Pelican Press

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]

Nuclear medicine isotope shortage will lead to ******* deaths Nuclear medicine isotope shortage will lead to ******* deaths Getty Images A shortage of nuclear isotopes could mean ******* diagnosis delays Lives will be lost because of a shortage of specialist medicine used to detect ********* such as ******* and bowel *******. That is the stark warning from experts who have said the lack of medical radioactive isotopes available in the *** means delays in tests to diagnose *******. It has also led to renewed calls for the *** to develop its own manufacturing facility, rather than rely on imports of nuclear medicines. It follows a proposal to build a new £400m medical laboratory at the site of a former nuclear plant in north Wales. The scheme dubbed Project Arthur would see a small-scale nuclear reactor placed at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, to produce the radioactive materials. The nuclear-based medicine is used to help detect ******* tumours in patients and track the progress of the ********. But there have been no fresh supplies available to be shipped to the *** after a reactor in the Netherlands was forced to halt production for the whole of last month. Prof Simon Middleborough wants to see the *** have its own nuclear medicine facility “For every month that we don’t have diagnosis, or a person doesn’t have a diagnosis, their chances of succumbing to ******* increase by 10 per cent,” said Prof Simon Middleborough, at Bangor University’s Nuclear Futures Institute. “It is actually resulting in people dying from this now. “These people are not getting the diagnosis, they are not getting those cancers caught early on, ******* will spread, people will ****. “It’s going to be hundreds if not thousands due to just this month’s shortage in isotopes this time around.” Prof Middleborough said it was why he had been backing the case for Project Arthur, which was originally unveiled by the Welsh government in January 2023. A feasibility study was commissioned into the project, and since then a business case is being submitted to the *** government asking for the cash to approve the scheme, providing a home-grown supply of the nuclear isotopes needed for the whole of Britain. “The business case is there, it’s not new technology, it’s old technology – we can buy it of the shelf,” said Prof Middleborough. “It’s not just a Wales thing – it’s an across the *** thing – we’re all ready to go, it is just time to press the green button and get on with it.” What are radioisotopes?Getty Images Radioisotopes help medics find and treat ******* in patients Radioisotopes can be used to diagnose ******* and treat certain types of the ******** such as prostate and liver – when they are injected or swallowed and absorbed by cancers from within the body. Using them is a very common way of treating people or diagnosing people in the NHS already. People typically get a dose of the nuclear medicine which is put into their body and it radiates. A gamma, for example, is a type of radiation. When it leaves the body, it can be detected to show its size and location on a scanner. But it should not be confused with external radiotherapy where they blast tumours from outside the body with radiation. ‘Concerning’ for patients It is estimated it would take until about 2030 to get a facility up and running, if it was approved now. In the meantime, the *** government’s Department of Health and Social Care said it was working to address the current shortages in nuclear isotopes. “We know this may be concerning for patients and we are working closely with the company involved to resolve the issue,” said a *** government official. “We are also working in close partnership with NHS England and the devolved governments to distribute available stock and prioritise patients with critical needs.” The Welsh government insisted it was still behind the proposals for Trawsfynydd, and said it was working with all partners to develop and progress plans. “We will provide an update on progress in due course.” However, the Plaid Cymru MP for the area, Liz Saville-Roberts said action needed to be taken sooner rather than later, to help avoid a repeat of the current isotope shortage. “Welsh government need to be pushing the business case as hard as possible. They need to have it costed, they need to work with Bangor University who will be alongside this, and the *** government has got to recognise – yes – this will cost, but look at the cost if we don’t.” “We are going to be talking about a cost in life.” Source link #Nuclear #medicine #isotope #shortage #lead #******* #deaths Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, November 8 NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, November 8 Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you’ll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle. Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There’s no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you’re stuck and need to know the answers to today’s Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below. How to play Strands You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the “theme words” hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable. If you find a word that isn’t a theme word, it still helps! For every three non-theme words you find that are at least four letters long, you’ll get a hint — the letters of one of the theme words will be revealed and you’ll just have to unscramble it. Every single letter on the grid is used to spell out the theme words and there is no overlap. Every letter will be used once, and only once. Each puzzle contains one “spangram,” a special theme word (or words) that describe the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. When you find the spangram, it will be highlighted yellow. The goal should be to complete the puzzle quickly without using too many hints. Hint for today’s Strands puzzle Today’s theme is “?????” Here’s a hint that might help you: speaking without words. Today’s Strand answers NYT Today’s spanagram We’ll start by giving you the spangram, which might help you figure out the theme and solve the rest of the puzzle on your own: Today’s Strands answers SHAKE CLAP POINT FIST PEACE PINCH WAVE PRAY Source link #NYT #Strands #today #hints #spangram #answers #Friday #November Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bringing OLED to the MacBook Air is facing hurdles Bringing OLED to the MacBook Air is facing hurdles A report from Korean outlet The Elec suggests the OLED MacBook Air that Apple was allegedly planning to release in 2027 could face significant delays. While progress for the OLED MacBook Pro seems to be going smoothly, the price increase caused by the new display technology is a much ******* problem for the budget MacBook Air models. One of the biggest selling points of the MacBook Air is its lower price, making it great for first-time Mac buyers, students, and anyone else who doesn’t expressly need the power of a Pro. While price increases are a natural part of the tech industry, the slightly disappointing sales of the 2024 OLED iPad Pro suggest that a new display simply isn’t enough of an incentive for consumers to justify a higher price tag. At launch, Apple was planning a shipment of 10 million iPad Pro units for the year but it has since dwindled to between 6 million and 7 million. This really won’t cause too much of a problem for the OLED MacBook ***** which are still rumored to be coming in 2026. Companies and ********* individuals set the specs to max and spend as much as $7,000 on these high-end models, so a high-quality display will suit both the product and its audience just fine. The Air, however, has much ******* job. It is and has to be both high-end and affordable — and if the MacBook ***** get OLED displays, MacBook Air customers will expect to have them too before long. The main cause of Apple’s pricing struggle right now, according to The Elec, is the limited number of OLED manufacturers. The company currently works with just Samsung and LG to make its OLED displays, and it’s impossible to generate competition and drive down prices in this kind of environment. If you’re wondering why Apple doesn’t just use a slightly lower-end OLED for the MacBook Airs — it seems that is already the plan and the pricing problems are persisting despite this. The planned OLED MacBook Pro would use the same Tandem OLED technology as the iPad Pro, using two panels to allow for better brightness while minimizing the chances of *****-in. The OLED MacBook Air, on the other hand, would reportedly use just one OLED panel. The report continues to say that it’s extremely unlikely that manufacturing methods and costs will naturally drop by 2027, so Apple will have to come to some kind of compromise with its manufacturers if it wants to keep the MacBook Air prices within an acceptable range. Source link #Bringing #OLED #MacBook #Air #facing #hurdles Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ukraine recovers bodies of 563 soldiers amid attacks Ukraine recovers bodies of 563 soldiers amid attacks Ukraine says it has recovered the bodies of 563 soldiers from Russia, including over 400 soldiers who fell in the Donetsk region and in the Bakhmut section of the front line. The ******** of more than 150 others were handed over from morgues in Russia, authorities said on Friday. It was not disclosed where these soldiers were *******. Local media reported that Russia received the ******** of 37 soldiers in return. According to official figures, more than 2100 bodies have been returned to Ukraine this year alone. The exchange of fallen or captured soldiers is one of the last remaining humanitarian contacts between the warring countries. Meanwhile, fighting continued in eastern Ukraine on Friday, with the general staff in Kiev recording 114 attacks by Russian troops. “The ****** is using all available forces and means to achieve its goals,” Ukrainian military leadership said, adding that 114 Russian attacks were recorded. The main flashpoints were once again the districts of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, west of Donetsk. The *** Defence Ministry said the number of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine has increased sharply in the last month, with around 2000 unmanned combat drones used against Ukrainian targets in October, up from 700 in September. It said the number continues to increase and that “it is likely that the high figures seen through September and October to date will become normal.” The ministry attributed the increase to high Russian investments in various types of drone and an expansion of launch sites, which are easy to re-establish if targeted. If drone production continues unhindered, a shortage of personnel would be the most likely factor limiting more widespread use, it said. Earlier, at least 25 people were injured in a residential neighbourhood of the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when a Russian air strike targeted the city overnight, authorities said on Friday morning. The entrance of a multi-storey residential building has been partially destroyed, the military governor of the region, Oleh Syniehubov, wrote on Telegram. Thirty residents were evacuated overnight due to the risk of the building collapsing, he added. Nearby buildings, vehicles and the entrance to an underground train station were also damaged. Russia again used powerful guided ****** to ******* Ukraine’s second largest city, with further damages to buildings, businesses, vehicles and another train station recorded in another centrally located neighbourhood. Kharkiv is located close to the Russian border and has come repeatedly under ******* since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia controls around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Source link #Ukraine #recovers #bodies #soldiers #attacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way There’s a new portable gaming console in town, joining an ever-crowded field. The Ayaneo 3 is the manufacturer’s latest portable device, following last year’s Ayaneo 2S. This Windows-based handheld looks to be an improvement in nearly every major way over its predecessors. The Ayaneo 3 will be available in a few different versions. Purchasers can choose between two processors, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U. The HX 370 is the more powerful option, offering an “extraordinary handheld gaming experience with AI support.” It’s worth noting that the 8840U should still be able to run plenty of modern games, as the company says it’s a good choice for “gamers who prefer classic powerful performance.” Folks can also select between two display options. There’s a model with a serviceable 7-inch LCD screen and another with a 7-inch OLED. Portable devices really pop with OLED screens. Ayaneo Every model boasts a new back button design, to provide for a “richer button combination experience.” The company says the design has been “ergonomically optimized” so human fingers can easily reach those back buttons. There’s also a trigger lock feature, to offer enhanced “control in both popular and retro games.” Otherwise, the front-facing buttons and slanted joystick layout are familiar. The front-facing speakers have received a refresh here, with Ayaneo promising “immersive audio beyond expectations.” It says they were designed in “deep collaboration with sound specialists” and will offer “low rumble” and “depth and clarity.” 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. That’s about all we know for now. Ayaneo says it’ll release more information soon, including new features and “more control innovations.” There’s no price yet and no release date. Source link #Ayaneo #improvement Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Philips Hue vs Govee: choose the right smart lights for you Philips Hue vs Govee: choose the right smart lights for you If you’re thinking of investing in a smart lighting setup, Philips Hue and Govee are both brands that should be on your shortlist, but how can you choose between the two? You may be aware that Hue lights are more expensive, but that’s certainly not the only factor to consider, and we’ll run through all the key differences so you can make the right choice for your home. Philips Hue smart lights are made by a company called Signify – which was formerly known as Philips Lighting. To avoid confusion, we’ll just be using the name Philips Hue throughout this guide. Smart lights often get significant discounts during events like Amazon Prime Day and ****** Friday, making it much more affordable to kit out our home. We’ll be updating our guide to the best ****** Friday deals with the biggest savings, so keep it bookmarked to make sure you don’t miss out. Govee produces indoor and outdoor smart lights with a focus on fun (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) Philips Hue vs Govee: price Philips Hue products are some of the best smart lights around, but also the most expensive – though the price of bulbs in particular which type you choose. If you want benefits like automations, app control, and smooth dimming but you don’t want bulbs that change colors, you can pick up a four-pack of A19 smart bulbs for a very reasonable $49.99. However, if you like the idea of using custom scenes to set the mood, you’ll pay $49.99 for just one Light & ****** Ambiance bulb. Philips Hue lamps and LED strips also tend to be expensive. For example, the recently released Philips Hue Twilight is one of the best wake-up lamps we’ve tested, but also the most expensive at $279. If you’re on a budget, Govee offers some much more affordable options. For example, a four-pack of Govee A19 RGB bulbs is just $51.98 (discounted to $39.99 at the time of writing). That’s a fraction of the price of the equivalent bulbs from Philips Hue. However, there’s more to consider than just price… The Philips Hue Twilight is one of the best wake-up lights we’ve tested, and also the most expensive (Image credit: Future) Philips Hue vs Govee: product range The Philips Hue ecosystem is enormous, including smart bulbs for just about every light fitting you can think of, LED strips, string lights, lamps, wall fixtures, floor lamps, outdoor lights, and more. It’s not limited to lights, either. The system also includes some of the best smart switches and best smart plugs around, plus contact sensors for controlling your devices, and even smart home security cameras. You should have no trouble at all equipping your whole home with Hue devices if you have the budget for it. Govee’s selection of smart lights is smaller, and has a focus on fun. The brand offers smart bulbs for the most common light fittings (including spots) but the real stars of the show are products like the Govee Curtain Lights, Govee Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra, and the super bright Govee LED Strip Light M1. Govee produces some particularly fun smart lights, such as the Govee Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy) If you’re looking for a smart lighting system to make TV and gaming more immersive, both brands offer Ambilight alternatives that are worth considering. The Philips Hue Play Sync Box connects to your TV via HDMI, and allows your smart lights (bought separately) to extend the colors at the edge of the screen. The Govee Immersion WiFi TV Backlights produce a similar result, but use a camera to capture what’s happening on the screen rather than HDMI. The Govee system is cheaper, but the use of a camera for input means ****** reproduction isn’t always as accurate (it can be affected by reflections, for example) and there may be some latency you wouldn’t get with the Philips Hue system. Govee also produces smart plugs, motion sensors, water sensors, and digital thermometers – plus a wide array of smart devices for your kitchen, including air purifiers, fans, ice makers, and even a rice cooker. The Govee Smart Kettle is particularly good, and earned four stars out of five from our reviewer. The Philips Hue Play Sync Box lets you use smart lights to extend colors from the edge of your TV screen for more immersion. Govee has a similar system, but it uses a camera rather than an HDMI connection (Image credit: Philips Hue / Signify) Philips Hue vs Govee: features Each Govee smart light connects directly to your home Wi-Fi network, and your lights are controlled via the Govee Home app (available for Android and iOS). Here you can switch your bulbs on and off, dim them, change their ******, apply themed ‘scenes’ to set a particular mood, sync them to music, and create routines so they come on and turn off at specific times. You can also link them to other Govee smart devices, such as water sensors, so they can alert you if there’s a ***** in your home. The Govee app is compatible with Alexa and Google Home, so you can also use a smart speaker to operate your lights if you prefer (see our roundup of the best smart speakers for some good options). The Philips Hue Bridge isn’t essential for a Hue lighting setup, but it unlocks a lot of extra features. (Image credit: Future) Many Philips Hue lights can be used on their own and controlled from your phone via Bluetooth, or linked to a Google Home or Alexa device so you can control them with voice commands. Exactly which options are available will vary depending on which lights you have. This works fine, but to get the most out of your bulbs, strips and lamps, you’ll want to pick up a Philips Hue Bridge. This plugs into your router and connects to all your Hue bulbs and devices, essentially creating a Zigbee mesh network. Once the lights are connected to the Bridge, you can control them remotely, set up automations and schedules, select and create scenes, sync them to music, connect them to Hue switches, sensors and cameras, and link them to third-party platforms and services such as Razer Chroma, IFTTT, Yale, Spotify, Google Home, Alexa, and Siri. You can find a complete list on the Philips Hue website. With a Philips Hue Bridge, you can control up to 50 smart lights from your phone (Image credit: Philips) You’re not limited to using Philips Hue branded products either. iConnectHue maintains an extensive list of Hue-compatible lights and accessories that can integrate into your system. Using a Hue Bridge also lets you control many more lights than using Bluetooth (up to 50 with the Bridge, compared to 10 with Bluetooth). If you have more than 50 lights, you can use a second Hue Bridge. For more details, see our guide Philips Hue Bridge: what is it and how important is it for your Hue smart lights? You might also like Source link #Philips #Hue #Govee #choose #smart #lights Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

B.C. port lockout: Union, employer plan mediated talks B.C. port lockout: Union, employer plan mediated talks Descrease article font size Increase article font size Employers and the union representing supervisors embroiled in a labour dispute that triggered a lockout at British Columbia’s ports will attempt to reach a deal when talks restart this weekend. A spokesman from the office of federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has confirmed the minister spoke with leaders at both the BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, but did not invoke any section of the ********* Labour Code that would force them back to talks. 1:53 B.C. port labour dispute impacting economy A statement from the ministry says MacKinnon instead “asked them to return to the negotiation table,” and talks are now scheduled to start on Saturday with the help of federal mediators. Story continues below advertisement A meeting notice obtained by The ********* Press shows talks beginning in Vancouver at 5 p.m. and extendable into Sunday and Monday, if necessary. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. The lockout at B.C. ports by employers began on Monday after what their association describes as “strike activity” from the union. The result was a paralysis of container cargo traffic at terminals across Canada’s west coast. In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint against the employers for allegedly bargaining in bad ******, a charge that employers call a “meritless claim.” The two sides have been without a deal since March 2023, and the employers say its final offer presented last week in the last round of talks ******** on the table. 5:00 Impact of B.C. port shut down on Canada’s supply chain Trending Now 3 charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne’s ****** Halifax school drops ask that military ditch uniforms for Remembrance Day The proposed agreement includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term along with an average lump sum payment of $21,000 per qualified worker. Story continues below advertisement The union has said one of its key concerns is the advent of port automation in cargo operations, and workers want assurances on staffing levels regardless of what technology is being used at the port. The disruption is happening while two container terminals are shut down in Montreal in a separate labour dispute. It leaves container cargo traffic disrupted at Canada’s two biggest ports, Vancouver and Montreal, both operating as major ********* trade gateways on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This is one of several work disruptions at the Port of Vancouver, where a 13-day strike stopped cargo last year, while labour strife in the rail and grain-handling sectors led to further disruptions earlier this year. More on Politics More videos &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #B.C #port #lockout #Union #employer #plan #mediated #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How a night of ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam unfolded How a night of ‘pogrom’ in Amsterdam unfolded One unconscious man is kicked in the back. Another pleads for mercy in a narrow alleyway before being punched in the head. And a third ******** citizen is made to shout “Free Palestine” after jumping into a canal to save himself. Amsterdam is reeling from what has been called a “**** hunt” and “pogrom” on its streets that has rekindled memories of Europe’s darkest hours. After Maccabi Tel Aviv had played a Europa League match against Ajax on Thursday night, ******** fans were chased with knives, humiliated and assaulted across the Dutch capital. “I am ashamed,” said Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam, as she described hit-and-run attacks on the ******** fans, announcing a temporary ban on protests. “Boys on scooters ******-crossed the city looking for ******** football fans. It was a hit and run. I understand very well that this brings back memories of pogroms.” “Our city has been deeply damaged. ******* culture has been deeply threatened. This is an outburst of anti-Semitism that I hope to never see again.” On Friday, King Willem-Alexander said the Netherlands had ******* ******* people like the country had done “during World War Two”. One video posted on social media shows a man who appears totally unconscious on the street as he is repeatedly kicked in the foetal position. In another, a young ******** supporter seeking to flee from pro-Palestinians in a narrow alley ends up crouching on the floor. He begs for mercy but they knock him out with a punch to the head as screams erupt. In a third, a man wearing yellow crouched on the floor is kicked as his assailants shout: “It’s for the children, motherf—–.” “Please take all my money,” he responds in desperation. They shout: “Free Palestine now.” He parrots the same phrase. “It’s for the children,” his assailant bellows as blows rain down. A separate clip shows an apparent ******** supporter swimming in a canal apparently in a last-ditch attempt to escape. As he desperately splashes around in the dark water, his pursuer shouts out: “‘Say ‘Free Palestine’ and we’ll let you go,” and hurls an anti-Semitic slur in Dutch meaning “******* ****”. This embedded content is not available in your region. Credit: X / @RamiTeplitskiy / @HumaZhr One man is kicked to the ground as fireworks go off around him, according to more video footage. He is dragged along the street and then seeks to escape as a pro-************ assailant films the scene and says: “Now you know how it feels.” He shouts: “That’s Gaza. That’s Palestine. That’s Gaza, motherf—–.” This embedded content is not available in your region. Credit: X Dutch police drove a van close to a crowd as they rushed to the aid of one man who had been kicked to the ground in the middle of the road. This embedded content is not available in your region. Credit: X The trouble started on Thursday evening when groups of people at the National Monument chanted pro-************ slogans at the ******** fans, Dutch media reported. A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan dressed in a blue and yellow dressing gown gives pro-************ protesters the finger and shouts out, “F— you,” as they march by. Police block him from approaching any further as the crowd chants: “F— you, Palestine.” Police officers intervene during clashes after the match Credit: VLN Nieuws/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock There had been a heavy police presence in the city ahead of two major football matches coinciding with a week of Free Palestine demonstrations, and Dutch authorities had named a number of likely trouble spots including Dam Square. Before the game, Ajax supporters had openly said they would challenge any of the pro-Palestine marchers who came near Johan Cruyff Arena, prompting police to order the protesters to stay clear of the area. Officers warned members of the Ajax hooligans group F-side that they must not confront the demonstrators. Ajax fans wave ******** flags at their games in tribute to the club’s ******* roots. Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock In one video before the game, the two sets of fans can be seen chanting peacefully together, with one Ajax fan held aloft on someone’s shoulders. In interviews with Maccabi fans before the game, they told Dutch media they were there for football and that politics should be kept out of it as they prepared for the match. But despite some fans’ stated wish to avoid the Middle East conflict, in one video, an ******** was filmed removing a ************ flag from a building in the city. He was filmed being hoisted up, grabbing hold of the red, ******, white and green flag and ripping it from a window ledge. And there were provocative chants as Maccabi Tel Aviv fans descended into the Amsterdam Metro singing, “Let the IDF win, we will f— the ******,” and, “F— you, Palestine.” This embedded content is not available in your region. Credit: Reuters/Michel Van Bergen Tensions had been high even before the game and police had designated some parts of the city centre and south east as security-risk areas, granting them powers to conduct preventive searches. Riot police patrolled the streets and sought to protect bars and restaurants as one huge bang – apparently from a firecracker – sent nerves jangling. Pro-************ demonstrators wanted to protest at the stadium, but Ms Halsema would not allow it. They had to go to another location, half a mile away. Demonstrators who tried to get to the stadium anyway were stopped. In the aftermath of the attacks, many shaken and traumatised Maccabi fans said that they had been the victim of what some said had apparently been preplanned attacks that could have ended in fatalities, as they sought to leave the Netherlands on the first available flight. “It seems like it was organised. There were a lot of people. They saw everyone in yellow (the Maccabi colours),” said one shaken ******** woman who spoke to Dutch media organisation NOS from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. “They jumped on us. They stabbed people. They beat them. They did horrible things. We hid in the hotel until it was safe outside.” Demonstrators run with ************ flags ahead of the match Credit: JEROEN JUMELET/Shutterstock Others said they would not return to Amsterdam and were even scared to take taxis to the airport. Police say they are investigating reports that taxi drivers played a role in the assaults on ******** football fans even if “the facts have not yet been established as such”. Chanan Hertzberger, the chairman of the Central ******* Consultation, an umbrella group representing Dutch Jewry, mentioned their possible role in a statement. “There even seems to be app traffic that shows that they meticulously prepared this pogrom, because that is what it was. They moved in groups, cornering their targets. Videos are circulating of ****** and attempts to run over Israelis,” he said. Amsterdam’s largest taxi company, TCA, says that it had no evidence that any of its drivers had been involved. But Hedy Borreman, the general manager of the company, said: “If it turns out that TCA drivers were involved in the *********, appropriate measures will be taken.” In all, five people were hospitalised and 62 arrested after clashes, according to local police. “I followed the news from Amsterdam with horror,” said ***** Schoof, the Dutch prime minister, who is in Hungary for an EU summit. “Completely unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks on Israelis.” Mr Schoof said he had spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu, the ******** prime minister, and assured him the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted after the latest example of rising anti-Semitism in Europe after the Oct 7 attacks and *******’s war in Gaza. Geert Wilders, the pro-******* hard-Right politician who won last year’s Dutch general election, said, “Looks like a **** hunt in the streets of Amsterdam. Arrest and deport the multicultural ***** that attacked Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters in our streets. “Ashamed that this can happen in the Netherlands. Totally unacceptable.” Danny Danon, the ******** ambassador to the ******* Nations, denounced the ********* as a “pogrom”. On Friday, Isaac Herzog, the ******** president, condemned the clashes, saying the “shocking images” of ********* had been reminiscent of the ****** ******* on Oct 7 last year. *******’s top diplomat will travel to Amsterdam on Friday for an “urgent” visit, his office said. “In the light of the serious events, foreign minister Gideon Saar will depart shortly for an urgent diplomatic visit to the Netherlands,” his ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, the first of two ******** aircraft departed for Amsterdam to collect fans after the football clash. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Source link #night #pogrom #Amsterdam #unfolded Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Gets Big Preorder Discount At Amazon Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Gets Big Preorder Discount At Amazon Demolition Man is one of the most culturally significant and influential action films from the ’90s, so it’s pretty cool to see Arrow Video go all out for the upcoming 4K Blu-ray release. Demolition Man’s 4K Limited Edition launches December 17, and you can save big on your preorder right now. Normally $60, Demolition Man is available for only $37.43 at Amazon, which sounds like a bargain considering how many physical goodies and special features are bundled with it. This upcoming release is a complete 4K restoration of the Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes action movie, which was the first feature film directed by Marco Brambilla. $37.43 (was $60) One of several interesting things about this new release is that it includes both the Taco Bell and Pizza Hut cuts of Demolition Man. In the film, Taco Bell was the sole survivor of the “Franchise Wars” and thus every restaurant was Taco Bell, but for the international release, this was changed to Pizza Hut. If you’ve ever wondered why the audio always seemed a little off in that scene that described the brutal fast-food conflict, now you know why. Demolition Man’s Limited Edition comes with oversized box containing the following goodies: 60-page collector’s book with new writing from film critics Double-sided poster with new art by Laurie Greasley 6 art postcards “Three Seashells” and “Edgar Friendly Graffiti” stickers Reversible sleeve with original artwork and new art by Laurie Greasley No, we still don’t know how to use the three seashells, but that’s a bodily function problem that can easily be solved by racking up a few violations of the Verbal Morality Statute. As for the special features, there’s quite a bit of new content here mixed in with some legacy features, which should make this the definitive version of Demolition Man. You can check out the full list below. Demolition Man 4K Limited Edition Special Features Brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, overseen by director Marco Brambilla Includes both the Taco Bell domestic and Pizza Hut international cuts New audio commentary tracks by Marco Brambilla and screenwriter Daniel Waters Audio commentary by film historian Mike White Original audio commentary by Marco Brambilla and producer Joel Silver Demolition Design: An interview with production designer David L. Snyder Cryo Action: An interview with stunt coordinator Charles Percini Biggs’ Body Shoppe: An interview with special makeup effect artist Chris Biggs Tacos and Hockey Pucks: An interview with body effects set coordinator Jeff Farley Somewhere over the Rambo documentary Theatrical trailer and image gallery Released in 1993, Demolition Man tells the story of John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone), a loose-cannon cop sentenced to a cryogenic prison after a rescue attempt goes horribly awry. Several decades later, the future is calm and peaceful until Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) is defrosted from jail and is set loose in a city that has no idea how to handle the 21st century’s most ruthless *********. The only solution? Spartan, defrosted and ready to take on his nemesis in this future battleground. Source link #Demolition #Man #Limited #Edition #Big #Preorder #Discount #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]