If you’re not a member yet, you can join for just $12/month and get immediate access to this month’s games, plus all the other membership perks. Like Humble’s bundle deals, a portion of all Humble Choice monthly subscription fees is donated to charitable organizations. If you’re looking for more PC game discounts, Humble has a number of bundle deals that get you multiple games at prices far lower than normal. For example, you can grab even horror games for just $20 in the Dark Pictures and Little Nightmares Halloween Collection, or a collection of acclaimed strategy games like Civilization VI, Civilization: Beyond Earth, Sid Meier’s Starships, and more with the $20 Sid Meier Collection. Check the list below for all the game bundles currently available at Humble–just keep in mind these are limited-time deals, so grab them while you can. Humble Game Bundles Source link #Persona #Golden #Games #Humble #Month Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This popular Dell student laptop is STILL on ***** for $280 This popular Dell student laptop is STILL on ***** for $280 Dell As always, Dell is the home of some of the best laptop deals. But if you’re a student looking to upgrade your old laptop, or just get a new one, you need to listen up. Right now, you can buy a Dell Inspiron 15 for just $280. It usually costs $380 so you’re saving $100 off an already incredible-value laptop. If you’ve been waiting for some of the cheapest Dell laptop deals around, this is your chance to grab one. It’s the ideal laptop for students on a tight budget. This deal is unlikely to stick around for long, so let’s take a quick look at what it has to offer. Why you should buy the Dell Inspiron 15, student or otherwise Even when it comes to budget laptops, Dell is one of the best laptop brands around thanks to good build quality and well-thought-out design. With the Dell Inspiron 15, you get a 12th-generation Intel Core i3-1215U processor paired up with 8GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. The processor is a little dated and the memory a little low, but at this price, that seems fair. It’s still a versatile option for a lot of tasks like streaming media anywhere, getting some productive work done on spreadsheets or documents, and doing a bit of online research. Heck, online shopping counts too but you can do that from virtually any device. What counts as a ******* highlight is the 512GB of SSD storage in a world where you still come across laptops with 256GB. Another highlight is the 15.6-inch full HD screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution, anti-glare properties, and narrow borders. It only has 250 nits of brightness, which is a little on the low side for using in bright sunlight, but otherwise it’s a great screen for using at home, right down to its silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate. There are other neat features to the Dell Inspiron 15 too. This includes roomy keycaps along with a spacious touchpad so it’s simple to use. The screen also utilizes ComfortView software to cut down on blue light emissions to make it comfier to use. The laptop has been through military-grade testing to ensure it’s reliable and durable. It offers USB 3.2 and 2.0 ports, as well as a HDMI 1.4 port. This laptop won’t be competing with the very best laptops, but it’s an inexpensive way of enjoying Windows 11 on the move, such as for taking to class. The Dell Inspiron 15 normally costs $380, but today you can buy it for $280 at Dell. The $100 saving probably won’t be around for much longer, so check it out now if it’s the device you’re looking for. You won’t want to miss out. Source link #popular #Dell #student #laptop #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

From folk to house, Sean Shibe arrives down under From folk to house, Sean Shibe arrives down under From traditional bagpipes to psychedelic house, *********-Scottish musician Sean Shibe channels it all through the strings of his guitar. Shibe, 32, a professor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is often described as at the forefront of contemporary music – that’s when words like virtuosic and innovative are not being used instead. On his first tour to Australia, with the *********** Chamber Orchestra, he swaps from classical to electric guitar for a program titled Scotland Unbound inspired by the sounds and ideas of Shibe’s homeland. He and the ACO kicked off in Wollongong on Thursday and will perform in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The program is much more than the reels and jigs one might expect – for example, there’s the late Martyn Bennett’s Bothy Culture, inspired by Edinburgh’s nineties rave scene. It’s a meeting of traditional Scottish music with electronic music and the title refers to highland bothys – basic shelters left open for anyone to use. Then – and even Shibe admits this is “totally off the wall” – there’s Julia Wolfe’s Lad, which was originally written for nine bagpipes, arranged for electric guitar and strings. “I was really keen on the piece but I didn’t really understand how I’d recreate it on the classic guitar, it was totally impossible,” Shibe said. The answer was to switch to electric and deploy a hand-held electronic bow. “It creates a highly distorted, wailing, ancient sound that the strings, given that they’re being picked up by microphones and amplified themselves, are totally able to emulate,” he said. Also among the works premiering in Australia as part of the concert series is Chanter by ********* composer Cassandra Miller, which was developed with Shibe contributing layers of vocalisation over bagpipes. The composer asked him to sing while listening to a track so loud he could not hear his own voice, and this was looped and layered in a process so mesmerising it was almost sleep inducing – one verse is titled Sleep Chanting. “I’m just delighted that what’s come together is so much more than just a bunch of arrangements of reels,” Shibe said. “We’re really going beyond any one idea of Scotland to demonstrate the common wealth of the Celtic diaspora, the shared heritage we can celebrate.” The ACO has just returned from a seven-concert US tour with its Four Seasons collaboration with oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros and percussionist James Tawadros. Scotland Unbound is on tour till November 20. Source link #folk #house #Sean #Shibe #arrives Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Intel Battlemage GPU To Be Announced Next Month, It’s Claimed Intel Battlemage GPU To Be Announced Next Month, It’s Claimed Intel is gearing up to announce and launch its next-generation Battlemage GPU. According to known leaker Golden Pig Upgrade, Intel is aiming to going to launch the Battlemage graphics card in December. No specifics about the card weren’t part of the claim nor was any information on how many cards will be part of this lineup. However, the leaker was clear enough about the timeline. “Looking forward to the wonderful performance of Battlemage next month,” the Weibo post reads via on-site translation. Battlemage is the second-generation discrete GPU from Intel. It’s the follow up to the Intel Arc from 2022. Intel released three versions of the Arc graphics card: Arc 3, Arc 5, and Arc 7. With Battlemage, it’s been rumored that Intel will only be releasing budget-friendly cards that sit on the lower end of the market. A competitor to Nvidia’s or AMD’s top offerings shouldn’t be expected. Still, even if the low-end rumors are true, more graphics cards can only be viewed as a positive for PC enthusiasts. More and more players are heading to PC gaming, and the more options there are, the better the cost becomes for everyone. Intel hasn’t responded to Insider Gaming’s request for comment on the rumored pending launch. Should a response be received, it will be added to this story. Until then, please take the latest claims on Intel Battlemage with a grain of salt. In addition to Intel’s pending new launch, both AMD and Nvidia are expected to announce new graphics cards in early 2025 around CES. For more Insider Gaming Tech, read about Nvidia placing playtime limits on its Nvidia GeForce Now subscription service. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Intel #Battlemage #GPU #Announced #Month #Claimed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Meghan Markle Made a Surprise Appearance with Prince Harry—& I Noticed Something Interesting About Her Outfit Meghan Markle Made a Surprise Appearance with Prince Harry—& I Noticed Something Interesting About Her Outfit Meghan Markle just made a surprise appearance alongside her husband, Prince Harry, and I can’t stop thinking about her red poppy brooch (which has a connection to the royal family). This week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in a video (see it here) that was shown at the Global Ministerial Conference on ********* Against Children in Colombia, where they discussed the importance of online restrictions for children. In a surprising move, the couple paid tribute to the royal family and their British connection by pinning poppy brooches to their lapels. Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images The red poppy brooches are in honor of Remembrance Day, which is an annual U.K. holiday that falls on November 11 and marks the end of World War I. The artificial flowers have been used since 1921 to commemorate military members who have ***** in war. Therefore, it’s tradition for members of the royal family to wear the symbolic flower for the entire month of November. Prince Harry previously wore the poppy brooch earlier this month when he virtually attended a NATO meeting to discuss the Invictus Games. At the time, I was surprised that he sported the accessory because he isn’t a working royal and, therefore, isn’t expected to wear it. Although it was unexpected, Prince Harry has been trying to make amends with his family, so I understand why he chose to do it. Yesterday, the #InvictusGames Foundation was given the opportunity to brief NATO’s Military Committee at @NATO Headquarters on our dedication to supporting international wounded, injured, and ***** service members and veterans through sport. #IAMHere — Invictus Games Foundation (@WeAreInvictus) October 31, 2024 On the other hand, Markle didn’t leave London on the best terms with the royal family. So, she had every right to forgo the poppy tradition—but she didn’t. And it speaks volumes about her future relationship with the royal family. Keep up the great work, you two. Want all the latest entertainment news sent right to your inbox? Click here. Heidi Klum Makes Surprise Appearance Alongside Prince William—But Her Stunning Orange Dress Steals the Show Source link #Meghan #Markle #Surprise #Appearance #Prince #Harry #Noticed #Interesting #Outfit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Not Henry Cavill, Only 1 Video Game Mega Geek Can Play Commander Shepard Not Henry Cavill, Only 1 Video Game Mega Geek Can Play Commander Shepard When it comes to the highly anticipated Mass Effect live-action series, fans have been eagerly debating who could possibly fill the boots of the iconic Commander Shepard. With the recent surge in video game adaptations, from The Last of Us to The Witcher, fans are hoping to see the perfect actor bring the Normandy’s beloved leader to life, someone who can honor the character without losing what makes Shepard so memorable. The game franchise is getting the live action adaptation and fans are thinking about who will be perfect for Shepard’s role. | Image credit: BioWare For a long time, Henry Cavill was the frontrunner for the role but with his active involvement in projects like Warhammer 40K and the upcoming Voltron reboot, it seems that the hunt for Commander Shepard must go on. That person could be none other than Zac Efron. What many don’t know is that he is not just a versatile actor but a massive geek as well and that might just make him the perfect candidate. Zac Efron Would be the Perfect Fit for the Mass Effect Live Action Series Efron might just be one of the perfect actors for the role of Shepard. | Image Credit: BioWare Zac Efron might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of a gritty space hero. As the actor is best known for his early role in High School Musical. Over the time, he has evolved significantly in his career and has tackled diverse roles across comedy, drama, and action. However, what many might not know about him is that he also has a deep history as a gamer. In 2007, when Halo 3 dropped, Efron made waves by attending a Los Angeles midnight launch event that turned into a spectacle. The actor didn’t just show up for the show but stayed the entire night and even sold the first copy to the eager fans. It’s a small detail that easy to overlook, but it’s clear that Efron has always had love for gaming. When it comes to playing the role of Commander Shepard, understandably, Mass Effect fans don’t just want any actor for the live-action adaptation. They want someone who can truly live and breathe the character, as Shepard is a complex figure burdened with the fate of the whole galaxy. Fans want someone who can bring emotional depth, leadership, and strategic thinking to the role. Efron has physicality and the ability to adapt to various roles. Additonally, he is no stranger to science fiction and role-playing games with his extreme love for Halo. He has delivered high-intensity roles, and his performances in movies like The Greatest Showman and Baywatch prove he’s got the chops to take on an action-heavy character like Shepard. Cavill’s Absence Opens the Door for Zac Efron Fans were thinking about Cavill but his schedule must be very busy with many projects. | Image Credit: BioWare In many fans’ book, Henry Cavill was one of the most popular choice to play the role of Commander Shepard but with his packed schedule due to his involvement in Warhammer 40K, Voltron, and his other endeavors. It has left the door wide open for other actors and Zac Efron might just be the perfect person to take us on this next epic journey through the stars. With his rich history as a gamer, his proven acting ability, and his deep connection to geek culture, Efron would bring a refreshing and dynamic energy to the role, making him a surprisingly good candidate which fans should seriously consider. The pressure is certainly on the producers, as the Mass Effect live-action series must meet the lofty expectations of a fanbase that has spent countless hours shaping the fate of the galaxy as Commander Shepard. They need an actor who can embody the emotional depth, leadership, and complexity of the character. In the end, it may be time for Commander Shepard to get a new face—and that face could very well belong to Zac Efron. After all, who better to take on this iconic role than someone who has long been a part of the gaming community. Source link #Henry #Cavill #Video #Game #Mega #Geek #Play #Commander #Shepard Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Stocks making the biggest moves midday: TSLA, ABNB, TOST, PINS Stocks making the biggest moves midday: TSLA, ABNB, TOST, PINS Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Tesla — The electric vehicle stock gained nearly 7%, continuing to rally on the heels of Donald Trump winning a second presidential term. The Elon Musk-helmed company saw its market capitalization rise to $1 trillion on Friday. Shares have gained more than 26% this week. Trump Media & Technology — Trump’s social media company advanced 12% after he said he had no plan to sell any of his nearly $3 billion stake . Five Below — The discount retailer slipped more than 4% as the ramifications of Trump’s potential tariffs on ******** imports continued to weigh on the stock. Upstart — The lending platform surged more than 46% after issuing a better-than-expected revenue forecast for the current quarter, on top of surpassing analysts’ estimates for both revenue and earnings in the third quarter. Pinterest — Shares of the image-sharing platform pulled back 16% after the company issued a lower-than-expected revenue outlook for the current quarter. Block — The Cash App parent company slumped more than 4.5% after its third-quarter revenue of $5.98 billion missed expectations. Analysts anticipated revenue of $6.24 billion, per LSEG. Airbnb — Shares fell more than 8% after the homestay company posted mixed quarterly results. Airbnb managed to beat revenue estimates, but earnings came just below expectations. DraftKings — Shares of the sports ******** company gained 1% even after DraftKings posted weaker-than-expected third-quarter earnings and a disappointing revenue outlook for the current quarter. Toast — The restaurant management company climbed 13% after it forecast adjusted EBITDA of between $90 million and $100 million for the current quarter. Analysts expected guidance around $74.8 million, per LSEG. Arista Networks — Shares of the computer networking company fell 7% despite third-quarter results beating analysts’ estimates. Arista also announced a four-for-one stock split. Lucid Group — The stock fell more than 4% despite the electric carmaker posting better-than-expected third-quarter results . The company posted an adjusted loss per share of 28 cents on revenue of $200 million. Analysts expected a loss of 30 cents per share on $198 million in revenue, according to LSEG. That said, Lucid’s net loss widened in the *******, posting $992.5 million versus $630.9 million in the year-ago *******. Capri Holdings — The fashion holding company sank more than 10% following a fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue miss. Capri reported an adjusted 65 cents per share on revenue of $1.08 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG expected 75 cents in earnings per share and $1.18 billion. Monster Beverage — The energy drink company shed 2.1% after reporting worse-than-anticipated results for the third quarter. Monster earned 40 cents per share, excluding items, on $1.88 billion in revenue, while analysts polled by FactSet predicted 43 cents in earnings per share and $1.91 billion in revenue. Affirm Holdings — Shares dipped more than 10% even as the buy now, pay later company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on the top and bottom lines . BioNTech — The ******* biotechnology company advanced nearly 5% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to buy from neutral , citing upside from a new ******* treatment. Bath & Body Works — Shares pulled back nearly 6% after Barclays downgraded the retailer to equal weight from overweight, over concern that sales and margin could be squeezed in 2025. — CNBC’s Hakyung Kim, Alex Harring and Sean Conlon contributed reporting. Source link #Stocks #making #biggest #moves #midday #TSLA #ABNB #TOST #PINS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed Review | Console Creatures Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed Review | Console Creatures CCG writes – “Technically, it’s got some control issues but the rest isn’t too horrible. Morally, it’s pretty suitable for older children on up. If you need some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fun, this is provisionally recommended for that if you can stomach the poor controls.” Source link #Teenage #Mutant #Ninja #Turtles #Mutants #Unleashed #Review #Console #Creatures Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This super-cheap HP Victus 15 gaming laptop just dropped to its lowest price yet This super-cheap HP Victus 15 gaming laptop just dropped to its lowest price yet Best Buy has started gearing up for the ****** Friday with exclusive deals, including one on what might be HP’s best budget laptop. You can now get the HP Victus 15 at Best Buy for $429.99 (was $799.99). That’s incredible value for one of our best cheap gaming laptops, especially now that it’s even cheaper. Even though the HP Victus 16 outperforms its predecessor, the HP Victus 15 is still an ideal option for those who want the bare basics or a regular laptop that doubles as a gaming laptop for basic titles on low-medium settings. Today’s best HP gaming laptop deal One of the HP Victus 15’s selling points is its value for money, which is now even better following this huge discount. In our HP Victus 15 review, we highlighted its gaming performance (again, for this price) and ability to double as a work laptop. The HP Victus 15 runs on the mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS processor and AMD Radeon RX 6550M integrated graphics, which keeps the cost low. It also runs on 8GB of RAM and includes 512GB of storage, which is a generous amount for a budget gaming laptop and enough to store a decent number of games. You won’t get the same graphical quality as more expensive gaming laptops, but you can still play games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and with a 144Hz refresh rate. It also comes with free Xbox PC Game Pass, so you can take advantage of the subscription for three months after activation. If you have the budget for a beefier laptop, consider the other options in our list of best gaming laptops. For other laptops this size, we also have a separate list for the best 15-inch laptops. Source link #supercheap #Victus #gaming #laptop #dropped #lowest #price Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]