Pelican Press

‘Cowardly’: WSW coach Stajcic backs Mata bench decision ‘Cowardly’: WSW coach Stajcic backs Mata bench decision Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic has blasted criticism surrounding his decision to bench high-profile A-League Men recruit Juan Mata as “cowardly”. Backing his choice to start the Spaniard on the bench for the Sydney derby, Stajcic slammed Mata’s player agent in the aftermath of their 4-2 Unite Round loss at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. The new Wanderers coach had drawn the ire of agent Fahid Ben Khalfallah after he benched the former Manchester ******* star at halftime during their round four 4-3 loss to Adelaide *******. Mata’s arrival to Western Sydney had generated massive hype, given his brilliant career included winning the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros with Spain. “I think it’s just insane,” former Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar player Khalfallah told the A-League Off Air podcast before their Unite Round fixture. “When you bring someone like him, you have to play him in a system that suits him. “I think it’s disrespectful. I hate it. I really, really hate it because it makes no sense to me.” Mata did not start in the Sydney derby, instead joining the fray in the 57th minute. Asked about why he had started the 36-year-old on the bench, Stajcic said: “His agent doesn’t control the team. “Juan’s come to the team, he’s humble. “I’ve got 12 guys who don’t play every game. I don’t get phone calls from every single agent whose player is not playing. “I think he’s (Khalfallah) got a bit too much oxygen, to be honest. Fahid and his comments were out of order. “They were cowardly.” Mata’s fitness levels have been a talking point since the Wanderers announced the signing in early September. He had not played competitive football in a year when he joined Western Sydney on a one-year deal, last featuring for 10 minutes off the bench for J1 League team Vissel Kobe in September 2023. The midfielder’s last start across any league or tournament – before arriving at the ALM – was in March that year when he was playing for Turkish club Galatasaray. But Stajcic dismissed suggestions Mata had lacked fitness when he was benched in their Adelaide game and reiterated how important the Spanish star was to the Wanderers after their Sydney loss. “Juan came on and had some good moments. It was a tough game to come into,” Stajcic said. “He controlled the game a little bit, had some moments where he could have done a little bit better as well. “He’s an important player for us at the moment. There were moments of the game where we needed him there, and he had some good actions. “It’s up to him to be able to contribute when he does come on.” Sydney’s rival marquee signing Douglas Costa returned to the pitch for their second-ever ALM game after picking up a hamstring injury. Costa was substituted out at half-time but Stajcic’s counterpart Ufuk Talay said the move was to prevent further injury. “He was always going to play 45 minutes, and it’s great that he got the minutes in his legs,” Talay said. Source link #Cowardly #WSW #coach #Stajcic #backs #Mata #bench #decision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Super Meat Boy now free on PC until December 25 Super Meat Boy now free on PC until December 25 A classic 2010 indie game originating from the Xbox 360 is up for grabs as the holidays are around the corner. There is a catch though (and not just in terms of availability), so don’t head over to your PCs so fast. For anyone looking for some early 2010s nostalgia and another game to pick up during the holidays, you are more than covered with the 2010 indie game Super Meat Boy, developed by the devs calling themselves Team Meat. As reported by ComicBook, Super Meat Boy is free for PC gamers to grab until Christmas Day. Here’s the catch – the free deal is only available on the Epic Games Store rather than on another popular digital storefront such as Steam, and PC gamers will need an Amazon Prime subscription. Thus, Super Meat Boy on the Epic Games Store can be unlocked here with the code provided by Prime Gaming. If you try to pick up the game without a Prime subscription or purchase on Steam, the game will cost you $14.99. SMB’s page on the EGS has the following description: Super Meat Boy is a tough as nails platformer where you play as a boy without skin who needs to save his girlfriend made of bandages from an evil fetus in a jar wearing a top hat and a monocle. After SMB’s original release on the Xbox 360, it was ported to other platforms including the PS4, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. A sequel released in 2020 called Super Meat Boy Forever did not receive the same success though. But on the more positive side, SMB was featured in the 2012 documentary Indie Games: The Movie (via Polygon). Source link #Super #Meat #Boy #free #December Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Scientists Have Confirmed What’s Inside The Moon Scientists Have Confirmed What’s Inside The Moon Well, the verdict is in. The Moon is not made of green cheese after all. A thorough investigation published in May 2023 found that the inner core of the Moon is, in fact, a solid ball with a density similar to that of iron. This, researchers hope, will help settle a long debate about whether the Moon’s inner heart is solid or molten, and lead to a more accurate understanding of the Moon’s history – and, by extension, that of the Solar System. “Our results,” wrote a team led by astronomer Arthur Briaud of the French National Centre for Scientific Research in France, “question the evolution of the Moon magnetic field thanks to its demonstration of the existence of the inner core and support a global mantle overturn scenario that brings substantial insights on the timeline of the lunar bombardment in the first billion years of the Solar System.” Probing the interior composition of objects in the Solar System is most effectively accomplished through seismic data. The way acoustic waves generated by quakes move through and reflect from material inside a planet or moon can help scientists create a detailed map of the object’s interior. We happen to have lunar seismic data collected by the Apollo mission, but its resolution is too low to accurately determine the inner core’s state. We know there is a fluid outer core, but what it encompasses ******** under debate. Models of a solid inner core and an entirely fluid core work equally well with the Apollo data. To figure it out once and for all, Briaud and his colleagues collected data from space missions and lunar laser-ranging experiments to compile a profile of various lunar characteristics. These include the degree of its deformation by its gravitational interaction with Earth, the variation in its distance from Earth, and its density. Artist’s impression of different instruments measuring the properties of the Moon to reveal its core. (Géoazur/Nicolas Sarter) Next, they conducted modeling with various core types to find which matched most closely with the observational data. They made several interesting findings. Firstly, the models that most closely resembled what we know about the Moon describe active overturn deep inside the lunar mantle. This means that denser material inside the Moon falls towards the center, and less dense material rises upwards. This activity has long been proposed as a way of explaining the presence of certain elements in volcanic regions of the Moon. The team’s research adds another point in the “for” tally of evidence. And they found that the lunar core is very similar to that of Earth – with an outer fluid layer and a solid inner core. According to their modeling, the outer core has a radius of about 362 kilometers (225 miles), and the inner core has a radius of about 258 kilometers (160 miles). That’s about 15 percent of the entire radius of the Moon. The inner core, the team found, also has a density of about 7,822 kilograms per cubic meter. That’s very close to the density of iron. Curiously, in 2011 a team led by NASA Marshall planetary scientist Renee Weber found a similar result using what were then state-of-the-art seismological techniques on Apollo data to study the lunar core. They found evidence of a solid inner core with a radius of about 240 kilometers, and a density of about 8,000 kilograms per cubic meter. Their results, Briaud and his team say, are confirmation of those earlier findings, and constitute a pretty strong case for an Earth-like lunar core. And this has some interesting implications for the Moon’s evolution. We know that not long after it formed, the Moon had a powerful magnetic field, which started to decline about 3.2 billion years ago. Such a magnetic field is generated by motion and convection in the core, so what the lunar core is made of is deeply relevant to how and why the magnetic field disappeared. Given humanity’s hope to return to the Moon in relatively short order, perhaps we won’t have long to wait for seismic verification of these findings. The research has been published in Nature. A version of this article was first published in May 2023. Related News Source link #Scientists #Confirmed #Whats #Moon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A Simple Change Will Solve the Cheating Problem on ****** Ops 6 But Treyarch Won’t Allow It A Simple Change Will Solve the Cheating Problem on ****** Ops 6 But Treyarch Won’t Allow It Cheaters have plagued the Call of Duty franchise since its inception, and it seems like its recent installment, ****** Ops 6 has fallen victim to the same fate. From wallhacks to aimbots, players have been using various cheats to gain an unfair advantage or simply to ruin the experience for others ‘ just for fun.’ But more often than not, it’s the PC players who are the culprits. Players have been frustrated due to the immense presence of cheaters. | Image Credit: Treyarch This creates a huge problem for console users, who are forced to crossplay. When matched with a cheater in the same lobby, many players feel powerless and unable to enjoy a fair and competitive experience. The solution is simple: give players the ability to disable crossplay. Unfortunately, Treyarch has yet to allow this, leaving many players frustrated and asking for change. Crossplay Has Become a Double-Edged Sword for ****** Ops 6 Crossplay has become a bane in the eyes of console users. | Image Credit: Treyarch For years, the Call of Duty franchise has used crossplay as a major selling point, and it has been a blessing for most parts. The main idea behind enabling crossplay is to unite the entire playerbase, whether they are playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. This makes it fairly easy for players to find match lobbies and, overall, create a diverse community. While there are ways to get cheats on consoles, due to less hardware flexibility, they are ******* to implement. As a result, PC players are often the primary offenders, using hacks like wallhacks and aimbots. Although Treyarch has spent years trying to improve its anti-cheat, it has not worked effectively and there is still a huge influx of cheaters. The real issue arises when these PC cheaters get matched with console players. Since ****** Ops 6 doesn’t allow console users to disable crossplay, they are bound to match with PC users. While the situation is not at the point where every match has a cheater (for console users), it is still a major problem and often leads to ruining the gameplay experience. On paper, crossplay is a great feature that allows the community to interact with each other, even though they are on different platforms. But the reality is that, for the past few years, it has become a curse for the community, especially for the console users. Why Won’t Treyarch Make This Change? The developer needs to start listening to its community and implement the change. | Image Credit: Treyarch It is clear that there are many benefits to giving players the toggle to disable crossplay. For console users, this would mean fewer chances of finding themselves against cheaters. For PC users, the main benefit is that they are all on the same playing field, meaning everyone in the lobby will have no built-in aim assist. Given how popular Call of Duty is, there is no doubt that matching won’t be an issue, even if crossplay is disabled. However, the reality is that Treyarch won’t give the ability to disable it anytime soon. The main reason, aside from the matchmaking concerns, for this decision seems to be about maintaining competitive integrity in ranked games. However, this logic falls apart when anyone considers the cheating problem on PC. The sheer amount of cheaters actively undermines the very fairness that the developer is trying to protect. It’s time for Treyarch to listen to its community and make the simple, yet impactful change that would solve one of the biggest issues in ****** Ops 6. In the end, while players are waiting for the developer to make the decision, the cheating problem will likely continue to get worse, leaving players frustrated and wondering when the condition of the lobbies will be fixed. Source link #Simple #Change #Solve #Cheating #Problem #****** #Ops #Treyarch #Wont Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Would-Be Burglar Caught Absorbed in Story of Homer’s Iliad Would-Be Burglar Caught Absorbed in Story of Homer’s Iliad The Greeks defend their ships from the Trojans in Alfred Churchill’s Story of Homer’s Iliad, 1911. A would-be burglar entered an apartment, saw a book on Homer’s Iliad, and made himself comfortable so he could read the book—that is until he was caught later on, still absorbed in his reading. Italian media reported recently that the 38-year-old man entered the apartment in the Prati district of the Italian capital through a balcony with the intent to steal. He stopped to look at the book and ended up being engrossed in it. The 71-year-old owner of the house is said to have woken up and confronted the alleged thief, who was absorbed in the book. He called the police, and they arrived at the apartment shortly after. After being taken by surprise, the would-be thief tried to escape by jumping from the same balcony. He did so but was caught shortly after. He reportedly told police he went up to the building to visit an acquaintance. However, in his possession, he had a bag containing expensive clothing that had been stolen from a nearby apartment earlier that evening. Author of the book reacts with good humor News of the ******* break-in attracted the attention of the book’s author, Giovanni Nucci. Nucci was pleasantly surprised by the incident. He told local media that he wanted to send the would-be burglar a copy to finish reading it. The title of the book is The Gods at Six O’Clock, which is an imaginary analysis of the Iliad from the perspective of the ancient Greek gods involved. “It’s fantastic. I’d like to find the person caught red-handed and give them the book, because he was caught halfway through reading it. I wish he could finish it. It’s a surreal story, full of humanity,” the author told the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. Nucci also mentioned that his favorite **** is Hermes, the patron of thieves as well as literature. “It’s clear, everything fits,” he joked. Homer’s Iliad: A story for the ages For many, Homer’s Iliad is the foundation of Western literature. Along with the Odyssey, his epic poems of heroism, glory, and honor have served as standards of writing for authors since the 8th to 7th century BC, when they were written. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who “has taught Greece.” In Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as “Poet sovereign” and king of all poets. Moreover, in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the “greatest of poets.” From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film. Source link #WouldBe #Burglar #Caught #Absorbed #Story #Homers #Iliad Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Assisted Dying Debate: Ex-PM Gordon Brown Intervenes The Assisted Dying Debate: Ex-PM Gordon Brown Intervenes And, could French missiles also now be fired into Russian territory? Source link #Assisted #Dying #Debate #ExPM #Gordon #Brown #Intervenes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back ****** Ops 6 Players Claim Every Update Introduces More Glitches One Step Forward, Two Steps Back ****** Ops 6 Players Claim Every Update Introduces More Glitches ****** Ops 6 players report even more glitches following the latest update. The community expresses its dissatisfaction with the game. Source link #Step #Steps #****** #Ops #Players #Claim #Update #Introduces #Glitches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Laos mass poisoning casts shadow over tourist town after at least 6 ******* – National Laos mass poisoning casts shadow over tourist town after at least 6 ******* – National A little town known as a backpacker paradise in northern Laos has come under spotlight for a mass poisoning case that has ******* at least six tourists and potentially injured scores of others. The Laotian government on Saturday officially acknowledged the case and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. News broke earlier this week that two *********** teens became critically ill after a night out drinking in the town of Vang Vieng. They ***** in Thai hospitals, with one confirmed case of methanol poisoning. A British woman was also confirmed *****. An ********* and two Danes also *****, though their exact causes of ****** have not been released. A New Zealander has been sickened. Since then, many tourists have become worried as it’s unclear how many have been affected, said Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns a restaurant in the town. Story continues below advertisement The incident has stirred up dark memories of the town once known for reckless partying involving young backpackers. But despite the tragedy, the town, especially at night, was packed by visitors in its main neighborhood bustling with bars, restaurants and food stalls. During the daytime, many kayaks floated along the river, with tourists shouting and splashing water at each other. Foreign tourists ride on boats in a river in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath). Frida Svedberg left Sweden five weeks ago for her big Southeast Asia trip with no firm return plan. She said she had heard about the news just before she arrived in Laos and has been bombarded with messages from concerned family members and friends. She still went ahead with her original plan to spend three nights in the town. She found it as beautiful as expected. “Obviously it’s like a famous backpacker place. You go from Thailand Luang Prabang and then to Vang Vieng and then you keep going. I’ve just heard good things about it and it’s where most people go,” the 24-year-old said. Story continues below advertisement Vang Vieng used to be more dangerous Landlocked Laos, a one-party ********** state, is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations and a popular tourist destination, particularly Vang Vieng. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Soutjai Xayphankhaun, who has run his Sout Jai Guesthouse in Vang Vieng for 17 years, said the town back in 2005-2006 started to become popular among ********* backpackers, who were attracted by serene nature and activities like river tubing, where tourists sit on a tube and float along the Nam Song River, stopping to party at many different bars on the banks. It could get rowdy with cheap booze, ******** drugs and river sports sometimes turning deadly. People drowned or took a fatal ***** after jumping into the river on a rope swing. In 2011, the town recorded 27 deaths related to river activities, forcing the government to step in with regulations. Foreign tourists roam around in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath). Foreign tourists ride on vehicles in Namsong river in Vang Vieng, Laos, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath). After that, Farmiloe said Vang Vieng has been receiving much more eclectic groups of tourists who enjoy a wider range of activities aside from nightlife. There are still a lot of young Western backpackers, but the town is also visited by many ******** and South Koreans. Story continues below advertisement Tour agencies scattered along the main streets advertised a range of packages offering the clear turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon, serene mountaintop views and many different caves. Those more adventurous try kayaking, zip line, paragliding or hot air balloons. Tubing is still there, but with far fewer riverbank bars to visit than in the past. Locals worry the incident could hit tourism Vang Vieng received more than 600,000 tourists in 2023, and expected to see even more this year, the state-owned Laos News Agency quoted the district governor as saying earlier this year. But with the latest tourist deaths, guesthouse owner Soutjai is a little worried. “It’s about tourists and the confidence of tourists. The news was all around the world. There will definitely be an impact,” he said. A foreign tourist jumps in the water in Blue lagoon, in Vang Vieng, Laos, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath). Swedish tourist Anton Honkanen said what happened did affect his experience. Story continues below advertisement “I think it destroys the value of backpacking a little bit. Because everyone just enjoys this time. Maybe meeting some new people at the hostels, taking some drinks with all kinds of people from all around the world. And now I won’t do it today because of the poisoning,” he said. Svedberg, however, said what happened was unfortunate and shouldn’t stop people from coming. “Things can happen anywhere, everywhere. So I think it doesn’t have to affect tourism. Just be cautious.” The ***** Backpacker Hostel, where the two *********** teens stayed, shut its gate on Saturday. It had not been allowed to take new guests since early this week and was accommodating the remaining visitors until Friday. Its manager and owner, who are Vietnamese, have been detained for questioning by the Lao police. Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or ******. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew *******, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently. More on World More videos &copy 2024 The ********* Press Source link #Laos #mass #poisoning #casts #shadow #tourist #town #******* #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lego Mario Question Block Model Set Gets ****** Friday Deal At Amazon And Walmart Lego Mario Question Block Model Set Gets ****** Friday Deal At Amazon And Walmart Lego discontinued the Super Mario 64 Question Block Model Set a few months ago, but multiple retailers still have units to sell before it’s gone for good. The even better news is that the 2,064-piece set is discounted for ****** Friday 2024 at Amazon and Walmart. You can add the Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block to your collection for $180 (was $200). This $20 discount already sold out at Target, so it’d be wise to secure one soon if interested. Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block Model Set (2,064 pieces) $180 ($200) Lego Super Mario 64 Question Block The 2,064-piece Lego set is shaped just like the iconic Question Mark blocks from the Super Mario series, and inside of it are several small dioramas of landscapes from Super Mario 64. You can construct the game’s hub world, Peach’s Castle, and a trio of levels: Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool Mountain, and Lethal Lava Trouble with this kit, and as you’d expect, the building process is a treat. Additionally, this comes with Lego Super Mario 64 microfigures of Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach, King Bob-omb, and Chain Chomp, and as an added touch, the entire set is compatible with the interactive Lego Mario/Luigi/Peach figures that come with the Lego Mario starter courses, which received cool new editions in August. Lego Nintendo Display Sets The Question Block is one of only five non-playset Lego Super Mario kits. Multiple of these sets tend to be hard to find at major retailers, including the Lego Nintendo Entertainment System. The Lego NES is in stock and discounted by $54 through November 24 as part of Lego Insiders Weekend. To get this rare discount, you simply need to sign up for a free rewards account. The Lego NES is a great build for two people to construct together, as it comes with separate instruction booklets for the CRT TV and console. Lego’s newest Super Mario display set for adults is a charming 1,215-piece Super Mario World-themed pixel art model of Mario and Yoshi. Lego Super Mario World: Mario and Yoshi released in October and is priced at $130. For a smaller-scale (and cheaper) build, check out the Piranha Plant, which is on ***** for only $48 at Amazon. The Piranha Plant is a fun 540-piece build with a Warp Pipe as its ****. Source link #Lego #Mario #Question #Block #Model #Set #****** #Friday #Deal #Amazon #Walmart Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Murray to coach Djokovic at *********** Open Murray to coach Djokovic at *********** Open Recently retired Andy Murray has agreed to join Novak Djokovic’s coaching team ahead of the *********** Open next year. Murray, who retired after the summer Olympics, will join the 24-times Grand Slam champion in the off-season and coach him through to the opening grand slam event of 2025. Murray’s representatives put out statements from both players on Saturday. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the *********** Open,” Murray said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic has spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other player in tennis history while old rival Murray won three major trophies and two Olympic singles gold medals and finished 2016 atop the ATP rankings. He retired as a player after the Paris Summer Games in August. “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach,” said Djokovic, whose 2024 season is over. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy, with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the *********** soil.” Both men are 37 and were born a week apart in May 1987. They started playing each other as juniors and wound up meeting 36 times as professionals, with Djokovic holding a 25-11 advantage. That includes an 11-8 lead head-to-head in finals, and 8-2 at Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic beat Murray four times in the *********** Open final alone, in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016. Next year’s *********** Open starts on January 12. Source link #Murray #coach #Djokovic #*********** #Open Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New Intel Battlemage GPU Specs ***** Ahead Of Reveal New Intel Battlemage GPU Specs ***** Ahead Of Reveal · · November 23, 2024 Intel is preparing to reveal its next generation of graphics cards, and it looks like some early specs have been leaked thanks to a, now removed, store listing. Amazon accidently listed, then removed, what appeared to be two Intel Battlemage GPUs from ASRock. According to the store listing, the Intel Arc B580 features 12GB of GDDR6 memory with a speed of 19Gbps. The card also features a 192-bit memory bus which would result in a 456 GB/s or so bandwidth. RELATED: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K Review: A New Era for Efficiency, But Is It Right for You? A couple interesting bits from the listing were the cards being PCIe x8 only as opposed to x16. Regarding boost frequency, the listing suggested a 2.8 GHz boost frequency compared to a 2.0 GHz from the Arc A580. When reached for comment in the past, Intel has declined to comment on any rumor or speculation. That said, a store listing adds credence to rumors that an announcement of their new graphics cards was set to come in December. Specification Intel Arc B580 GPU Battlemage BGM-G21 GPU Clock Speed 2.8 GHz Memory 12GB GDDR6 Memory Bus 192-bit Memory Speed 19 Gbps Memory Bandwidth 456 GB/s PCIe 5.0 x8 What do you think of the latest leaks for Intel’s Battlemage GPU? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums. For more Insider Gaming tech, check out the latest rumored specs for the next-generation Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Intel #Battlemage #GPU #Specs #***** #Ahead #Reveal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1 Unstoppable Growth Stock That Could Join Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft in the Trillion-Dollar Club By 2040 1 Unstoppable Growth Stock That Could Join Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft in the Trillion-Dollar Club By 2040 In 2018, Apple famously became the first publicly traded company in the U.S. to hit a $1 trillion valuation. Since then, several more have hit that milestone, including several of Apple’s peers in the tech industry: Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta Platforms. This group ******** highly exclusive, but many more corporations will join in the coming years. One of them could be Shopify (NYSE: SHOP), an e-commerce specialist currently sporting a market cap of $135 billion. Shopify needs a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 14.3% in the next 15 years to become a trillion-dollar stock. That’s not an easy task, but let’s find out why Shopify can pull it off. Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Shopify was created to address a real pain point for businesses trying to open online storefronts, which sometimes had to deal with design challenges, lack of flexibility, and other issues. Shopify changed that. The e-commerce specialist offers practically everything merchants need all in one spot, from hundreds of customizable templates and payment processing to inventory, social media tools, marketing, and more. Further, there is a built-in system that gives merchants many more options. Shopify’s app store is home to thousands of apps that cater to its customers’ ultra-specific needs. Since its 2015 IPO and with co-founder Tobias Lütke at the helm, Shopify has grown at a CAGR well above what it would need in the next 15 years to become a trillion-dollar stock. SHOP Total Return Level data by YCharts. There is some evidence in the academic literature that founder-led companies in the S&P 500 outperform the rest. It’s hard to argue that point when looking at the list of trillion-dollar companies. Nvidia and Meta Platforms are still headed by their co-founders. Amazon was also founder-led until relatively recently, and Microsoft and Apple did have long stints with their respective founders (or co-founders) as CEOs before they stepped down. Shopify following the same blueprint is no guarantee of success, but it’s worth pointing out that the e-commerce specialist has made it its goal to become a 100-year company. Few can come anywhere close to that, but Shopify is off to a pretty good start. One issue Shopify had was a lack of profitability. The company recently made some changes to its business that are helping on that front. Shopify sold its logistics business, a low-margin unit that was harming its bottom line. Since then, the company’s margins and profits have looked much better. In the third quarter, Shopify’s revenue grew by 26% year over year to $2.2 billion. Shopify’s net income was up 15% year over year to $828 million. Story Continues It had a 19% free cash flow margin, up from the 16% reported in the prior-year quarter. Shopify has increased its free cash flow margin sequentially during every quarter this year. No wonder the stock is up substantially year to date. More importantly, Shopify is still looking at a vast runway ahead. The growth of the e-commerce industry should provide the company with a powerful tailwind in the next decade and beyond. It allows people to do business with consumers or companies that would otherwise be beyond their reach. It also helps businesses save money on overhead costs, savings they can pass on to consumers. And despite its seeming ubiquity, e-commerce still has miles of growth left. Online transactions accounted for just 16.2% of total retail sales in the third quarter in the U.S. Further, Shopify benefits from a competitive advantage. Its app store has a network effect: The more developers within its ecosystem, the more it attracts merchants, and vice versa. The company’s main e-commerce offering benefits from switching costs. So, Shopify has many of the traits necessary to deliver market-beating returns over the long run: profitable growth, a long-term vision, plenty of opportunities, and a moat that will protect its leadership position in its niche. The company looks well on its way to becoming a trillion-dollar stock within 15 years. Before you buy stock in Shopify, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Shopify wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $869,885!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Shopify. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Unstoppable Growth Stock That Could Join Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft in the Trillion-Dollar Club By 2040 was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Unstoppable #Growth #Stock #Join #Nvidia #Apple #Amazon #Alphabet #Meta #Platforms #Microsoft #TrillionDollar #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Switch 2 Release Date Rumor Has Every Nintendo Fan Locked in for a December Reveal Switch 2 Release Date Rumor Has Every Nintendo Fan Locked in for a December Reveal As the end of the year is approaching, the speculation surrounding Nintendo Switch 2 is at an all-time high. Adding fuel to the ***** is the recent rumor suggesting that new details about the next-gen console could be revealed as soon as December, with the handheld potentially launching in the first quarter of 2025. The recent rumors have certainly created a huge buzz within the gaming community. | Image Credit: Nintendo The official statements from Nintendo’s President suggested that more details about the Switch successor might not be revealed until the end of the current fiscal year. However, the recent rumor (originating from a business email about an upcoming game) has certainly placed doubt in gamers’ minds on previous assumptions about the Switch 2’s launch timeline. The Business Email That’s Fueling Switch 2 Rumors The rumors surrounding a business email suggest that new details about the upcoming console might be revealed in December. | Image Credit: Nintendo According to streamer Stephen Georg, a business email he received recently about an upcoming game may have unintentionally revealed the potential launch window for Nintendo’s highly anticipated next-gen console. While it didn’t exactly mention the name of Switch, it did write Switch(es). Georg shared the details of the email with his audience, noting that the upcoming game is set to launch early in 2025 on PC (via Steam), Xbox One & Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and, crucially, Nintendo Switch(es). After seeing the details of the email, the community was buzzing with speculation and discussion about what this means. While some fans argue that this just refers to the original Switch, others are taking the speculation a step further, saying that game studios are likely aware of next-gen hardware. As a result, many believe the business email could be legitimate, and that there may be an official announcement at an upcoming event like The Game Awards. Just got an email about an upcoming game that includes this line: “rolling out Q1 2025 on PC (Steam), Xbox One & Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and…Nintendo Switch(es)!” That Switch 2 is right around the corner, man. Very curious when Nintendo will tell us about it. — Stephen Georg (@Stephen_Georg) November 22, 2024 Calling it now We’re getting our first look at The Game Awards — LeScarletSinger.Bsky.Social (@LeScarletSinger) November 22, 2024 Even fans on Reddit are speculating after seeing the post and asking the company to just drop the console already. They can’t wait any longer. Comment byu/ArcWardenScrub from discussion inGamingLeaksAndRumours Comment byu/ArcWardenScrub from discussion inGamingLeaksAndRumours The entire comment section is filled with speculations about the upcoming hybrid console. While many want to believe this rumor to become true, others are saying that Nintendo will just keep stalling more and slowly reveal details about the console. Why the December Reveal Rumors Are Somewhat Believable The December rumors are certainly plausible given the previous track record. | Image Credit: Nintendo First of all, it’s important to remember that this is all speculative at this point. Various leaks, rumors, and even the email Georg received should all be taken with a grain of Salt. Despite many knowing this, this rumor has certainly sparked a flurry of discussion in the community. If the fans remember correctly, the original Switch was also revealed in a similar fashion. Nintendo first teased the hybrid console around October 2016 and announced that more details would be revealed next year. But surprising everyone, the company dropped additional information just a couple of months later in December, when President Reggie Fils-Aimé appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This is a similar case. While the company has officially stated that more details will be revealed before 31st March 2025, leaving plenty of room for speculation. This could mean an announcement tomorrow or almost at the end of the day on 31st March (anything is possible). Additionally, a big industry event like The Game Awards is coming, where companies often make major announcements. So there is a possibility that Nintendo might reveal more details about the successor to the original Switch at the event (maybe with a trailer). In the end, until we hear something from official sources, it’s wise to take all rumors with a healthy dose of skepticism. But the idea that Switch 2 could be revealed as soon as December 2024 is certainly tantalizing, to say the least. Source link #Switch #Release #Date #Rumor #Nintendo #Fan #Locked #December #Reveal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jaguar asks people to “trust and reserve judgement” on rebrand Jaguar asks people to “trust and reserve judgement” on rebrand Jaguar A still from Jaguar’s new advert which was shared on social media. Jaguar has urged people to “trust and reserve judgement” over the rebrand of the carmaker. The company, embarking on the biggest change in its 102-year old history, released a new logo and a so-called “social media tease” this week, ahead of its relaunch as an electric-only brand in early December. The teaser video has faced backlash, with many critics pointing to the fact it doesn’t feature an actual car. Others have praised the company for being bold and shaking things up. Either way, the rebrand has grabbed people’s attention and Jaguar has since admitted it not only expected such debate – but it wanted it. In the 1960s, Jaguar launched the E-Type and XJ which have come to be known among some of the most iconic cars of all time. Now the company is trying to do the same again by unveiling of its new “design vision” in Miami next month. Teasing the vision online, the 30 second advert features models in extravagant, brightly-********* outfits who reveal the new company logo written as JaGUar. No cars, no suave men in suits, no big cats. “Do you sell cars?” was the response on X, from owner Elon Musk, who is also the boss of electric car firm Tesla. “This is surely a joke?” added one user, while another suggested the move would “cost jobs and do real damage”. Some said “Go woke, go broke”. Jaguar/PA Specsavers, known for its humorous social media manner, created a mock-up of its own logo in response, which looked like it had been created on Microsoft Paint. While supermarket Aldi chipped in at Jaguar’s “Copy Nothing” slogan with: “You sound like our legal team.” Amid the anger and sarcasm, Jaguar has doubled down on its decision, replying to some posts with phrases such as “To live is to evolve”. “We had to break rules and do something that would get us cut thru,” a spokesman told the BBC – suggesting this is all part of the plan. As Martin Brundle, the former Formula 1 racing driver turned broadcaster, put it: “I have no idea what this is all about, but it’s genius. “Everyone is talking about Jaguar in a moment of time when they’re not actually making cars.” ‘Maybe Jaguar wanted this response’ Lee Rolston is the chief growth officer of global branding agency Jones Knowles Ritchie and has worked on rebrands of household names such as Burger King and the RSPCA. He was also part of the thinking to famously drop the donuts from Dunkin’ to move “to a first-name basis with America”, given it was also one of country’s the biggest coffee sellers. He says rebrands occur generally when a company wants to “shift” its business strategy, which is what Jaguar is doing in its move to electric-only cars. In an “ideal world” the rebrand leads to buzz and a positive reaction, Mr Rolston adds, but to achieve that you need to “make sure people understand the context”. “Don’t ever just launch a logo – when people see a logo they tend to subjectively respond to it. It’s always good to show as much as you can,” he explains. “Unless you want that response. Maybe Jaguar did actually want this kind of response” Mr Rolston ponders. Getty Images The E-Type is a classic Jaguar sports car As a result of Jaguar’s rebrand strategy to tease and drip feed information of its plans, a void has been created, and that has been “filled by opinion”, Mr Rolston says. “They have taken a very brave route – it’s one that very, very few brands ever do take because it’s very risky, but time will tell.” It’s not new to not include a product in an ad or to raise eyebrows – the gorilla beating the drums to Phil Collins didn’t feature any Cadbury’s chocolate, for example. Keith Wells, founder and director of brand strategy business Brandwell, points out Apple’s “think different” advert in 1997 which, rather than showcasing its computers, instead featured the likes of Albert Einstein and Mahatma Gandhi. However, Mr Wells has first-hand experience of a rebrand backlash. Remember Consignia? (Readers under the age of 40 can be forgiven for not). In 2001, he led the consultancy Dragon Brands, which came up with the new corporate name for the Post Office Group. The aim was to create a new, modern umbrella brand for the restructured organisation, which included not just the Post Office, but Royal Mail and Parcelforce too. But the creation of Consignia led to a backlash from the public, largely due to people misinterpreting the rebrand. Jaguar The advert description on YouTube reads: “We’re here to delete ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing.” Some people thought Post Office branches would be renamed Consignia, which wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, the negativity, and a new leadership team, eventually led to Consignia being canned, and being renamed Royal Mail plc 16 months later. While Jaguar isn’t changing its name, Mr Wells says the brand has taken a “huge, bold step” and people should give “respect and time” to see how things pan out. Mr Rolston said “branding logic” suggests companies “lean into” their current perception with the public, but Jaguar appears to have shunned that. “Everything they have put out so far is not like a Jaguar. The question is, if it’s not a Jaguar as you used to know it, what is it?” Jaguar argues its rebrand can been traced by to the words from its founder, Sir William Lyons, that “A Jaguar should be a copy of nothing”. “Something has to change” But it’s clear, as Erin Baker, editorial director at AutoTrafer puts it, that the carmaker is trying to ditch the “sage” image, that its cars are only for older, white men, who perhaps frequent golf clubs, or wear cravats and smoke cigars. “It’s been languishing in terms of sales for years now,” she said. “Something has to change fundamentally with the brand.” But Ms Baker is a fan of the rebrand ad. “I think it needs to really stir emotion, it needs to stir curiosity, get people asking questions,” she says. Jaguar has been the weakest link within the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group owned by ***** Motors for almost a decade, with The Range Rover and Defender behind the company’s highest profits. Ms Baker believes Jaguar’s ******** rebrand is a final attempt to revive it. But what happens it doesn’t pay off? “I am not sure what else they can do,” adds Ms Baker. “It’s a very risky move to go pure electric in 2026 when sales of electric cars the world over have largely stalled amongst private buyers. “But the truth is…no one has an idea if this is going to succeed or not.” All agree that Jaguar probably won’t mind the current noise. Jaguar replied to some critics saying “soon you’ll see things our way”. Only time will tell. Source link #Jaguar #asks #people #trust #reserve #judgement #rebrand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More Broadcasts for The First Descendant Season 2 and Ultimate Sharen Shorts Coming Next Weekend More Broadcasts for The First Descendant Season 2 and Ultimate Sharen Shorts Coming Next Weekend Christopher|1d ago |Article|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source From November 20 (or November 21 in some parts of the world), to Wednesday, December 4, right before the huge maintenance and the release of Season 2, players can complete a couple of tasks to get some Thanksgiving-inspired rewards. PC PS4 PS5 The First Descendant Xbox One Xbox Series X n4g.com Read Full Story >> n4g.com Source link #Broadcasts #Descendant #Season #Ultimate #Sharen #Shorts #Coming #Weekend Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** strikes ***** dozens in Beirut, Gaza as diplomats push for ceasefire – National ******** strikes ***** dozens in Beirut, Gaza as diplomats push for ceasefire – National ******** airstrikes Saturday in central Beirut ******* at least 15 people, officials said, as the once-rare strikes in the heart of Lebanon’s capital continued without ******** warning, and as diplomats scrambled to broker a cease-*****. Dozens were also ******* in ******** strikes in the Gaza Strip between Thursday and Friday, including near hospitals, according to local health officials. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 63 people were wounded in the Beirut strikes, the fourth in the central part of the capital in less than a week. The escalation comes after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein traveled to the region in pursuit of a cease-***** deal to end months of fighting between ******* and Hezbollah that has erupted into full-on war. 2:17 *******-Hezbollah ceasefire discussed: reports ******** bombardment has ******* more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population. On the ******** side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been ******* by bombardment in northern ******* and the fighting. Story continues below advertisement Eight-story building turned to rubble The 4 a.m. strikes destroyed an eight-story building in central Beirut. Hezbollah legislator Amin Shiri said no Hezbollah officials were inside. Some facades were stripped from nearby buildings, and residents watched among crumpled cars. “The area is residential, with closely packed buildings and narrow streets, making the situation challenging,” said Walid Al-Hashash, a first responder with the Lebanese Civil Defense. *******’s military did not comment on the casualties. Also Saturday, a drone strike ******* two people and injured three in the southern port city of Tyre, according to the state-run National News Agency. Mohammed Bikai, spokesperson for the ****** ************ faction in the Tyre area, said those ******* were ************ refugees from nearby al-Rashidieh camp who were out fishing. 2:02 Hezbollah chief says indirect truce talks possible only if ******* stops attacks on Lebanon Despite a warning last month by *******’s army to avoid Lebanon’s southern coast, “you can’t tell someone who needs to eat that you can’t fish,” Bikai said. Story continues below advertisement The Health Ministry said other airstrikes ******* eight people, including four children, in the eastern town of Shmustar; five in the southern village of Roumin and five in the northeastern village of Budai. Sticking points in cease-***** talks Two Western diplomatic officials on Saturday described disputed points between ******* and Lebanon in cease-***** negotiations. Get daily National news Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks. The current proposal calls for a two-month cease-***** during which ******** forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. Thousands more Lebanese army troops would patrol the border area with U.N. peacekeepers, and an international committee would monitor implementation. The officials said ******* wanted more guarantees that Hezbollah’s weapons are removed from the border area. ******** officials have said they would not agree to a deal that did not explicitly grant them freedom to strike in Lebanon if they believe Hezbollah is violating it. Story continues below advertisement 2:02 ******* guilty of war ******* in Gaza: Human Rights Watch Lebanese officials have said the inclusion of such a term would violate Lebanon’s sovereignty, and Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem said this week the militant group would not agree to a deal that does not entail a “complete and comprehensive end to the aggression.” Lebanon and ******* also dispute which countries would sit on the monitoring committee. The officials said ******* refused to allow France, which has been close with Lebanon since its colonial rule there ended. Lebanon refused to have Britain, a close ally of *******. Deadly strikes in Gaza and people trapped in rubble In northern Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 80 people were ******* between Thursday and Friday, including near Kamal Adwan and Al-Ahli hospitals. It said dozens of people were trapped under the rubble. Story continues below advertisement *******’s army said it wasn’t aware of a strike near Kamal Adwan and didn’t respond about the other attacks. On Saturday, at least six people, including three children and two women, were ******* in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Associated Press reporters and staff at Nasser Hospital. “Suddenly we woke up to dust, smoke and a *****,” said one grieving father, Ahmad Ghassan. “We found him ***** and his brother injured.” Another father wept as he carried his child’s body in a bloodstained sheet. 1:35 *******-Gaza: U.S. vetoes UN Security Council resolution on ceasefire The ************ ****** toll from the 13-month-long conflict surpassed 44,000 this week, according to the ******-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. It has said more than half the ***** are women and children. The ******** military says it has ******* over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Story continues below advertisement The latest conflict began when ******-led militants stormed into southern ******* on Oct. 7, 2023, ******** some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be *****. The ******** offensive in Gaza has devastated wide areas, and around 90% of the population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands live in tent camps with little food, water or basic services. At least two women were shot ***** Saturday while waiting in line for bread in central Deir al-Balah, relatives and witnesses told the AP. It was unclear who shot them and why. Reactions continue to ICC warrants Conditions in Gaza prompted this week’s decision by the International ********* Court to issue arrest warrants for ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant based on “reasonable grounds” that they bear responsibility for a war ****** and ******* against humanity. The court also issued a warrant for top ****** official Mohammed Deif, who ******* claims it *******. Story continues below advertisement Netanyahu condemned the warrant. Global reactions have been mixed. 1:51 Trudeau says Canada will ‘abide’ by international law, after ICC issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu The U.K. reiterated its support for the court but stopped short of saying whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he visits. Russia doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and hasn’t commented. The U.S. also doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and has rejected its decision. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week that Canada would abide by the international court’s rules and regulations when asked if he would allow Netanyahu or Gallant to be arrested on ********* soil, prompting outrage from ******* groups and the ******** ambassador. Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an associate fellow in the International Security Program at London’s Chatham House think tank, said that even if Netanyahu won’t be able to travel to many ********* countries because of risk of arrest, he’ll go to the ******* States. Story continues below advertisement “That will only strengthen his ties to Donald Trump,” she said. —With additional file from Global News More on World More videos Source link #******** #strikes #***** #dozens #Beirut #Gaza #diplomats #push #ceasefire #National Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get up to 29 percent off Star Wars, Super Mario sets Get up to 29 percent off Star Wars, Super Mario sets It’s not hard to understand why Lego sets are some of the most sought-after gifts for the holidays. We’re big fans of the building blocks here at Engadget, and we know they make particularly good gifts this time of year. Whether it’s a Super Mario starter set or a mammoth Star Wars collectible, there are dozens of Lego sets to consider shopping for right now — be it for yourself or for someone on your gift list. And no, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good set as some come in at $50 or less. These are the best ****** Friday deals on Lego sets you can get this year.Most of these deals are on Amazon, but you can find the same (or similar) pricing direct at Lego and other retailers like Target. The highlights for ****** Friday include a couple of Lego advent calendars: one for Disney fans and another that’s more general for all kids. Lego makes a bunch of other advent calendars in addition to these, and we expect to see more of them go on ***** in the coming days. There’s also the beautiful Insect Collection, which when completed, includes three life-size, posable models of a butterfly, Hercules beetle and ******** mantis. Even as someone who detests bun appreciate the elegance of this set and how striking they’d look sitting on a shelf. Star Wars, Super Mario and Harry Potter sets have been discounted as well. For example, This King Boo’s Haunted Mansion set is on ***** for the first time since launch, and in addition to the brick mansion that opens out for better play, it includes King Boo, Yellow Baby Yoshi, Dry Bones and Boo figurines. We’ll be updating this post through the entire ****** Friday and Cyber Monday time *******, so check back for the latest offers. ****** Friday Lego deals Expired ****** Friday Lego deals Check out all of the latest ****** Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. Source link #percent #Star #Wars #Super #Mario #sets Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The peer review system no longer works to guarantee academic rigor—a different approach is needed The peer review system no longer works to guarantee academic rigor—a different approach is needed Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Peer review is a central feature of academic work. It’s the process through which research ends up published in an academic journal: independent experts scrutinize the work of another researcher in order to recommend if it should be accepted by a publisher and if and how it should be improved. Peer review is often assumed to guarantee quality, but it doesn’t always work well in practice. Every academic has their own peer-review horror stories, ranging from years-long delays to multiple tedious rounds of revisions. The cycle continues until the article is accepted somewhere or until the author gives up. On the other side, the work of reviewing is voluntary and also invisible. Reviewers, who often remain anonymous, go unrewarded and unrecognized, even though their work is an essential part of research communication. Journal editors find recruiting peer reviewers is increasingly difficult. And we know peer review, however much it is lauded, often does not work. It is sometimes biased, and too often allows errors, or even scholarly ******, to creep through. Clearly the peer-review system is broken. It is slow, inefficient and burdensome, and the incentives to carry out a review are low. Publish first In recent years, alternative ways to scrutinize research have emerged which attempt to fix some of the problems with the peer-review system. One of these is the “publish, review, curate” model. This reverses the traditional review-then-publish model. An article is first published online, then peer reviewed. While this approach is too new to understand how it compares with traditional publishing, there is optimism about its promise, suggesting that increased transparency in the review process would speed scientific progress. We have set up a platform using the publish, review, curate model for the field of metaresearch—research about the research system itself. Our aims are both to innovate peer review in our field and to study this innovation as a metaresearch experiment of sorts. This initiative will help us to understand how we can improve peer review in ways that we hope will have implications for other fields of research. The platform, called MetaROR (MetaResearch Open Review), has just been launched. It is a partnership between an academic society, the Association for Interdisciplinary Meta-Research and Open Science, and a non-profit metaresearch accelerator, the Research on Research Institute. In the case of MetaROR, authors first publish their work on a preprint server. Preprints are versions of research papers made available by their authors before peer review as a way of accelerating the dissemination of research. Preprinting has been common in a few academic disciplines for decades, but increased in others during the pandemic as a way of getting science into the public domain faster. MetaROR, in effect, builds a peer-review service on top of preprint servers. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter—daily or weekly. Authors submit their work to MetaROR by providing MetaROR with a link to their preprinted article. A managing editor then recruits peer reviewers who are experts on the article’s object of study, its research methods, or both. Reviewers with competing interests are excluded whenever possible, and disclosure of competing interests is mandatory. Peer review is conducted openly, with the reviews made available online. This makes the work of reviewers visible, reflecting the fact that review reports are contributions to scholarly communication in their own right. We hope that reviewers will increasingly see their role as engaging in a scholarly conversation in which they are a recognized participant, although MetaROR still allows reviewers to choose whether to be named or not. Our hope is that most reviewers will find it beneficial to sign their reviews and that this will significantly reduce the problem of anonymous, dismissive or otherwise bad-****** reviews. Since articles submitted to MetaROR are already publicly available, peer review can focus on engaging with an article with a view to improving it. Peer review becomes a constructive process, rather than one that valorizes gatekeeping. Evidence suggests preprints and final articles actually differ surprisingly little, but improvements can often be made. The publish, review, curate model helps authors engage with reviewers. Following the review process, authors are left to decide whether to revise their article and how. In the MetaROR model, authors can also choose to submit their article to a journal. To offer authors a streamlined experience, MetaROR is collaborating with several journals who commit to using MetaROR reviews in their own review process. Like other publish, review, curate platforms, MetaROR is an experiment. We will need to evaluate it to understand its successes and failures. We hope others will too, so we can learn how best to organize the dissemination and evaluation of scientific research—without, we hope, too many peer-review horror stories. Provided by The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Citation: Opinion: The peer review system no longer works to guarantee academic rigor—a different approach is needed (2024, November 23) retrieved 23 November 2024 from This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Source link #peer #review #system #longer #works #guarantee #academic #rigora #approach #needed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russia retaking Kursk area seized by Ukraine: source Russia retaking Kursk area seized by Ukraine: source Ukraine has lost more than 40 per cent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source says. The source, who is on Ukraine’s General Staff, said Russia had deployed about 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Ukraine’s forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Russia unprepared two and a half years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “At most, we controlled about 1376 square kilometres, now of course this territory is smaller. The ****** is increasing its counterattacks,” the source said. “Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres. We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.” Ukraine’s Kursk offensive was the first ground invasion of Russia by a foreign power since World War II. With the thrust into Kursk, Ukraine aimed to stem Russian attacks in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, force Russia to pull back forces gradually advancing in the east and give Ukraine extra leverage in any future peace negotiations. But Russian forces are still steadily advancing in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. The Ukrainian General Staff source reiterated that about 11,000 North Korean troops had arrived in the Kursk region in support of Russia but that the bulk of their forces was still finalising their training. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Ukraine’s latest assessment of the state of play in the Kursk region. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or descriptions given. Russian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean forces in Kursk. Ukraine’s armed forces chief said on November 11 that its beleaguered forces were not just battling ****** Russian reinforcements in Kursk but also scrambling to reinforce two besieged fronts in eastern Ukraine and bracing for an infantry ******** in the south. The General Staff source said the Kurakhove region was the most threatening for Ukraine now as Russian forces were advancing there at 200-300 metres a day and had managed to break through in some areas with armoured vehicles backed by anti-drone defences. The town of Kurakhove is a stepping stone towards the critical logistical hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Overall Russia has about 575,000 troops fighting in Ukraine at the moment, the Ukrainian General Staff source said, and is aiming to increase its forces up to about 690,000. Russia does not disclose numbers involved in its fighting and Reuters could not independently verify those figures. Ukraine has sought to disrupt Russian logistics and supply chains by hitting weapons and ammunition depots, airfields and other military targets well inside Russia. Russia occupies a fifth of Ukraine and President Vladimir ****** has said he wants Ukraine to drop ambitions to join the NATO military alliance and retreat from four Ukrainian regions that he partially holds, demands Ukriane has rejected as tantamount to capitulation. UKrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Russian drone and missile attacks had damaged 321 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities since July last year, Twenty merchant ships belonging to other countries were also damaged by Russian strikes, he added. Ukrainian forces launched a guided missile ******* on the Russian-occupied port city of Berdiansk on the Sea of Azov, the Kremlin-appointed local administration said on Saturday. Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said that no one was injured, the port’s work was not affected and fires caused by the ******* have been extinguished. Ukrainian Telegram channels reported a loud ********** was heard in Berdiansk shortly before midnight on Friday. Berdiansk was one of Ukraine’s busiest ports before the war. The city was occupied early in the all-out invasion launched by Russia in February 2022. with DPA Source link #Russia #retaking #Kursk #area #seized #Ukraine #source Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Russini’s what I’m hearing: The day the Jets fell apart and the Broncos rallied, Belichick best fits Russini’s what I’m hearing: The day the Jets fell apart and the Broncos rallied, Belichick best fits The New York football scene has turned into competing tragedies, with the Giants’ Daniel Jones saga going up against the Jets’ all-encompassing disaster. Earlier this week, my colleague Zack Rosenblatt and I delved into the Jets’ organizational chaos, starting at the top with owner Woody Johnson. The most shocking revelation: After a September loss to the Denver Broncos dropped the team to 2-2, a frustrated Johnson called a meeting with high-ranking team officials and coaches in which he suggested benching four-time MVP QB Aaron Rodgers. Unsurprisingly, those in the room were stunned. Johnson ultimately walked back the suggestion; he fired head coach Robert Saleh a week later. This is what I’m hearing from around the league this week: • What’s next for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets — and a former head coach the team should consider bringing back (no, not Rex Ryan) • No hard feelings for Daniel Jones or the Giants • How Darren Rizzi is making his case in New Orleans • Theories about these late-game kicker struggles • The three teams that are the best fit for Bill Belichick But first, let’s rewind to that rainy afternoon at MetLife Stadium in Week 4, an inflection point for two teams that would soon head in very different directions. Aaron Rodgers had a rough outing that day, but Bo Nix on the other side? He was so much worse. The rookie had 60 passing yards and led two scoring drives for the Denver offense. But here’s the thing: Denver didn’t flinch. No panic. No talk of benching Nix. From ownership to the coaching staff, the message was clear: Nix is their guy. After that ugly win, the focus in the Broncos’ meeting rooms and practices wasn’t about pointing fingers but figuring out how everyone could step up and help him succeed. That’s the mindset in Denver. Since the night they drafted him, they have made it clear they’re all-in on Nix, with head coach Sean Payton leading the charge. Nix has played so well of late that he’s now moved into the Offensive Rookie of the Year discussion. When the NFL reached out about flexing Denver’s Week 16 game against the Chargers into a “Thursday Night Football” slot, the Broncos didn’t hesitate. Teams can refuse the flex to TNF, but not Denver. Why? Payton knows his team inside and out and believes in Nix’s ability to handle the bright lights of prime time. Some of it is also to push all his young players to get comfortable with the big moments. Instead of shying away from the spotlight, the Broncos are leaning into it. It’s all part of Payton’s vision. Plus, the Broncos also get a rest advantage for their Week 17 game against the Bengals. Cincinnati, originally scheduled to play Cleveland on that Thursday night, was set to have nine days off before a game against the Broncos that could have playoff implications for both teams. Now, it’s the Broncos who get the extra rest. Also, Denver has been solid on the road this season, with a 3-2 record, making this prime-time challenge just another opportunity to show the Broncos are hungry to dance in January. The Jets confront the truth The acquisition of Aaron Rodgers triggered something of an “Operation Super Bowl” for the Jets. Now, they’ve pivoted to “Project Revamp.” The team is in full-scale rebuild mode, with ownership and senior executives already holding internal discussions to outline a fresh strategy for the franchise’s future. The Jets are actively imploring the opinions and input of franchise legends and respected figures around the NFL. In other words: They are on a hunt for guidance. It all begins with a search for a new general manager after they fired Joe Douglas this past week, a new head coach and a new quarterback. Johnson made the decision to ***** Douglas during the bye week to allow the organization to begin strategizing for the future. A team source explained that Johnson wanted to show respect to Douglas by not having him remain in the building while discussions about his potential successor were underway. While many around the league were stunned Douglas was fired in-season, I’m told the 48-year-old knew change was coming. Saleh learned about Douglas’ ******* while in Green Bay, where he has been spending time observing and assisting his close friend, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. According to someone close to Saleh, the former Jets head coach was “very upset and emotional” upon hearing that Douglas had been sacked with several games left in the season. While Saleh knew Douglas was under scrutiny, he assumed the organization would let him finish out the year. An NFL executive close to Douglas shared that the former Jets GM felt a sense of “relief” after his dismissal, particularly from the challenges of working under Woody Johnson. That same executive shared that, just hours after being fired, Douglas went fishing at the Jersey Shore, enjoying a stress-free environment after navigating several turbulent years with the organization. “It’s the happiest he’s sounded in a long time.” It was less than 19 months ago when Joe Douglas (left), Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh were introduced as the faces of the New York Jets. (Elsa / Getty Images) I’m told Johnson has lost confidence in Rodgers’ ability to lead the team to their first playoff berth in 14 years, a drought that stands as the longest in the major North ********* professional sports leagues. There are some on the team who believe everyone is simply tiptoeing around the fact that Rodgers isn’t the same player anymore. I’m told no decisions have been made yet, but it appears increasingly likely that the four-time MVP, who is banged up, could be placed on injured reserve or possibly benched over the next few weeks, signaling the end of his disastrous time with the Jets. Some around the league say they won’t be surprised if Rodgers is cut in-season. As for Rodgers, his relationship with the owner has been strained for months — that’s not a secret in the building or the locker room. At this point, after conversations with sources with the team and around the league, my understanding is that Rodgers still wants to play in 2025, just not for the New York Jets. Replacing Rodgers won’t be easy. The free-agent QB market is lacking, with Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson among the top names — though Wilson is expected to stay with the Steelers and the Vikings could decide to keep Darnold if he’s willing to be a backup. Justin Fields, Derek Carr (whom the Jets pursued before Rodgers) and Daniel Jones are also potential targets, but none of them stand out as an ideal fit. The Jets could explore trading for Trevor Lawrence or drafting a quarterback, though the 2025 draft class appears weak. The Jets are determined to fix all of this, but their first challenge will be finding a way to attract top-tier candidates for the general manager and head coach positions. The franchise will need to convince potential hires that, despite well-known concerns within league circles regarding Woody Johnson’s leadership, those challenges will no longer pose a problem. But who is going to believe them? Probably not a former head coach, but there’s one who doesn’t seem to care. Current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan has been on a full-blown campaign to convince Woody Johnson to bring him back as the Jets’ head coach. Give him credit: He knows what he would be walking into and still wants it — that’s bold. Ryan’s loud, brash style and creative defensive schemes are well-known, but if the Jets are toying around with the idea of giving a former head coach another shot, here’s a thought: Why not Eric Mangini? I know, it sounds a little wild. Mangini, currently an analyst for Fox Sports, hasn’t coached since his time in San Francisco, first as Jim Harbaugh’s tight ends coach in 2014 and then Jim Tomsula’s defensive coordinator in ’15. But let’s be real: The Jets haven’t had a clear plan for winning both now and in the long term, and that’s exactly the kind of vision Mangini brought to the table when he coached the team from 2006 to ’08. One of the toughest challenges in the NFL is figuring out how to compete in the moment while building a foundation for consistent success, and Mangini showed he could do both. Think back to his first year with the Jets. Alongside GM Mike Tannenbaum, Mangini helped assemble one of the strongest rosters the franchise has ever had: Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and, of course, Darrelle Revis, arguably the greatest cornerback in NFL history. Those players became the backbone of the Jets’ success a few years later under Ryan. Johnson has called the current roster the best he’s ever had as the Jets’ owner, but I’d argue the team Mangini helped build was better. Sure, Mangini’s tenure wasn’t perfect, but his emotional intelligence, attention to detail, and ability to turn things around quickly left a lasting impact on the franchise. If the Jets really want to bring back someone who knows this organization and can lay a sustainable foundation, maybe it’s time to give the man once known as “Mangenius” another shot. I’m told the Jets are open to all options at this point as they continue to gather information on who their top candidates will be. GO DEEPER Why Joe Douglas never stood a chance as Jets GM Daniel Jones chapter closes Daniel Jones was released by the New York Giants and is expected to clear waivers by Monday. Teams interested in signing him can do so after 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, though it’s more likely that a signing would occur on Tuesday or Wednesday. Another option: Jones might choose to wait for a quarterback-needy team to emerge later in the season, depending on how situations develop across the league. I’m told Jones and the Giants are at peace with how it was all handled. Saquon Barkley, Jones’ close friend and former teammate who left to sign with the Eagles last offseason, shared his thoughts on Jones’ departure. Reflecting on his own transition from the Giants to the Eagles, Barkley said, “It didn’t work for me over there, and I’m doing well over here. Hopefully, he can find the same fresh start and success.” Barkley is having an MVP-caliber season with Philadelphia, leading the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,347). Given the rejuvenations of Sam Darnold in Minnesota and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, it’s not out of the question that Jones can achieve success in a new city. Many around the league say they wouldn’t doubt it. Rizzi makes compelling case for the Saints job Continuing our focus on the northern New Jersey region, let’s talk about Bergen ********* High School alumnus and Oradell native Darren Rizzi, the interim head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Since stepping into the role, Rizzi has led the Saints to consecutive victories, against the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns. Darren Rizzi has the Saints pointed in the right direction. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images) After the organization parted ways with Dennis Allen, Rizzi was a natural choice for the interim role, especially considering he was a finalist for the head coaching job two years ago. While Sean Payton’s positive influence ******** within the organization, Rizzi has introduced his own approach, which has been well-received by players. He has focused on building strong relationships with team leaders and veterans, reorganizing the locker room to enhance player cohesion, and adjusting practice schedules to reduce injuries. He believes in a high volume of reps with less intensity during practices that players, including Derek Carr, have appreciated. He’s also allowing players an extra hour of sleep, a simple yet effective adjustment. An assistant coach shared: “Everything has a purpose with Rizzi.” One veteran player explained: “We were thirsty for change, and Rizzi is bringing it.” There’s his “1/11th” philosophy, with the staff encouraging each player to take responsibility for their specific role — a Jersey version of “Do Your Job.” Rizzi wants the full-time job, and if he continues to win, owner Gayle Benson won’t be able to ignore a coach inspiring her locker room. Scoop City Newsletter Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign Up Kickers collapsing in crunch time If you’ve been following this column, you know I’ve been on a kick with kickers. (I’ll try to aim higher.) For most of the NFL season, we’ve been celebrating kickers showcasing their incredible leg strength, nailing field goals from 50 and even 60 yards with consistency. It’s really been mind-blowing. But as many around the league anticipated (and we told you in this column), the trend is shifting, and there’s been a noticeable drop in accuracy on the most crucial kicks. Week 11 highlighted the late-game struggles, with surprising misses from typically reliable kickers: Baltimore’s Justin Tucker and Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson (twice). The numbers back up the perception: In 2024, kickers have converted less than 80 percent of their second-half field goal attempts when the game is on the line (a tie or lead at stake). That marks the lowest rate in these high-pressure situations over the past five years, second only to the 76.4 percent recorded in 2020. So, what’s happening? Why are kickers losing their nerve in crunch time? Some point to good rush units, some say it’s weather and field conditions. And one GM noted: “Sometimes they just miss … happens to the best. It’s a hard job.” GO DEEPER What Drake Maye is doing to elevate the Patriots offense, exceed expectations Who would The Hoodie fit best? Finally, as the coaching cycle is brewing and Bill Belichick is motivated to get back into the NFL, I asked 10 coaches and execs from across the league: What’s the best landing spot for the future Hall of Fame coach? One common answer was the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a recent episode of the “Scoop City” podcast, my co-host Chase Daniel and I discussed the possibility of Belichick taking over Jacksonville in 2025, should Doug Pederson get fired. While Belichick has maintained a strong relationship with Jaguars ownership, it’s anticipated he would seek changes in the front office, particularly regarding current general manager Trent Baalke. The other two teams that came up frequently: The Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (should those jobs open up). (Top photo: Mike Stobe / Getty Images) Source link #Russinis #hearing #day #Jets #fell #Broncos #rallied #Belichick #fits Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Hot Wheels Batmobile And Mario Kart Diecast Cars Are Cheap In Amazon’s ****** Friday ***** Hot Wheels Batmobile And Mario Kart Diecast Cars Are Cheap In Amazon’s ****** Friday ***** Amazon has several very cool Hot Wheels car packs themed around popular gaming and entertainment franchises on ***** for ****** Friday 2024. The assortment of budget-friendly car sets includes a 5-pack of Batmobiles, an exclusive 4-pack of Mario Karts, a 5-pack of DC characters, and more. You can also save big on several track sets as well as value packs of Matchbox cars, including this 20-pack for only $15. Hot Wheels & Matchbox ****** Friday Deals Gallery Released in July to celebrate Batman’s 85th anniversary, this 5-pack of Batmobiles is on ***** for only $12, down from $20. Inside you’ll find the Batmobile driven by Adam West in the 1966 Batman TV series, Michael Keaton’s intimidating roadster from the 1989 Batman movie, the West Coast Customs version seen in Batman & Robin, the Tumbler in its original military colors from the Dark Knight trilogy, and the Pattmobile from the 2022 Batman movie. Sticking with the DC Universe, there’s also a 5-pack of cars inspired by the biggest heroes and villains of that comic book universe. Imagine cars customized just for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Harley Quinn, wrapped up in a collector’s box, and ready to roll around on your desktop, and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect here. Normally $23, it’s currently on ***** for $17. Over in the Super Mario universe, there’s a nice selection of discounted Hot Wheels toys based on the Mario Kart games. You can pick up an Amazon-exclusive 4-pack of kart racers for $17 (was $24), as well as some big tracks to speed around on, like the Piranha Plant Raceway for $18.70 (was $24) and the Jungle Kingdom Raceway for $23.70 (was $40). Both of these tracks come with a Mario Kart vehicle included, so you can start having fun right out of the box. If you’re looking for a really big raceway, the Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage set is on ***** for $80 (was $130). This is basically the set you wanted as a ****, as it’s a multi-level track with loop stunts, a parking garage for your collection, and even a dragon at the very top. There’s also a car wash with a foam roller, a two-car elevator, and it can be connected to other sets to create an even larger Hot Wheels City. Sure, it’s marketed at kids, but you also deserve to treat yourself with something awesome that your parents refused to buy for you when you were a ****. Finally, there are some nice stocking-stuffer Hot Wheels packs, like the Glow Riders set of three cars that have electronic special effects and the Car Culture pack of six ********* classics. For a few more toy ideas ahead of the holiday season, you grab popular talking Mario action figures and posable plushies at steeply discounted prices right now. One of the standout deals here is the officially licensed 12-inch Mario figure from Jakks Pacific as it available for less than half its usual price. Normally $50, the $18 talking doll has over 30 built-in sound effects and phrases and 15 points of articulation. Source link #Hot #Wheels #Batmobile #Mario #Kart #Diecast #Cars #Cheap #Amazons #****** #Friday #***** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Smartest High-Yield Oil Stock to Invest $500 in Right Now The Smartest High-Yield Oil Stock to Invest $500 in Right Now Over the past year, the price of Brent Crude, a key global oil benchmark, has been as low as $70.31 and as high as $93.12. Over the past three years, the swing from peak to trough was even greater, with the low at $69.53 and the high at a whopping $133.18. Talk about a roller-coaster ride! This is why the smartest oil stock for most investors right now will be reliable industry giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX). Before getting into Chevron’s business, it is worth looking at one of the biggest benefits investors get from owning the stock: its dividend. The dividend yield is around 4% right now, which is notably above the energy industry average of 3.3% and the S&P 500’s average of 1.2%. The dividend backing that high yield has been increased annually for 37 consecutive years. Note that this includes hikes when oil was trading at $133 and when it was trading at $69, or lower. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Image source: Getty Images. Those dividend stats alone prove just how reliable a company Chevron is. And, in fact, that might be enough to get long-term dividend investors to buy this oil giant. But there’s more to like here than just the yield. That’s where the business comes in. Chevron is what’s known as an integrated energy company, which means it has operations across the energy sector. That includes energy production (the upstream), energy transportation (the midstream), and chemicals and refining (the downstream). Each of these segments operates a little differently, and having all three in the portfolio helps to soften the peaks and valleys inherent to the commodity driven energy sector. It’s also worth noting that 75% of Chevron’s oil investments have a break-even point that is below $50 per barrel, which gives it a lot of operational leeway. On top of that, Chevron has an investment-grade-rated balance sheet. That alone, however, doesn’t do justice to the importance of the company’s financial strength. Chevron has been around a very long time and is well aware of the volatility of the sector in which it operates. That’s why it has created a diversified business, so it can better weather the inherent ups and downs it will face. But the real key to the company’s ability to continue rewarding investors with dividend increases — even when oil prices swing wildly — is its balance sheet. When times are good, Chevron keeps its leverage low. Right now the company’s debt-to-equity ratio, a measure of leverage, is around 0.17 times. It is one of the lowest levels of leverage among the company’s closest integrated energy peers. The company is, basically, preparing for what it knows is coming: another oil downturn. Management doesn’t know exactly when, but it knows very well that the industry is volatile and lower oil prices are almost certain to arrive eventually. Story Continues When that ******* does arrive, Chevron will have the financial leeway to take on more debt. That will, of course, increase leverage, but it will also allow the company to keep funding its business and paying a growing dividend to shareholders. The energy giant is comfortable taking on additional leverage right when it appears most risky to do so because it knows that oil prices have always recovered, historically speaking. And, when they do, Chevron will pay down debt and reduce leverage. CVX Debt to Equity Ratio data by YCharts This isn’t particularly unique, since other energy companies do the same thing. However, Chevron’s relatively low leverage compared to its peers puts it in a very strong position right now. The only company with a stronger balance sheet is ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM). But Exxon’s yield is much lower at 3.3%. So, from a risk/reward standpoint, Chevron looks like a more attractive dividend stock in the oil space right now. No company is perfect, and Chevron comes with its own list of warts. For example, its proposed acquisition of Hess could fall apart because of Hess’ existing relationship with Exxon. That has some investors worried about Chevron’s business. However, for long-term dividend investors with $500 or $5,000, Chevron looks like a good balance between risk and reward. All in, it is the kind of oil company you can hold through the entire energy cycle while still sleeping well at night. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $368,053!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,533!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,170!* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Smartest High-Yield Oil Stock to Invest $500 in Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #Smartest #HighYield #Oil #Stock #Invest Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Get ready for more Prime Time. The attention is warranted for Colorado’s star coach Get ready for more Prime Time. The attention is warranted for Colorado’s star coach If you’re suffering from Deion Sanders fatigue, worn down by the Colorado football coach’s repeated presence on sports feeds and debate shows, you’re in for a rough couple of months. By landing a commitment from star recruit Julian Lewis on Thursday, Sanders secured more than a top quarterback prospect. He also came away with increased options for his future, a reality that figures to keep him prominently positioned in upcoming news cycles. Whatever develops, the attention is warranted based on the impressive job he has done the last five seasons, leading Jackson State to a 27-6 record before guiding Colorado to a share of the Big 12 lead entering Saturday’s game against Kansas. GO DEEPER Shedeur Sanders the recruiter: How the QB helped build Colorado into a contender Before this week, I would have given competitive odds that Sanders would leave Colorado after this season. Two of his friends told me a handful of years ago his primary reason for accepting the Jackson State job — his first as a college coach — was to ensure Shedeur Sanders, his youngest son, would have every opportunity to develop into a top quarterback and a highly drafted NFL player. Over four seasons, including the last two with Colorado, Shedeur, 22, has completed 70 percent of his passes for 13,415 yards and 124 touchdowns with just 24 interceptions. He also has rushed for 17 scores, though he is not considered a dual-threat in the classic sense. He is a pocket passer with the mobility to create space and make off-platform throws with accuracy and velocity. Where that lands him in the draft is unknown, but credible draft analysts have him and Miami’s Cam Ward as the top quarterback prospects. And since teams place a premium on the position — 17 signal callers have been selected No. 1 since 2000 — the likelihood appears strong that he will be drafted near the top of the first round, if not first overall. Which brings me back to his father’s future and potential options. Deion Sanders could easily consider it mission accomplished and hang up his whistle at the end of the season, particularly with cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, a front-runner to win this season’s Heisman Trophy, already declaring that he, too, is off to the NFL after the season. Losing his top two players represents a significant drain of talent that will be hard for Sanders to replace in the short term, potentially resulting in fewer victories. GO DEEPER Colorado 2-way star Travis Hunter plans to enter next year’s NFL Draft Sanders was a Hall of Fame cornerback and a standout baseball player. You don’t play both sports at the highest level … in the same season … without having a competitive drive that matches your physical ability. Which is why I could not see him staying at Colorado with an inferior roster. Having Lewis in the fold, however, gives him a bell-cow performer he can not only build around but also use as a magnet to attract more playmakers. Lewis had previously committed to USC but changed his mind in part because of Sanders and the success of Shedeur. It suggests that recruits are seeing past the glitz and glam and recognizing the skill development taking place. “It’s a huge opportunity!” Lewis said in a statement to On3. “What Coach Prime has been able to build in two seasons can’t be denied. I’ve had a chance to get to know him and believe that he can further develop me into the player and person that I want to be. Coach (Pat) Shurmur has been an NFL offensive coordinator and head coach, so he understands exactly what’s needed at the next level. Coach Prime is going to play the best player, whether it’s a freshman or a walk-on.” @KingJames Thank u my brother for the support! pic.twitter.com/UD39rXZn6I — COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 17, 2024 But back to the discussion about the future and potential options. There has been speculation NFL teams could have interest in Sanders, who has had only one losing season in four years and has the 8-2 Buffaloes in contention for a College Football Playoff berth two years after finishing 1-11 the season before Sanders arrived. He has not publicly expressed interest in making the jump and in 2023 told Sports Illustrated: “I don’t have any ******* or ambition to coach in the NFL. I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs. I have a problem with that. I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes.” And yet … Michael Irvin, a close friend and former Dallas Cowboys teammate, believes Sanders would not hesitate to accept the Cowboys job if it were offered and Shedeur was drafted by Dallas. “I believe (it) 100 percent,” he said on Fox Sports’ “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.” “And I can tell you, good sources have told me that. Great sources have told me that. That’s all I can say like that without violating anything else.” These types of comments tend to fuel the rumor mill because as much of a long shot as it may be, you cannot completely dismiss the idea until Cowboys owner Jerry Jones categorically says it’s not happening, which he has not done. Sanders’ name also could surface for other college jobs, particularly if the Buffaloes reach the Playoff and make a run. He was an unproven commodity in 2021 after he took the Jackson State job. Major colleges were unwilling to take a chance on him because he had no track record. Some wondered if he was more style than substance. Florida State, his alma mater, is regularly mentioned as a possibility, but that seems unlikely because of what it would cost to move on from coach Mike Norvell and because the sides are not on the greatest of terms after FSU didn’t make much of an effort to bring in Sanders a handful of years ago when he first talked about coaching on the collegiate level. It would be irresponsible to throw out the names of other schools before an opening exists, but college football has become as cutthroat as the NFL, and landing Sanders could be viewed as a boon not only on the field but off it, as evidenced by the increase in attendance, viewership and alumni contributions. Never forget that major-college football is as much a business as a game, which is why Sanders is in a great position. He has proved himself on both fronts. He has exceeded expectations at every turn, taking a group that was rated the second-worst staff in the Big 12 coming into the season and advancing to the cusp of a Big 12 championship. The Lewis commitment was yet another victory in a season of victories, but it’s significant because it gives him the ability to make decisions about his future based on whether something aligns with his purpose and vision. If the NFL calls, great. If another college program calls, cool. For Sanders, there is no downside. He has positioned himself to have positive options regardless of the situation, which means we are sure to continue seeing him on news feeds and debate shows. (Photo of Deion Sanders speaking with Fox Sports reporter Jenny Taft after a win against Utah: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images) Source link #ready #Prime #Time #attention #warranted #Colorados #star #coach Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Counter-Strike 2 Streamer is Sitting on a Schrodinger’s Gold Mine of Skins and Cosmetic Cases Worth over $1.5 Million Counter-Strike 2 Streamer is Sitting on a Schrodinger’s Gold Mine of Skins and Cosmetic Cases Worth over $1.5 Million 2023’s Counter-Strike 2 doesn’t exactly replicate the experience of its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but it still has some very valuable skins that spark skin gambling among the community. The rarity and demand for certain in-game items in CS2 have sparked a gambling culture within the game. Players are able to use real money or in-game currency to buy, sell, or trade skins, hoping to acquire rare items. Most of these valuable items can be unlocked via cases, which are also sold at a very high price. Rare skins in Counter-Strike 2 are sold at a high price (Image via Valve) Many players see ******* skins, cases, and stickers as assets, in fact, a Twitch streamer casually flexed his highly valuable inventory full of special cases, capsules, stickers, and packages that are altogether worth over $1.5 million. Every year, Valve makes over $1 billion from CS2, thanks to case-opening and trades on the Steam Community Market. Counter-Strike 2 Streamer’s Inventory Is Worth Over $1.5 Million Trainwreckstv also has three Titan (Holo) | Katowice 2014 stickers (Image via Twitch) Twitch streamer Trainwreckstv recently streamed Counter-Strike 2 and at one point during the stream, he gave his viewers a small glimpse into his million-dollar inventory. In the clip, we can see that he easily has over 100 CS:GO ******* Cases and Operation Brave Cases. As cases, these items have more value as there is a chance of getting a highly valuable skin out of these cases, this explains why he hasn’t opened any cases yet. Not just cases, but he also has over 70 EMS Katowice 2014 Legends, a highly valuable capsule that contains a single EMS One Katowice 2014 participant sticker. What caught everyone’s eye was his sticker collection. The streamer has three Titan (Holo) | Katowice 2014 stickers that are worth over $150,000. This is not the first time a player has flexed expensive stickers as earlier this year, a player put four stickers, worth over $200,000, on his M4A4. His other valuable assets include Boston 2018 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, MLG Columbus 2016 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Krakow 2017 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Atlanta 2017 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, Cologne 2016 Cobblestone Souvenir Package, and DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Cobblestone Souvenir Package. How Much Does Valve Earn From Counter-Strike 2? Counter-Strike 2 replaced CS:GO in 2023 (Image via Valve) CS:GO Case Tracker has revealed that 400 million cases were opened by players in 2023. To open a case, players will have to purchase keys from Valve. Since 400 million cases were opened in 2023, it’s safe to say that Valve made roughly $980 million that year. However, that’s not it, as Valve also earns money when a player sells their skins on the Steam Community Market as it takes 15% of the ***** of every rare skin as a platform fee. It’s clear that Counter-Strike 2 generates over $1 billion every year for Valve. Introducing the concept of skins was a power move and giving players the ability to buy, sell, or trade skins made the concept much more intriguing. The idea of constantly opening packs in hopes of getting something valuable has been compared to gambling and Valve is often criticized for replicating that mechanism. Source link #CounterStrike #Streamer #Sitting #Schrodingers #Gold #Skins #Cosmetic #Cases #Worth #Million Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*********** Open 2025: Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic at tournament *********** Open 2025: Andy Murray to coach Novak Djokovic at tournament Djokovic is level with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles by any player. It would be fitting for him to overtake the *********** legend in Melbourne, where he has enjoyed huge success over the years, but he had a difficult 2024 by his high standards. Djokovic did not win a major title for the first time since 2017, beaten in the *********** Open semi-finals by world number one Jannik Sinner before losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. He did, however, clinch a long-awaited Olympic gold in Paris – something he described as his “greatest achievement”. Murray and Djokovic have maintained a good friendship throughout their years on tour, having been born just weeks apart and growing up as junior rivals. Djokovic leads the head-to-head 25-11 but Murray claimed memorable victories over him to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon a year later. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the *********** Open,” Murray said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic made changes to his team this year, including parting ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic. The Olympic medal was the only title he won in 2024 and he ended his season early after sustaining an unspecified injury. It is the first season since 2005 in which he has not won an ATP event, and only the fourth since 2008 in which he has not won one of the four Grand Slam titles. Source link #*********** #Open #Andy #Murray #coach #Novak #Djokovic #tournament Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]