Pelican Press

Don’t know what to buy your loved ones for Christmas? Just ask ChatGPT | ChatGPT Don’t know what to buy your loved ones for Christmas? Just ask ChatGPT | ChatGPT Some people love buying Christmas presents. Polly Arrowsmith starts making a note of what her friends and family like, then hunts for bargains, slowly and carefully. Vie Portland begins her shopping in January and has a theme each year, from heart mirrors to inspirational books. And Betsy Benn spent so much time thinking about presents, she ended up opening her own online gift business. How would these gift-giving experts react to a trend that is either a timesaving brainwave or an appalling *********** of the Christmas spirit: asking ChatGPT to do it for them? The answer, like Christmas Day, will have to wait. But are people really asking ChatGPT to write their Christmas lists? It seems so. There are dozens of custom prompts on Open AI’s tool for people to generate Christmas gift lists and a flurry of Reddit posts from people searching for inspiration through a conversation with a chatbot. Are many people doing this? ChatGPT’s **** didn’t know, or if it did, it wasn’t telling the Observer. Open AI’s spokesperson didn’t know either, but said people had also been making Christmas quizzes, designing cards and crafting “creative responses” to their children’s letters to Santa. (Other AI chatbots – Google’s Gemini and Perplexity AI – were similarly ignorant.) Even if only a handful of people are doing it so far, the AI companies expect more to start soon. Last week, Perplexity launched “Buy with Pro” in the US, an AI shopping assistant that will let users research products, then buy them on Perplexity’s website, for $20 a month. This move, days before the peak of the ****** Friday retail frenzy, is a direct ******** on Google’s online advertising stranglehold, according to Jai Khan, a director at Push, a ­digital marketing agency. “Some people start their shopping journeys on Amazon, and some young people use TikTok, but Google has been the dominant player,” he said. “The big thing for us is what happens to Google ads if people start going to ChatGPT for answers.” There are reams of Christmas gift guides online predicting which products will be the subject of the annual toy hysteria (look out for revivals of Furbies and Beyblade spinning tops, a waddling mother duck with ducklings and a ***** blaster), while Lego’s Wicked range is flying off the shelves. Searching online is a small part of present shopping for Portland, a 53-year-old confidence coach from Winchester. “I tend to shop all year round for gifts – it’s very frustrating when you find the perfect gift in February, only for it to be out of production in December,” she said. “It helps with budget, too.” Betsy Benn, who sells bespoke gifts such as Christmas tree decorations. Photograph: Emma Jackson Benn hates the idea of straight-to-charity-shop gifts. “I want my loved ones to feel truly seen, truly appreciated for their own quirks,” she said. The 49-year-old from Cheltenham founded betsybenn.com, a business selling personalised gifts such as Christmas tree decorations. “The joy when the recipient knows this is just for them and not a hastily grabbed bottle of wine in a festive gift bag is an unbeatable feeling. And don’t we all just want to be seen and understood? Isn’t that the whole point of human connection?” The problem – as anyone getting a can of deodorant, an out-of-date voucher or red underwear two sizes too big will know – is that gifts too often demonstrate the giver has ­neither seen nor understood. “Between 60% and 70% of people get shopping for Christmas presents wrong,” said Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University. “Looking at shopping patterns, the majority of people leave it to the last minute and that just shows they have no idea what they are going to buy anyway.” Add in the confusion of trying to fathom what someone of an entirely different generation might enjoy and it’s easy to see why an AI-generated list could be a solution to this complex social negotiation. “The reality is, AI is a tool that’s harvesting data off the internet and comes up with two plus two equals four,” Jansson-Boyd said. “It can’t do emotion, it can’t do personalisation, because they can’t be quantified. “Having said that, I think it’s a great idea, because we often run out of ideas ourselves.” Faced with this kind of problem – a YouGov poll last year found 45% of Christmas shoppers were stressed about gift shopping – some people opt out entirely and just tell people what they want. skip past newsletter promotion Analysis and opinion on the week’s news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Deciding what you might want is itself a form of ******* for some. AI may be a solution there too, as most AI bots give users the option of remembering conversations and using them to inform future responses. “You can ask ChatGPT, ‘Tell me something about myself I don’t know,’” Khan said. “The insights you get back are fascinating.” We could reach a point where heavy users find their best chance of being seen and understood is by their AI ****. So how did the Observer’s gift gurus cope with ChatGPT? Arrowsmith was unimpressed with the suggestions for her sister. It suggested Neom candles “but the prices were considerably higher than I bought yesterday on ****** Friday deals”, she said. “Everything was so generic. I have bought her designer bags, not generic tote bags. “I also repeated the exercise for my dad: 83, male with a few interests,” she said. “It assumed he might like a foot massage machine, a personalised walking stick, a meal delivery service, or a newspaper subscription. My dad would wonder why I bought him any of these things, as he buys his own subscriptions, does his food shopping, and walks 20,000 steps a day.” Portland asked what she could get a “time-poor mum of disabled children” and thought the suggestions of spa days and long baths were inappropriate. “It may be what she needs, but not what she has time for,” she said. Other options were cleaning services, food delivery boxes and clothes, creating “a risk of offence, with getting the size wrong”. “And there was a suggestion of gifts for her children – I wouldn’t do that. That just makes it all about her as a mum, and not as an individual.” Benn found the way to avoid cliched, generic gifts was to keep asking questions. “When you start adding interests or personalities, you get much better results – I love that,” she said. “You might find an amazing hit on your first go, or find yourself inspired by some of the suggestions and follow the rabbit ***** to something epic. “If someone said they’d used AI to help them find a gift for me, just the fact they’d thought about me, sat down, explored options and found something they thought perfect, well, it would fill my heart to the brim.” Source link #Dont #buy #loved #Christmas #ChatGPT #ChatGPT Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Andy Murray coaching Novak Djokovic: What it could mean for friends and rivals Andy Murray coaching Novak Djokovic: What it could mean for friends and rivals The most surprising part is the timing. Murray only retired from playing four months ago. That time has been shared between his family and his golf clubs, but as he told the Control the Controllables podcast last year, if his children are at school, he is often bored by Wednesday lunchtime. The opportunity to work with Djokovic is unlikely to come around again and, having lost four Melbourne finals to the Serb, he may think he will never have a better chance to win the *********** Open. Joking aside, there do not appear to be many downsides. Djokovic has not currently entered any events before the *********** Open, so Murray should be free to enjoy the Christmas holiday at home after some work together during the off-season. Their Melbourne practice sessions will be box office, and it will be enthralling to see how their relationship develops and whether Murray could be a feature of Djokovic’s team at some of the year’s other Grand Slams. “They always got on well, but I don’t think it would have been as close as it maybe was when they were younger – or it would be now,” Delgado says of their relationship. “There was just so much on the line. But they had immense respect for each other. “Andy always spoke so highly of his [Djokovic’s] game and how difficult it was to play against him. The respect was sky high.” The final great act in their playing rivalry was the race to be the year end world number one in 2016. “When me and Novak speak with each other, we don’t talk about tennis, rankings, the matches we play against each other,” Murray said earlier that year. “Maybe when we finish playing, that might change.” Source link #Andy #Murray #coaching #Novak #Djokovic #friends #rivals Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mary Fowler withdraws from Matildas friendlies Mary Fowler withdraws from Matildas friendlies Matildas star Mary Fowler has pulled out of Australia’s friendlies against Brazil and ******** Taipei to focus on her mental and physical health. Fowler withdrew from interim Matildas boss Tom Sermanni’s extended squad on Sunday, just days after World Cup hero Cortnee Vine made herself unavailable for similar reasons. A replacement for Fowler has yet to be made, with the first of four matches in the international window to be played against Brazil in Brisbane on Thursday night. Manchester City forward Fowler, who looms as the future of the Matildas’ *******, will instead spend November and December in Australia with family. “I’ve decided to take this time to prioritise recovery in order to refresh both mentally and physically, so that I can continue to put my best self forward for both club and country,” Fowler said in a Football Australia statement. “Playing for the national team is something that I never take for granted. “I have, however, through past experiences, come to realise that my mind and my body are also things that I should also never take for granted. “I really appreciate everyone’s support and understanding, and I hope to see you all soon.” Sermanni could also be without A-League Women midfielders Isabel Gomez and Hana Lowry after the duo suffered injuries in their respective club matches. Central Coast player Gomez is yet to discover the extent of her right leg injury after a collision in their draw with Melbourne Victory on Saturday, while Sydney FC’s Lowry suffered a knee injury just hours before Fowler withdrew from the squad. Sermanni will at least have Natasha Prior for selection after the Newcastle Jets defender was cleared of a serious ankle injury to join the Matildas training camp. Veteran striker Michelle Heyman sent a scare through the Canberra ******* and Matildas camps after she appeared to suffer an injury in the ALW match against Perth Glory. The midfielder clutched her ankle immediately following a contest in front of Glory’s goal but was able to return to the game. Australia will play Brazil on the Gold Coast on Thursday and on December 1, and meet Taiwan in Victoria on December 4 and 7. Source link #Mary #Fowler #withdraws #Matildas #friendlies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship on Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship ******, finished sixth. Verstappen needed only to finish higher than Norris to win the title, which he did with two races remaining on the season. He ended the race up 63 points over Norris with two events remaining this season. “Max Verstappen you are a four-time world champion,” team principal ********** Horner said on the radio. “That is a phenomenal, phenomenal achievement. You can be incredibly proud of yourself as we are.” Verstappen, only the sixth driver in F1 history to win at least four titles, sounded unusually emotional on the radio. “Oh My ****, what a season. Four times. Thank you, thank you guys,” he said. “We gave it all.” The race was won, meanwhile, by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Hamilton came from 10th on the grid — two weeks after a demoralizing race in Brazil — to capture his podium finish. The duo crossed the finish line under a checkered flag waved by actor Sylvester Stallone. Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third for Ferrari as the constructor championship ******** a tight battle between leader McLaren and Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, his teammate, was fourth. Red Bull had won the title that pays roughly $150 million in prize money the last two seasons but has slipped to third in the standings. But that championship battle appears headed to next month’s season finale in Abu Dhabi. McLaren has a 24-point lead over Ferrari headed into this weekend’s race in Qatar after Norris and Oscar Piastri finished sixth and seventh in Las Vegas. “Max deserved to win it. He drove a better season than I did, he deserved it more than anyone else,” Norris said. “Max just doesn’t have a weakness. When he’s got the best car, he dominates and when he’s not got the best car, he’s still just there always.” Verstappen, meanwhile, made easy work of Norris after a season where the McLaren driver pushed him ******* than he’d been challenged since Verstappen’s first title in 2021. “To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought would be possible,” Verstappen told actor Terry Crews, who moderated the podium news conference held in front of the Bellagio’s famed fountains. “It was a very challenging season and I had to be calm. I think this season taught me a lot of lessons and we handled it well as a team, so that of course makes it a very special and beautiful season.” Verstappen, who is 27, won 19 races last year. He opened this season on a tear but a long winless streak from June until Brazil two weeks ago has him with only eight wins, his fewest since 2020. Verstappen asked at the Bellagio what time it was, noting he was in Las Vegas and “I’m very thirsty.” He had a champagne celebration awaiting him. Race-winner Russell, meanwhile, said he’d be skipping his scheduled flight home to celebrate the victory with actor Crews. He also twice had to sit down on the podium to wipe champagne out of his eyes. Verstappen was cruising in third with about 20 laps remaining and not overly pushing when Red Bull urged Verstappen to be patient over the team radio. “Max, just don’t lose sight of our aim today, yeah?” he was told. Verstappen wasn’t interested in receiving any instructions. “Yeah, yeah. I’m doing my race,” he replied. When he later saw the Ferrari drivers behind him, he asked for instructions because of the constructor championship implications. “Do you want me to try to keep them behind or what?” Verstappen asked of Sainz and Leclerc. “I think you should, yeah,” Red Bull told Verstappen. He couldn’t hold them off but it made no difference as his season was dominant enough to match former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel as four-time champions for the organization. This was the second year of the race after last year’s debut was a bit of a disaster in that locals were livid for months over ongoing construction, as well as traffic detours and delays, the inability to access many local businesses, outrageous price gouging by the tourism industry as well as LVGP ticketing, and then a loose valve cover that nearly destroyed Sainz’s Ferrari minutes into the first practice. It caused an hours-long delay for repairs, fans were kicked out of the circuit, and F1 ran practice until 4 a.m. — when it legally had to reopen the streets to the public. This year has been far less hectic, in part because all of the infrastructure headaches were a year ago, but also that last year’s race was spectacular. Despite all its speed bumps, the actual running of the race was one of the best of the F1 season. Russell started on the pole ahead of Sainz, who wanted redemption after the valve-cover fiasco last year. He had to serve a penalty because his car was damaged in the incident. “I was hoping Vegas had something to offer me after last year, but I will take a podium,” Sainz said. “I was looking at every manhole, avoiding them this time.” The race is the final stop in the ******* States for F1, which has exploded in ********* popularity the last five years. The trio of races in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas are more than any other country. After the race completion, F1 next week is expected to announce it will expand the grid to 11 teams to make room for an ********* team backed by General Motors’ Cadillac brand. The team was initially started by Michael Andretti, who could not receive approval from F1 on his expansion application. Andretti has since turned over his ownership stake to Indiana-businessman Dan Towriss and Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They would run the Cadillac F1 team that would likely join the grid in 2026. The announcement of the ********* team did not come during the weekend to not derail from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the showpiece of the Liberty Media portfolio. The race drew 306,000 fans over three days. Source link #Verstappen #captures #4th #championship #Mercedes #sweep Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Uruguay votes for president in closely fought run-off Uruguay votes for president in closely fought run-off Uruguay’s second-round presidential race between moderate candidates in the small nation of 3.4 million people closes out a bumper year of elections. Source link #Uruguay #votes #president #closely #fought #runoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Unfair advantage:’ Why an IPO drought is hitting the ASX ‘Unfair advantage:’ Why an IPO drought is hitting the ASX Smaller listed ASX businesses are getting hammered as the flow of money largely favours blue chip stocks. Source link #Unfair #advantage #IPO #drought #hitting #ASX Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Laos 'profoundly saddened' by tourist poisoning deaths Laos 'profoundly saddened' by tourist poisoning deaths Authorities in Laos are under pressure to get to the bottom of a mass methanol poisoning tragedy that claimed the lives of two *********** teenagers. Source link #Laos #039profoundly #saddened039 #tourist #poisoning #deaths Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A snapshot of round four of the A-League Women season A snapshot of round four of the A-League Women season ROUND FOUR OF THE A-LEAGUE WOMEN COMPETITION AT A GLANCE: THEY SAID IT: “We deserve better, to play on a field that actually has grass and not dirt”. Sydney FC forward Shea Connors was among the ALW players who backed the league’s last-minute decision to relocate Unite Round to Jubilee Stadium following concerns over Leichhardt Oval’s playing surface. Ticket prices were waived to combat any aftershocks from the 11th-hour decision, with the Inner West Council issuing an apology over the condition of Leichhardt’s pitch. WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Maya McCutcheon helped Wellington Phoenix to their first win of the season with a goal in first-half stoppage time against Adelaide *******. Mebae Tanaka’s free kick ricocheted off numerous players before McCutcheon sent it home to push her side to a 1-0 win. TALKING POINT: Only days after receiving their first Matildas call-ups, Natasha Prior, Isabel Gomez and Hana Lowry suffered injuries in round four that could jeopardise their hopes of playing in friendlies against Brazil and Taiwan. Prior left the Newcastle Jets’ 1-1 draw with Western ******* after suffering an ankle injury, after Central Coast’s Gomez hurt her knee in the 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory. Lowry suffered her own knee injury in a collision during Sydney FC’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne City to cap a horror weekend. STAT *******: Tameka Yallop celebrated becoming Brisbane Roar’s outright games record holder with a long-range goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Western Sydney. Yallop passed Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne with her 153rd appearance for the Roar. BEAT THAT: After six seasons in second-tier competition NPL, ********* defender Momo Hayashi announced her ALW arrival with a double in Brisbane’s thrashing of Western Sydney. The 29-year-old first scored when her free kick deflected from the Wanderers’ wall, before she poked the ball through traffic and into the right side of the goal. UNDER PRESSURE: Newcastle have more than just Prior joining the casualty ward after the draw with *******; NRLW star Sheridan Gallagher and Lara Gooch suffered leg injuries on Saturday and having made all their substitutes, Newcastle were forced to play out their game with 10 women. Coach Ryan Campbell could be left to reconfigure his team, but has caught a break with the Jets not scheduled to play next weekend. UP NEXT: As international matches approach, only two games are scheduled for next week, with Melbourne City to host struggling Western Sydney Wanderers and Canberra ******* travelling to Gosford to face Central Coast Mariners later on Saturday. Source link #snapshot #ALeague #Women #season Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

WA Day: Thousands of West Aussies enjoy festivities as AFL great Ben Cousins, Tony Galati cook up a storm WA Day: Thousands of West Aussies enjoy festivities as AFL great Ben Cousins, Tony Galati cook up a storm WA Day had a second chance to shine on Sunday after rain washed it out in June — bringing West Aussie families together for rides, entertainment, food, and fun on the Burswood Peninsula. A silent disco, RAAF 79 Squadron Fly Over and a stellar lineup of musical acts drew thousands to the re-run event. Perth basked in the warm late spring weather, with families milling at the Festival ahead of the evening’s entertainment, including concert performances from San Cisco and Eskimo Joe and fireworks and a 500-plus drone show above the Matagarup Bridge. Patrons were also encouraged to take advantage of the free public transport available to Burswood Park which was part of fare-free Sundays for all Smartrider holders. Scarborough father Peter Witbooi enjoyed the festivities with his six-year-old daughter Leah and said changing the date away from winter was a no-brainer. “It’s WA Day — WA is all about summer weather. It just makes sense,” he said. Mr Witbooi said Leah had enjoyed the free perks at this year’s event, including rides, entertainment and public transport to the festival. Camera IconMr Witbooi said Leah had enjoyed the free perks at this year’s event. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** “It’s just a beautiful day with the sun out. WA Day, it’s always a great day to spend with family,” he said. “My wife told me about it, it’s really awesome. Just the convenience that public transport is free today is great.” The event is usually held annually across the WA Day long weekend in June but wet weather reduced Burswood Park to a swampy wasteland, prompting organisers to cancel the event at the eleventh hour. It meant feature artists Guy Sebastian and Sneaky Sound System couldn’t make the new date, as well as a lineup of local talent. It came after the event in 2023 had to be shut down early due to rain during popstar and *********** idol judge Amy Shark’s headline act. Karrinyup mother Olivia Kanczkowska said she was drawn to this year’s event because of the cost-effective, family-friendly activities for her daughters Blanka, 8, Nadia, 5. “I saw it on Facebook promoting free activities for children and fireworks, that’s why I came here. It’s good to have free options because I don’t have to pay for lots of activities,” she said. WA personalities cooked to impress on the Spud Shed stage with Spud King Tony Galati himself leading the likes of West Coast great Ben Cousins and 7NEWS presenters Samantha Jolly, Rick Ardon, Ryan Daniels and Angela Tsun in the kitchen. Camera IconAngela Tsun in pictured at the Spud Shed tent. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West *********** Eskimo Joe are set to headline the main concert, along with Fremantle favourites San Cisco a popular choice as well as Great Gable and Noah Dillon. The event’s cost-conscious nine free carnival rides included Jurassic Temple Ride, Dream Swinger, Dodgems, Cup and Saucer, bringing smiles to children’s faces throughout the day. They were accompanied by a string of free educational and community activities supported by Alcoa — including Scitech, Spudshed, WA Museum, Lotterywest, Channel 7, The West, Nova and more. The event also brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate the State’s heritage and culture, with the animated ‘Wadjuk Dreaming’ Indigenous storytelling captivating audiences in the children’s zone. The WA Day Festival is made possible thanks to support from the WA Government, Lotterywest and BHP and will be held in conjunction with The West Test between Australia and India at Optus Stadium on the same day. Source link #Day #Thousands #West #Aussies #enjoy #festivities #AFL #great #Ben #Cousins #Tony #Galati #cook #storm Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

West Coast Eagles great Ben Cousins throws first pitch at Perth Heat game West Coast Eagles great Ben Cousins throws first pitch at Perth Heat game He might never wrangle a gig as a closing pitcher, but West Coast Eagles great Ben Cousins traded the Sherrin for a baseball as he took centre stage for Perth Heat on Saturday night. Cousins, the 2005 Brownlow Medallist, took to the mound at Empire Ballpark to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Heat’s *********** Baseball League clash with Sydney Blue Sox. The premiership-winning Eagle might never get a call-up to the majors, but entered the diamond to applause from the 1100-strong crowd at the Thornlie ballpark. Camera IconPerth, WA – November 24, 2024: Western *********** sporting icon Ben Cousins took centre stage at Baseball Park last night, delighting fans as he delivered the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Game 3 between the Perth Heat and Sydney Blue Sox. Mike Bahr Credit: Mike Bahr/Perth Heat Cousins opted to keep the fastball in his back-pocket for the pitch but Heat chief executive Brett Patten said it was a huge and important moment for the baseball club. “Having Ben Cousins throw the ceremonial first pitch was a special moment for everyone in attendance,” he said. “His legacy as a champion resonates far beyond football, and his presence added a spark that elevated the entire night. Camera IconPerth, WA – November 24, 2024: Western *********** sporting icon Ben Cousins took centre stage at Baseball Park last night, delighting fans as he delivered the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Game 3 between the Perth Heat and Sydney Blue Sox. Ulrick Bojarski, Jake Bowey, Ben Cousins, Byron Armstrong, Will Sherriff Unknown Credit: Unknown/Perth Heat “It’s a testament to the unity and pride we all feel in representing WA sports.” Cousins was not the only sporting champion to throw out a first pitch this weekend, with Perth Thundersticks star and three-time Dutch Olympic hockey gold medalist Eva de Goede also opening a game. The Heat won the game against Sydney 3-2. Source link #West #Coast #Eagles #great #Ben #Cousins #throws #pitch #Perth #Heat #game Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

MOTD: Alan Shearer on his ‘concerns’ for Manchester City MOTD: Alan Shearer on his ‘concerns’ for Manchester City Match of the Day’s Alan Shearer says Manchester City are showing “worrying signs” after losing 4-0 at home to Tottenham, their fifth loss in a row. MATCH REPORT: Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur Watch Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer Available to *** users only. Source link #MOTD #Alan #Shearer #concerns #Manchester #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jackson Barrett: Princely Perth performance from Yashasvi Jaiswal has visitors in party mode Jackson Barrett: Princely Perth performance from Yashasvi Jaiswal has visitors in party mode Perth has been treated to a coming-out party — and we will never be surprised by Yashasvi Jaiswal runs again, writes Jackson Barrett. Source link #Jackson #Barrett #Princely #Perth #performance #Yashasvi #Jaiswal #visitors #party #mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump impersonator in demand after US election Donald Trump impersonator in demand after US election Mike Osman Mike Osman began impersonating Donald Trump in 2016, when he was running to be president against Hilary Clinton A Donald Trump impressionist has said his phone did not stop ringing after the result of the 2024 US presidential election. Mike Osman, a comedian from Southampton, was almost ready to retire his blonde wig and fake tan. But news of the ***********’s return to the White House has inspired him to carry on. After launching his act in 2016, he now describes himself as the ***’s number one Trump impersonator. The comedian has been studying Trump’s mannerisms for years With more than 16 million views on TikTok, Mr Osman has spent years working on his act, named Donald Trumped. Despite having a southern English accent, the comedian seems to imitate Trump’s voice with ease. “The first thing you’ve got to do is get the wig – and you’ve got to get it right,” he said. The impressionist wears a bespoke hairpiece created by wig designers, which is regularly re-styled by a hairdresser. Next is perfecting the costume, in particular Trump’s suit and iconic crimson tie. “The tie is about eight foot long,” he joked, adding his seamstress neighbour had made it especially for him. But the most important part of being a Donald Trump impersonator, he said, was replicating his eyes and mouth. “I have watched a lot of videos of Donald, believe me,” he added. Mike Osman Mr Osman says he does his own make-up for the act The morning after the presidential election in November, Mr Osman said demand for his act was high. “I’m non-political, I have no axe to grind doing Donald Trump, the ********* people have decided,” he said. “I’m the ***’s number one Donald Trump impersonator – interestingly, I’m in the top five in the world, according to a survey.” Mr Osman grew up on a council estate in Millbrook, a suburb of Southampton. “Nothing wrong with that,” he said. “But if you’d have said to me when I was growing up in Millbrook that I would be the top five in the world at anything, you know, I’d have taken that.” President-elect Donald Trump will take office in January. Source link #Donald #Trump #impersonator #demand #election Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Islamabad locked down amid push for Imran Khan release Islamabad locked down amid push for Imran Khan release Roads in Pakistan’s capital have been blocked, large numbers of police have been deployed and phone services have been cut ahead of a pro-Imran Khan protest. Source link #Islamabad #locked #push #Imran #Khan #release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Watch Rocket Lab launch 5 French ‘Internet of Things’ satellites Nov. 24 Watch Rocket Lab launch 5 French ‘Internet of Things’ satellites Nov. 24 When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches the second of two cubesats for NASA’s PREFIRE climate mission from New Zealand on June 4, 2024. | Credit: Rocket Lab via X Rocket Lab plans to launch five “Internet of Things” (IoT) satellites to orbit on Sunday night (Nov. 24), and you can watch the action live. An Electron launcher carrying five spacecraft for the French company Kinéis is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab‘s New Zealand site Saturday at 10:55 p.m. EST (0355 GMT and 4:55 p.m. local New Zealand time on Nov. 25). The launch window is instantaneous, so if the weather or any other issues force a delay, Rocket Lab will have to try again another day. Rocket Lab will webcast the launch live, starting 30 minutes before liftoff. Space.com will carry the stream if, as expected, the company makes it available. Kinéis booked five Electron launches to build its 25-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. Sunday’s mission, which Rocket Lab calls “Ice AIS Baby,” will be the third such flight; the first two launched in June and September of this year. If all goes according to plan on Sunday, the five IoT nanosatellites will be deployed into a 400-mile-high (643 kilometers) orbit about 66 minutes after liftoff. Kinéis’ IoT constellation will provide “precise connectivity and location tracking of any object anywhere on the planet,” the company wrote on its website. “Whether you’re on the open sea, in remote areas or under extreme weather conditions, Kinéis ensures reliable, continuous data transmission so you can benefit from accurate information available at all times.” Related: Rocket Lab launches 5 IoT satellites on landmark 50th mission (video) RELATED STORIES: — Rocket Lab’s Mars probes reach launch site ahead of 1st flight on Blue Origin New Glenn rocket (photos) — Rocket Lab launches new NASA solar sail tech to orbit (video, photos) — Rocket Lab launches private Earth-observing radar satellite to orbit (video, photos) “Ice AIS Baby” will be the 13th launch of 2024 for the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron and its 55th orbital mission overall. Electron is the only launcher in Rocket Lab’s stable, but that won’t be the case for much longer. The California-based company is working on a larger, partially reusable rocket called Neutron, which is expected to debut in 2025. Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:25 p.m. ET on Nov. 23 with the new launch date of Nov. 24. Source link #Watch #Rocket #Lab #launch #French #Internet #satellites #Nov Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is Northern Ireland being ‘left behind’? Is Northern Ireland being ‘left behind’? Handout Jill Crawford lost her dad Derek to dementia in 2019 A proposed law to give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to choose to end their life will be voted on by MPs on 29 November. Polling suggests there is some public support for a bill and while the majority of MPs from Northern Ireland plan to vote against it at Westminster, assisted dying is not yet on the political agenda at Stormont. Many religious organisations, disability rights groups and those within the medical profession believe an assisted dying law may be open to exploitation. However Jill Crawford, who lost her dad Derek to dementia in 2019, is someone who wants to see the conversation around assisted dying begin in Northern Ireland. “It’s a horrible thing to have to talk about but it’s a reality,” Jill told BBC News NI. “Northern Ireland is being left behind as normal. Somebody needs to just stand up and address it.” Her challenge to Northern Ireland Assembly members is to “stop hiding and brushing things under the carpet in the hope somebody else will pick it up”. Handout Derek was a keen angler and enjoyed taking his family out on his boat in Drains Bay, Larne Jill thinks politicians should consider mental as well as terminal illness in the debate around assisted ******. Reflecting on her dad’s experience, she said: “How do you say to someone that has been diagnosed with dementia, are you ready to ****? “This has to be done beforehand, if it was me, it’s a choice I would make, definitely.” Jill said her dad would not have wanted to end up the way he did. “He changed slowly from this vibrant, big man full of fun to in his last days lying like a corpse,” she said. “I wouldn’t want my family to have to look after me the way we did with dad, not because we didn’t want to do it but because it took everything from him.” ‘Do we value life or do we not?’Handout Tim Cairns is the senior policy advisor for ********** Action Research and Education (CARE) Tim Cairns, from ********** Action Research and Education (CARE), is against an assisted dying bill anywhere in the ***. “We need to make a choice – do we want to have an economic way forward or a way forward that increases and prolongs life?” he told BBC News NI. “In every healthcare choice we make, we should try and do the thing that prolongs life – that’s better palliative care.” Mr Cairns is concerned the criteria for assisted dying legislation would be widened over time. “When we look at the international experience in Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium, wherever it’s been legislated for, the qualification for the procedure widens from very narrowly defined terminal illness to mental illness and disabilities. “It comes down to this, do we value life or do we not?” Gavin Walker is the chair of the campaign group My ******, My Decision Gavin Walker, chair of campaign group My ******, My Decision, wants to bring an assisted dying bill to Stormont. The group commissioned a poll in August, which said 67% of people support an assisted dying law to some degree in Northern Ireland. “Up to this point I think people have just been trying to ignore the fact that it’s happening everywhere else and not happening in Northern Ireland,” he said. Mr Walker said discussions are needed to ensure the bill reflects what the people of Northern Ireland want. “There are enough mechanisms… for MLAs to really start looking at this properly,” he added. ‘Mammoth change’Michaela Hollywood Michaela Hollywood said protections for disabled people in the bill “are not enough” Michaela Hollywood, from Northern Ireland, has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic and degenerative condition which weakens muscles and impacts movement. She is a full-time wheelchair-user, is unable to sit-up unaided and her breathing muscles are paralysed. Ms Hollywood isn’t in favour of the bill that is being brought before Westminster. She said the bill would be an “absolutely mammoth change” and would be done “without the proper scrutiny and the proper time to have a proper discourse about it”. “The public really do not grasp how wide ranging this is,” she said. Ms Hollywood said the “protections for disabled people just are not enough”. She added: “I have a lot of friends in Canada and seeing what they’re going through, it just makes me worried that we’re doing this the wrong way. “What we need to be focussing on first is proper care, resourcing the NHS appropriately, and then we can have the discussion about what the right way is to provide choice, because there’s no choice without care, and at the minute we’re trying to do choice without care.” She said the four *** nations need to come together on the matter and have a user-led commission set up. What do politicians think? Most of the MPs from Northern Ireland’s political parties are planning to vote against the Westminster bill at its second reading on Friday. That includes Sorcha Eastwood (Alliance), Robin Swann (UUP), Jim Allister (TUV), Alex Easton (Independent) and the DUP’s five MPs. SDLP MPs Claire Hanna and Colum Eastwood are still considering the bill. The Alliance Party, SDLP and UUP say that assisted dying is a conscience issue for their representatives. The DUP and TUV say their parties are against assisted dying. Sinn Féin did not respond to numerous requests for a statement. Earlier this year, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “In principle we support legislating for assisted dying in certain circumstances and with robust safeguards, but the legislation should only be progressed once the appropriate services and supports are available.” People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll told BBC News NI he wants to see the Northern Ireland health minister “lead the conversation” and introduce a bill in the Assembly. What is current law on assisted dying? Assisted dying is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland meaning it is up to elected politicians if they want to change the law. The ******** Act 1961 makes it ******** to encourage or assist a ******** in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Looking to change this for England and Wales is Labour backbench MP Kim Leadbeater. In the Republic of Ireland, a bill is likely to be introduced in the next Dáil (Irish parliament), after TDs voted to note the health committee’s report, calling for the government to legalise assisted dying in certain circumstances. A Stage 1 vote on ******** Democrat MSP Liam McArthur’s bill for Scotland will take place around summer time. Meanwhile, politicians in Jersey and the Isle of Man have already backed plans to introduce assisted dying and the process to bring in legislation is under way. You can watch the full report on assisted dying on BBC Sunday Politics Northern Ireland on Sunday 10:00 GMT on BBC One Northern Ireland and afterwards on BBC iPlayer. Source link #Northern #Ireland #left Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Roger Cook open to overhaul of WA’s public holiday calendar to bring State in line with rest of Australia Roger Cook open to overhaul of WA’s public holiday calendar to bring State in line with rest of Australia Premier Roger Cook has backed an overhaul of WA’s public holiday calendar, bringing the State in-line with the rest of Australia on days off. Speaking at the WA Day Festival on Sunday, Mr Cook said while a review of our State’s dates was not an immediate priority, the idea of moving public holidays into national alignment was a smart piece of economic reform. Bad weather saw the festival cancelled in June and moved forward to Sunday, November 24, at Burswood, where Australia and India are also playing in the first Test at Optus Stadium. While all States and Territories share national public holidays for major days such as Christmas and Australia Day, some celebrations — such as Labour Day or the King’s Birthday — vary from State to State. Speaking at WA Day on Sunday, Mr Cook said moving dates would make sense. Such a change would mean businesses in WA would not be closed while those on the East Coast could trade and vice versa. “I’m open to the idea of aligning our public holidays with the public holidays in the East Coast,” he said. “That makes sense from an economic reform point of view. “We’re here today, sucking up this beautiful late spring weather. I can understand why many people would see the opportunity… to just tweak these dates a bit so that we can celebrate WA Day in more warmer weather. “We’ll consider it in due course.” Originally called Foundation Day until 2011, WA Day comes on the first Monday in winter, and for the past few years has seen heavy rains in the lead up, causing headaches for festival organisers. The public holiday also puts WA out of step with most of the nation’s King’s Birthday celebration a week later, with the State not marking it until the last Monday in September. Source link #Roger #Cook #open #overhaul #public #holiday #calendar #bring #State #line #rest #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TSMC’s says 1.6nm node to be production ready in late 2026 — roadmap ******** on track TSMC’s says 1.6nm node to be production ready in late 2026 — roadmap ******** on track When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: TSMC TSMC’s plans for the next couple of years remain largely unchanged as the company is ready to mass produce chips on its N2 (2nm-class) manufacturing technology starting in late 2025 and A16 (1.6nm-class) fabrication process in late 2026, the company announced at its Open Innovation Platform (OIP) 2024 conference here in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. “The roadmap you see here is pretty much the same, actually it is the same technology roadmap that I think you saw during the [technology] symposium six months ago,” said Dan Kochpatcharin, Head of Design Infrastructure Management at TSMC. “[…] We have N2, N2P, which is coming [to] productions next year and the year after. And then [they are] followed by A16.” The words ‘followed’ and the slide showing A16 after N2P and N2X was somewhat confusing to me. On the one hand, the slide TSMC shared is very similar to the one it presented back in May. On the other hand, the message sent back then was that A16, N2P, and N2X would be available around the same time, so I asked TSMC’s heads of the PR department to clarify. TSMC Indeed, all of these process technologies are slated to be ready for high volume manufacturing (HVM) in late 2026. This is, of course, as far as TSMC would go in official comments, as the company will not pre-announce products for its alpha customer(s) that are set to arrive on the market sometime in 2027. So, let us speculate about the positioning of these manufacturing processes. Technically, N2, N2P, N2X, and A16 share many similarities: they are all based on nanosheet gate-all-around (GAA) transistors. The N2-series uses super-high-performance metal-insulator-metal (SHPMIM) capacitors to reduce transistor via resistance to improve performance efficiency, whereas A16 uses a backside power delivery network (BSPDN) to improve it even further. “A16 is basically N2P [with the] the Super Power [Rail], which is our innovative backside power [delivery network],” said Dan Kochpatcharin. While, generally, a BSPDN enables higher performance and better power efficiency, ‘there is no free lunch’ here, as noted by Ken Wang, TSMC’s Director of Design Solution Exploration. Backside power delivery also adds thermal issues that have to be mitigated. For now, a BSPDN in its current implementation is the best fit for datacenter-grade AI-aimed processors, a market segment that TSMC aims at with its A16 for now. As for N2P, it enhances performance over typical N2 without adding complexities associated with a backside power delivery, which is optimal for client devices, such as system-on-chips (SoCs) for smartphones and entry-level PCs. N2X, of course, further enhances performance by adding higher voltages, which might be a benefit for a variety of applications, such as high-performance CPUs. Source link #TSMCs #1.6nm #node #production #ready #late #roadmap #******** #track Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flood warnings across Wales as Storm Bert to bring more rain Flood warnings across Wales as Storm Bert to bring more rain Further heavy rain is likely to cause flooding on Sunday after Storm Bert swept across Wales, forecasters have said. The Met Office has issued a new weather warning for heavy rain across a large swathe of the country until 13:00 GMT, with 98mm (4in) of rain already recorded overnight in Libanus, Powys. Natural Resources Wales has issued around 100 flood warnings and alerts. A number of roads have been closed due to flooding and fallen trees after wind gusts of 82mph (130km/hr) were recorded at Capel Curig in Conwy county on Saturday. A property was hit by flooding and debris in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog on Saturday Yellow weather warnings for rain and wind are in place across the *** in what meteorologists have described it as a multi-hazard storm. Five adults and five children had to be rescued by firefighters from a house after a landslide in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, in Wrexham county, on Saturday. North Wales ***** and Rescue Service said the property was hit by flood water and debris and suffered “substantial” damage. Jonathan Greatorex, landlord of The Hand at Llanarmon pub, said: “The community has been amazing and rallied round to support the family at what must be a deeply difficult time.” Sunday’s weather warning for a rain covers Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan. “A few places, particularly over hills, may see an additional 30-40mm [1.1-1.6in] before rain clears east by early afternoon,” warned the Met Office. There is also a weather warning for strong wind, in place until 21:00 GMT, covering Anglesey, Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan. Source link #Flood #warnings #Wales #Storm #Bert #bring #rain Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kings Park’s Botanical Cafe *****: Grease build-up sparks blaze during busy lunch rush Kings Park’s Botanical Cafe *****: Grease build-up sparks blaze during busy lunch rush Grease build-up in a kitchen air conditioning unit has sparked a ***** at Botanical Cafe in Kings Park during a busy lunch rush and the damage is expected to keep it shut for some time. The blaze broke out just before midday on Sunday and staff tried to put it out before four ***** trucks arrived. The employees used ***** extinguishers but also water and risked electric shock or worse from throwing it on live wires, incident controller Daniel Barnard said. Fortunately, no-one was hurt. “They have helped the scenario, but at the same time, it could have been a lot worse had they become victims or casualties of it,” Mr Barnard told reporters. “So while they’ve done some good work here, just be careful in future … people trying to be good Samaritans trying to help, sometimes they can get themselves into trouble. “They could have easily put some water onto some power and received electric shock.” The ***** was a reminder to service air conditioning units regularly, Mr Barnard said. He said the kitchen would be “out of action for a little while”. “People might have to go somewhere else to get their daily coffee.” Source link #Kings #Parks #Botanical #Cafe #***** #Grease #buildup #sparks #blaze #busy #lunch #rush Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

This man vowed to eat McDonald’s every day for 100 days and has already lost 34 pounds This man vowed to eat McDonald’s every day for 100 days and has already lost 34 pounds A 57-year-old Tennessean went viral on TikTok in late February after announcing his commitment to an unconventional approach to weight loss: eating only McDonald’s for 100 days. “I know some of you are thinking that might be crazy, but I’m gonna eat nothing but McDonald’s for the next 100 days,” Kevin Maginnis shares in his first-ever TikTok. As day 44 rolls in, Maginnis, who introduces himself to his over 76,000 TikTok followers as bigmaccoaching, has stayed true to his plan. In fact, it has worked, he shares with his newfound following. He has lost 34 pounds thus far and reports having improved cholesterol levels. His approach seems counterintuitive, but Maginnis explains the secret sauce to his success with his easy-to-follow daily guidelines. He eats three McDonald’s meals daily from anywhere on the menu and does not snack in between. He cuts each meal in half and saves the remaining portion for his next meal. He also chooses a bottle of water instead of soda with each meal. For breakfast, he will sometimes choose the Egg McMuffin and hash brown, cut both in half, and save the rest for either lunch or breakfast the next day. The famed McDonald’s devotee is not bored—at least yet. He celebrated his birthday this week with half of a 10-piece chicken nuggets, apple slices, a couple of dipping sauces, and a “birthday shake”—because McDonald’s, unfortunately, doesn’t offer drive-through birthday cakes. But Maginnis has faced criticism, with some comments pointing to the renowned film Super Size Me, which documents the negative health outcomes of eating only McDonald’s for 30 days and sheds light on the harmful effects of America’s fast food industry. Maginnis claps back on the platform, saying for him, it’s “half-size me.” In his mind, portion control overrides food’s nutritional value. He responded to one inquirer who asked why he can’t portion-control home-cooked meals—which are minimally processed, have a lower sodium content, and provide more nutrient variety. “Overeating at home is what got me in trouble; by creating a ‘leave the food at the house alone’ scenario, it has helped me.” Medical experts are quick to critique Maginnis’s approach. “I have cardiologists that love it and I have cardiologists that hate it,” he said on day 10 of his challenge on the Today show. And while Maginnis doesn’t consider his plan a typical diet, calorie-based weight-loss approaches often fail, experts point out. Story Continues “Is a calorie a calorie when it comes to weight loss? Technically, yes. That’s what is going to work in this situation,” says Tara Schmidt, lead registered dietitian for the New Mayo Clinic Diet. “The topics that have not yet been addressed, though, are nutrient density (diet quality), balance, and sustainability. Research tells us that any calorie-controlled diet program will work, but most people will experience weight regain when they are no longer able to maintain it.” While portion control can lead to weight loss, weight should not be framed as the sole measurement of health. Solely focusing on weight glosses over the importance of other health metrics integral to maintaining optimal health and a sense of well-being. “In the realm of food choices, it’s also notable to consider the quality of food being consumed and its impact on the body,” says Tara Schmidt, lead registered dietitian for the New Mayo Clinic Diet. In fact, the type of foods we eat can help reduce the risk of chronic conditions like heart ******** and diabetes. Highly processed foods, like fried foods, can cause inflammation, putting people at risk for long-term health conditions like heart ********, type 2 diabetes, and *******. Fast food is also high in sodium and low in fiber, which means it is digested quickly and can induce what feels like a sugar ******, which can negatively affect mood and trigger fatigue. Eating diverse foods is also associated with a stronger gut microbiome, which helps protect us from illness. “By consuming a large number of different plant fibers, that gives the building blocks for the emergence of diverse bacterial populations,” Dr. Richard Day, vice president of medical affairs and clinical development at ADM, a food processing company, previously told Fortune. And the Mediterranean diet—a way of eating based on abundance and the prioritization of a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based protein—has been associated with longevity. Aiming for 30 different plants a week can improve the gut microbiome, reducing inflammation and improving heart and brain health. While Maginnis can choose from the entire McDonald’s menu, the options are still limited, as his videos show. So the McDonald’s-or-bust way may not be for everyone. And while Maginnis says he understands other factors can improve his overall health, until day 100, he’s sticking with half of the best of what McDonald’s has to offer. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Source link #man #vowed #eat #McDonalds #day #days #lost #pounds Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dozens of flood warnings in place after man ***** Dozens of flood warnings in place after man ***** PA Media Areas in Northern Ireland were affected by flooding on Saturday Dozens of flood warnings and alerts remain in place across England on Sunday as disruption from Storm Bert continues in many parts of the ***. A man in his 60s ***** on Saturday after a tree hit his car near Winchester, while a number of homes were flooded in counties Down and Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Yellow warnings for wind and rain are in place for western parts of Scotland and Wales, south-east England and Northern Ireland on Sunday. Meanwhile, there were 81 flood warnings in place across England, Wales and Scotland on Sunday morning. As of 08:00 GMT, there were 56 flood warnings in place in England, 36 in Wales and four in Scotland. There were also 169 flood alerts in place in England, 36 in Wales and six in Scotland. Storm Bert has caused roads and homes to flood, and led to power cuts. Around 28,000 properties are without power across the ***, according to PowerOutage, a data aggregator. In Denbighshire, north Wales, five adults and five children were rescued from a house following a landslide on Saturday. Following hours of heavy rain and wind caused by Storm Bert, residents in Dundonald in Northern Ireland were stuck in their houses due to the flood water on Saturday. Meanwhile, up to 10 homes may have been flooded in Coalisland. Travel has also been disrupted, with roads and train lines affected by floodwater, fallen trees and other debris. PA Media Milder temperatures are causing the snow which covered much of Scotland to melt Since Storm Bert made landfall on Friday, three men have ***** on the roads – though only one has been directly linked to Bert. Parts of Scotland are bracing for a second day of disruption with high winds and localised flooding after Storm Bert swept heavy snow and rain across the country. The central belt was hit by more snow that anticipated on Saturday, causing disruption on roads. The M8 saw long traffic jams and two of the main routes south – the M74 and A68 – were closed for a time due to accidents. Milder temperatures are causing the snow which covered the north of England and much of Scotland earlier this week to melt. PA Media Houses in Dundonald in Northern Ireland were flooded Avanti West Coast cancelled its service between Edinburgh and Carlisle all day on Saturday with the next direct service from Carlisle not scheduled to run until Sunday afternoon. Train journeys to and from Manchester Piccadilly were disrupted on Saturday evening as flooding between Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent blocked some lines. Source link #Dozens #flood #warnings #place #man #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russell wins in Vegas, Verstappen takes out F1 title Russell wins in Vegas, Verstappen takes out F1 title Max Verstappen has been crowned champion of the world for a fourth successive year after finishing fifth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix won in dominant style by George Russell. Verstappen needed only to outscore Lando Norris to become just the sixth driver in Formula One history to win four titles or more. And, with Norris taking the chequered flag in only sixth, Verstappen is guaranteed the world crown with two races remaining. Lewis Hamilton raced back from 10th to second to complete an impressive one-two finish for Mercedes. Carlos Sainz finished third for Ferrari, one place ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc. Australia’s Oscar Piastri, in his McLaren, started eighth on the grid and finished one place better. Russell’s third victory was the most dominant of his career so far, crossing the line 7.3 seconds clear of Hamilton, but the night on the Strip will be remembered for Verstappen cementing his name among the sport’s greats. Verstappen’s fourth title, all but sealed three weeks ago following his wet-weather masterclass in Brazil, sees him emulate Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel as a four-time world champion, with only Hamilton and Michael Schumacher (both with seven) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five) now ahead of the all-conquering Dutchman in the record books. And after Verstappen raced to four wins from the opening five rounds this year – against the backdrop of the furore surrounding his boss, Red Bull team principal ********** Horner – many F1 observers were expecting the Dutchman to run away with the title. But Red Bull’s superiority suddenly vanished into thin air, with McLaren, Ferrari and even Mercedes at times boasting quicker cars. Red Bull are on course to finish third in the constructors’ championship this year. This century only Hamilton in 2008 with McLaren, and Verstappen in 2021, have won the drivers’ title when their team did not win the constructors’ championship. Verstappen started fourth in Sin City and worked his way up to second before Hamilton zoomed past on lap 31. The Dutchman then came under pressure from both Sainz and Leclerc in the closing stages, with the Spaniard moving past on lap 42 before Leclerc relegated the Red Bull man to fifth five laps later. But Verstappen, who has won only one of the last 12 races, crossed the line comfortably clear of Norris to be sure of the title. “Max Verstappen you are a four-time world champion,” said Horner on the radio. “That is a phenomenal, phenomenal achievement. You can be incredibly proud of yourself.” An emotional Verstappen responded: “Oh my **** man, what a season. Four times. It was a little bit more difficult than last year.” For Mercedes, the grid’s once-all conquering team will be staggered at their pace here. Russell’s win never looked in doubt after he nailed his start, while Hamilton picked off the opposition at will to make up eight places with relative ease. Source link #Russell #wins #Vegas #Verstappen #takes #title Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Review: Affordable and Reliable Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Review: Affordable and Reliable Infinix has made steady efforts to make its presence felt in the laptop segment. The brand has consistently launched laptops that cater to different segments like gaming or thin and light categories. With the launch of its Inbook Air Pro+, the company plans to disrupt the market with some value-for-money proposition. Priced at Rs. 49,990, the latest laptop from the brand comes loaded with some interesting specifications, including a slim and lightweight design, a 13th Intel Core i5 processor, an OLED display, and more. So, does it make sense to go for this laptop? Let’s find out in this in-depth review. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Laptop Design: Sleek and Lightweight Dimension – 315.6 x 225.6 x 15.3mm Weight – 1kg Colours – Silver, Brown Infinix has made sure you get some premium-looking laptops at this price segment with the latest machine. At a time when most of the affordable laptops come with not-so-great designs, the Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ stands out with its sleek and light profile. The laptop is available in two colour options: Silver and Brown. The laptop weighs 1kg and offers 4.5mm thickness at the slimmest point, making it one lightest and thinnest laptops in this segment. The device is available in two colour options: Silver and Brown. I got the former for the review, and it sure gives a decent look, though you might find some similarities to the MacBook Air in terms of design. The laptop shell is made using aluminium and magnesium alloy, which offers some durability. The built quality is decent enough. The lid provides a smooth texture with the brand’s logo at the centre. However, the sturdiness of the lid is not so great. First of all, you will feel some tightness when opening the lid, and the hinge does not feel that strong as the wobble issue persists here. Opening the lid, you will find a backlit keyboard and a large touchpad. The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ comes wtih some good connectivity ports. As for the ports, the laptop offers a decent amount of ports for everyday usage. You get two USB Type-C ports and a HDMI port on the left side. On the right side, there is a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB Type-C port. That said, the Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ does offer a sleek design language, which is surely a plus point in this price segment. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Display: Smooth and Vibrant Display – 14-inch OLED screen Resolution – 2.8K (1800×2880 pixels) Refresh Rate – 120Hz Coming to the display, the Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ packs a decent display in a compact form factor. The device is packed with a 2.8K (1800×2880 pixel) resolution and offers a 14-inch OLED display. The colour reproduction of the device is really good, and you will enjoy watching movies on it. The saturation levels are good enough, all thanks to the OLED screen. The laptop also has a 120Hz screen refresh rate, making the animation much smoother than the standard 60Hz panels. The laptop is one of the few in the segment that comes equipped with an OLED screen and 120Hz screen refresh rate. The laptop comes loaded with up to 440 nits of peak brightness, which is good enough for the indoor work environment. However, it is not that great for outdoor conditions, primarily because of the reflective screen. So, if a light source is directly behind you, you might face some trouble using the laptop’s screen. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Keyboard, Touchpad, Speakers, and Webcam Keyboard – Backlit keyboard Webcam -Full HD+ IR camera Speakers – Quad Speakers The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ offers a backlit chiclet-styled keyboard. The LEDs are decent enough to give a comfortable typing experience in low-light conditions and come with two levels of brightness. The laptop comes with a backlit keyboard and a large touchpad. Coming to the performance, there is a decent key travel with some little tactile feedback. That said, the typing experience was decent enough for a short-term basis, but during prolonged sessions, you will feel a bit tired. That said, you get a dedicated CoPilot key right next to The laptop also comes with a large touchpad slab made of glass. The overall experience is pretty average, to be honest. However, the response is good, with no rattling sound when you click. However, the right and left click is placed at the very bottom, which makes it difficult to reach. So, pairing a Bluetooth mouse could be a better alternative. In terms of security, you get an IR-based camera for Windows Hello support, which is a rare thing in this price segment. The IR-based Windows Hello feature works effortlessly, even when the lights are dim in the room. The FUll HD camera is also decent for video calls, and the dual microphone captures the sound nicely. The audio output is also good on this one. The four speakers are loud enough but lack some punch on higher volumes. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Software: Decent Operating System – Windows 11 Pro Other Features – Flashlink The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ runs the Windows 11 Pro operating system. The device also comes with a Copilot AI along with a dedicated Copilot button, which is now becoming a standard in the laptop segment. You can simply log in with your Microsoft account and ask multiple questions to the chatbot. The laptop also comes with a Flash LInk feature that helps with the effortless sharing of content between your mobile device and laptop. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Performance: Reliable for Daily Usage Chipset – Intel Core i5-1334U SoC RAM – 16GB LPDDR4X ROM – 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD GPU – Intel Iris Xe Graphics The thin and light Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ is powered by the 13th Intel Core i5-1334U processor. It also packs 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Coming to the performance, the Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ is a reliable machine at this price segment. I have compiled some synthetic benchmarks to give you a glimpse of its performance. Benchmark Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Cinebench R23 Single Core 5310 Cinebench R23 Multi Core 1264 Geekbench 6 Single Core 2277 Geekbench 6 Multi Core 8168 PC Mark 10 5219 3DMark Night Raid 12991 3DMark CPU Profile 2933 3DMark Steel Nomad Light 997 CrystalDiskMark 3459.20 MB/s (Read)/ 2541.40 MB/s (Write) That said, the laptop glides effortlessly during day-to-day tasks. So, whether be it scrolling on the web, watching movies, editing documents or photos, the laptop performance is stable in most cases. Even with heavy multitasking, like opening multiple tabs, playing YouTube, and writing an article on Microsoft Word, the laptop is good enough. The thermal performance is also good throughout the day, which is good. The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ is powered by 13th Intel Core i5 processor that delivers stable day-to-day performance. However, it is not suitable for running heavy tasks like video or photo editing but works great as an office device. You can also run casual arcade games on this machine, but not expect much with recent or graphics-heavy games. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Laptop Battery: Average Battery Capacity – 57 Wh Lithium Polymer (Typical) Fast Charging – 65W USB Type-C Adapter The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ comes loaded with an average battery life. The device comes with 57W power support, which might not seem extensive, but it can glide throughout the day with mild usage. However, if you are doing some heavy office work, then the laptop will deliver close to five hours of battery life. However, the fast-charging support comes in handy in this situation, and the laptop can be fully charged in under two hours. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ Laptop Verdict The Infinix Inbook Air Pro+ is an interesting offering at this price point. The laptop offers a sleek and lightweight design and offers a decent display. The laptop comes with a stable performance, which is enough to glide throughout the day without much hassle. However, it does come with some share of misses. The reflective screen makes it a bit tough to see the screen in outdoor conditions, while the touchpad needs to be more precise. That said, for Rs 49,990, it is still one of the slimmest and lightest laptops available in the market that can deliver stable performance. Source link #Infinix #Inbook #Air #Pro #Review #Affordable #Reliable Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

NYC millionaire claims he’s now $12M in debt, wife suspects hidden funds — who wins when a divorce drags on? NYC millionaire claims he’s now $12M in debt, wife suspects hidden funds — who wins when a divorce drags on? NYC millionaire claims he’s now $12M in debt, wife suspects hidden funds — who wins when a divorce drags on? It may come as a bit of a surprise that John H. Foster, managing partner of the $800 million private equity firm HealthPointCapital, claims to be $12 million in debt. It certainly caused his soon-to-be ex-wife, Stephaine Foster, to raise her eyebrows. While John attributes his financial trouble to Stephanie’s alleged lavish spending, causing his nearly $50 million net worth to fall – Stephanie suspects there’s more to the story. “He’s asset-stripping the marital estate,” Stephanie told The Post in an exclusive interview. Stephanie questioned John’s financial struggles, pointing out his indulgent habits. According to Stephanie, the 82-year-old has been flying between Florida and New York for high-end beauty treatments, including Botox, hair dyeing and manicures. According to The Post, Stephanie’s lawyer, BriAnne Copp, reinforced her skepticism during a recent hearing stating, “While he’s lived a fabulous lifestyle for the last 60 years, now that he’s embroiled in a divorce, now he’s suddenly $12 million in debt.” As the couple’s legal battle continues to unfold, whether John is hiding assets — and what Stephanie is ultimately entitled to — ******** unresolved. But their ongoing disagreement sure is costing them. In June, Copp alleged that John had been manipulating his finances since the start of the divorce proceeding to avoid having part of his money go to his wife, Stephanie. This accusation came after Stephanie allegedly discovered a text in John’s phone stating his intention to claim he was in debt and leave her penniless after the divorce. But John’s assets don’t paint a picture of someone in debt. Take, for example, as Copp alleges, his Texas ranch and Gulfstream IV-SP jet. More recently, Copp claims John purchased an $800,000 Hinckley yacht and deposited over $3 million into his account within the last year. But if John is in debt, what would that mean for Stephanie? Debt division in divorce can depend on the type of debt and whether it was accrued before or during the marriage, or after the date of separation, depending on the state. A court may also factor in equitable distributions of liabilities according to state law. Story Continues However, if John is fabricating his financial struggles, the consequences could be severe. State laws typically require spouses to exchange detailed information about their financial assets. As part of the discovery process, a spouse could even hire a forensic accountant who specializes in tracing hidden funds. But as long as neither party budges on their stance in the divorce, the legal bills will keep climbing. Read more: I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 3 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Divorce, especially lengthy cases, can be expensive. On average, the cost per person can be between $15,000 to $20,000 and can increase to $100,000 for more complex cases, according to Forbes. Celebrity divorce lawyer, Laura Wasser — known for representing Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and Ariana Grande — warns that the biggest mistake couples make during a divorce is letting lawyers escalate their conflicts. “The biggest mistake couples make is not owning what’s going on,” she told CNBC in an interview. “If you let lawyers take control of it, remember, we lawyers make money from your conflict.” Wasser, who charges $1,000 an hour with no discounts, makes it clear that the longer the divorce goes on, the more money it will cost both parties. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #NYC #millionaire #claims #hes #12M #debt #wife #suspects #hidden #funds #wins #divorce #drags Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]