Pelican Press

Eris rocket launch day arrives for Gilmour Space Technologies Eris rocket launch day arrives for Gilmour Space Technologies Thursday could mark a historic moment in Australia’s budding space ambitions with maverick manufacturing company Gilmour Space Technologies set to fire off its Eris rocket from a launch pad in North Queensland. The company designed and manufactured the three-stage rocket at its Gold Coast factory and if the launch goes ahead, it would mark the country’s first-ever rocket shooting for the stars. Gilmour received final approvals for launch from the *********** Space Agency and CASA last week and now has a lift-off window from 7.30am AEST through to Sunday. Mission control is housed in a donga about 7km outside Bowen in Queensland’s Whitsunday region. Gilmour Space co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour told NewsWire this week he would “hit the town” hard with a successful launch. “I think it will be like winning an Olympic gold medal,” he said. “I think I’ll be extremely happy, and I’ll give my brother a big hug. “I intend to hit the town of Bowen hard that night for a party and buy everyone a beer.” Camera IconGilmour Space Technologies has permission to launch a rocket into space from Thursday morning, 7.30am AEST, through to Sunday. Supplied Credit: SuppliedCamera IconBrothers James (left) and Adam Gilmour started Gilmour Space in 2015. Supplied Credit: Supplied Mr Gilmour and his brother James founded the Gold Coast company in 2015 to uplift Australia’s sovereign space capabilities and compete with American giants like Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Eris is designed to send small satellites into low earth orbits for commercial and government customers. It is unlikely, however, that Thursday’s planned launch will achieve orbit. Mr Gilmour said key metrics for success were getting the rocket off the pad and then flight time, with 10 seconds a crucial marker. “That’s like winning a soccer match one-nil,” he said. “Two-nil is 30 seconds and all the way to first stage is three-nil and then it just gets better from there.” No space company has successfully entered orbit on its first launch attempt. SpaceX achieved orbit on its fourth attempt in September 2008. Camera IconThe Eris rocket was designed and manufactured in Australia. Gilmour Space Technologies Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Gilmour said the company hoped to reach orbit on its third attempt. It is not certain the launch will happen on Thursday. Strong winds, for one, could delay the event. “The weather forecast looks really good for Thursday to Sunday,” Mr Gilmour said. “We’re going to give it a good crack.” A jar of vegemite and a camera will ride on the rocket. The company is backed by venture capital firms Blackbird and Main Sequence, the Queensland Investment Corporation and superannuation funds HESTA and HostPlus and last year raised $55m to fund its manufacture and test of Eris. The launch will not be livestreamed but the company will take video of the event and distribute it to media. Source link #Eris #rocket #launch #day #arrives #Gilmour #Space #Technologies Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Empyreal Review | NoobFeed | N4G Empyreal Review | NoobFeed | N4G NoobFeed editor Jay writes – Overall, Empyreal has endless potential to be a great game, and it can go quite far. The story does come off as a bit messy at first, but there is a solid plot. The rest of the gameplay could use a bit more work, but a little extra flair can go a long way and would definitely put it out there in a much nicer way. Source link #Empyreal #Review #NoobFeed #N4G Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk America PAC didn’t pay voters who signed petition: lawsuit Elon Musk America PAC didn’t pay voters who signed petition: lawsuit Elon Musk speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 27, 2024. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Elon Musk’s America PAC didn’t keep its promise to pay swing state voters who signed a pro-Trump petition ahead of the 2024 election, and who enlisted others to do the same, a new lawsuit alleges. The case, a proposed national class action suit, was filed within the last week in a federal court in the Eastern district of Pennsylvania, a state that was viewed as critical to Donald Trump’s effort to return to the White House. A related case was filed in April that only applied to residents of Pennsylvania. Lead plaintiffs are three people who participated in the America PAC initiative while they were living in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia. One formally worked as a canvasser for America PAC in Michigan and in Georgia, the complaint says. In his efforts to propel Trump to victory, Musk spent around $300 million while also stumping at rallies and online for his preferred candidate. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, had offered payments — initially $47 and later $100 — to those who signed a petition supporting his pro-Trump PAC. Additional payments were offered for each eligible person they referred who signed the petition. Musk said the petitions showed support for the First Amendment and Second Amendment. The PAC viewed the awards as a way to drive voter registration and turnout in swing states. The complaint says the plaintiffs are “in communication with numerous others who referred voters to sign the America PAC petition, who are likewise frustrated that they did not receive full payments for their referrals.” The group, represented by the law firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan, expects there to be “more than 100 Class Members,” with payments owed them “expected to exceed $5,000,000,” the filing says. “This case is about a broken promise: Elon Musk promised supporters that they would be paid for signing a petition and referring others to do the same,” Shannon Liss-Riordan, co-founder of the firm, said in an email. “Our clients relied on that promise because they believed in Elon, but unfortunately, that promise was not kept. It appears the promise was broken for many others as well.” In October, as Election Day neared, Musk and his committee began offering lottery-like awards of $1 million per day to registered voters in swing states who had signed. The scheme raised legal concerns, with lawmakers calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the initiatives for possible violations of election law. Musk said at a pro-Trump town hall event in Harrisburg Pennsylvania that, “I think think is kind of fun, and you know, it seems like a good use of money basically.” Following Trump’s victory, Musk was tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing the size of the federal government. In that role, he’s been able to eliminate regulations and cut agency resources in ways that benefit his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. A spokesperson for America PAC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk also didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. America PAC told CNN last month, regarding a related lawsuit, that the group “is committed to paying for every legitimate petition signer, which is evidenced by the fact that we have paid tens of millions of dollars to canvassers for their hard work in support of our mission.” Lichten & Liss-Riordan represents more than 2,000 former Twitter employees in a variety of suits and in arbitration against Musk’s social media business, now part of xAI. The employees worked for Twitter during Musk’s buyout of the company in 2022, and were enticed to stay with severance payment offers, but said they didn’t receive the promised payments. Read the national class action lawsuit against America PAC and Elon Musk, here. WATCH: How Trump cuts could benefit Tesla Source link #Elon #Musk #America #PAC #didnt #pay #voters #signed #petition #lawsuit Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lockheed Martin anticipates sooner-than-expected F-35 award Lockheed Martin anticipates sooner-than-expected F-35 award (Reuters) -Lockheed Martin expects to be awarded a finalized contract on its F-35 jets, which have been beset by delays in a technology upgrade, sooner than it previously anticipated, the U.S. defense contractor’s finance chief said on Wednesday. The fighter jets in lot 19 could potentially be awarded sooner than the second half of this year, which was the company’s earlier timeline, newly appointed CFO Evan Scott said at a Bank of America conference. Lockheed’s customer has told the company to expect lots 18 and 19 to be combined into a single contract, Scott added. The Pentagon, U.S. allies and partners are the primary customers for these lots of the F-35 jets. The F-35 program has been bogged by delays in rolling out an upgrade to give the jet better displays and processing capabilities for its electronic systems. Last month, Lockheed beat expectations for quarterly profit and reaffirmed its annual forecasts, buoyed by resilient demand for its missile systems and fighter jets. (Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo) Source link #Lockheed #Martin #anticipates #soonerthanexpected #F35 #award Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Twilight Monk Review | NoobFeed Twilight Monk Review | NoobFeed NoobFeed editor Adiba writes – Twilight Monk isn’t here to create something new. Instead, it provides an intimate, exquisitely written journey that seems very personal. It’s clear that the creator of this meant to convey a world, not just create a game. The story is rich, the mechanics are tricky but useful when you get the hang of it, and the representation of the world is very warm and cordial, giving a “home” feel to it. Source link #Twilight #Monk #Review #NoobFeed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Rick Wilson claims election results in Collie show the community supported the Coalition’s nuclear policy Rick Wilson claims election results in Collie show the community supported the Coalition’s nuclear policy With the Coalition’s comprehensive defeat at the Federal election, their controversial nuclear policy will remain dormant for at least another three years. However, O’Connor MP Rick Wilson says the results in Collie suggests there may have been significant support for the proposal. Mr Wilson — who easily won a fifth term — said a strong voter base for the Liberal Party in Collie was evidence the community supported the proposed nuclear reactor in the area. Results showed a 13 per cent swing towards the party in the two-candidate preferred vote at Collie booths, with Mr Wilson receiving 45.2 per cent — up from 32.2 per cent in 2022. Labor candidate Darren Moir still won the area overall, but the party’s vote in Collie fell from 67.8 per cent in 2022 to 54.8 per cent in 2025. “I think the strong swing towards me in the Collie region shows the Collie community is supportive of the Coalition’s energy plan and can see through Labor’s renewable energy policy,” Mr Wilson said. “Obviously we as a Liberal party need to come together and look at what worked and what didn’t during the election campaign. “No doubt nuclear as a policy will be discussed, but I am a supporter of nuclear energy and I think it will have a positive effective on Australia’s energy supply and help bring jobs and opportunity to the Collie community.” Tania Urmee, a professor of engineering and energy at Murdoch University, has a research focus on energy policy, sustainability and the transition to low carbon. She said there were a number of regulatory barriers which prevented nuclear policy getting off the ground, such as an unrealistic timeline, legislation banning nuclear power in Australia and a lack of community and political support. Camera IconTania Urmee is a professor of engineering and energy at Murdoch University Credit: Supplied Ms Urmee said there was also a “economic misinterpretation”. The Coalition’s claim nuclear would cut power bills by 44 per cent, for example, was unsubstantiated. But, she said, the situation in Collie was unique because the town’s historical dependency on the Muja coal-fired power station — which is set to be retired in 2030 — meant a replacement industry was needed. “They probably are viewing nuclear as a potential economic replacement of that,” she said. “If you look at the other parts of the Australia, the community acceptance is very important, and it was not in favour of nuclear.” Ms Urmee said clean energy in Australia was “low-hanging fruit” due to the abundance of renewable resources. “I think Australia is at its very critical place for the energy transition, and the nuclear debate distracts from the immediate gain that renewable energy, energy efficiency or grid modernisation can bring,” she said. Source link #Rick #Wilson #claims #election #results #Collie #show #community #supported #Coalitions #nuclear #policy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Review – Gamerhub *** Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Review – Gamerhub *** Noobfeed editor Wasbir writes – Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch is an absolute game for Soulslike or Metroidvania fans. Despite a few missteps, its depth of play and immersive world-building are worth it alone. It is a breathtaking and unflinching indie masterpiece. Source link #Mandragora #Whispers #Witch #Tree #Review #Gamerhub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Democrats to hold hearings on mass terminations at HHS, decrying RFK Jr. “destructive rampage” Senate Democrats to hold hearings on mass terminations at HHS, decrying RFK Jr. “destructive rampage” Washington — Senate Democrats will hold hearings next week on the dramatic overhaul at the Department of Health and Human Services amid widespread terminations that have drawn questions about the functioning of key health programs. The hearings, led by Democratic Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, will center on the impact of the restructuring, featuring testimony from former officials from agencies under the HHS umbrella, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Institute of Health, among others. A sweeping restructuring ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has played out in recent weeks, with department-wide layoffs at health agencies. HHS announced in March that it aimed to reduce its employees by nearly 25% with layoffs, buyouts and early retirement offers. The restructuring came after thousands of probationary workers at health agencies received termination letters in February amid a government-wide effort by the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency to cut recently hired or promoted employees, before the firings were put on pause amid court intervention. And earlier this month, HHS moved for a second time to fire probationary employees, in what an HHS spokesperson said was the “the final step of the process.” In an interview with CBS News, Welch called the HHS overhaul an “assault on the structures that provide scientific research, that are engaged in disease prevention, that are engaged in the delivery of health.” “You’ve got a Health and Human Service Secretary in Robert Kennedy who is on a destructive rampage, tearing apart institutional structures that have been in place to help us with the science and research and delivery of healthcare in this country,” Welch added. The widespread restructuring has raised concerns about some key health agency functions, like monitoring food and drug safety and preparing for the next pandemic, with cuts hitting the FDA and CDC, while also impacting departments that handle mental health, federal poverty guidelines and other services. Some of the layoff notices were ultimately revoked. Still, Kennedy told CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook last month that things were going according to plan, noting that the agency had grown in the past four years, and “these reductions just bring it down to pre-COVID levels.” “What this reorganization is meant to do is to eliminate the redundancies, to streamline the agency, and to reorient it so that we are trying to make America healthy,” Kennedy said. The HHS secretary returned Wednesday to Capitol Hill, appearing before congressional committees for the first time since his arduous confirmation process. Last month, the leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee requested testimony about Kennedy’s “reorganization” of HHS in a letter, citing his commitment to come before the committee on a quarterly basis — a commitment that GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a medical doctor, outlined following his decision to deliver Kennedy the key support he needed to become secretary, despite consternation over his record on vaccines. Cassidy said in his opening statement at Wednesday’s hearing, which focused on the White House’s proposed budget, that “people fear change even when it’s from worse to better. But without a clearly defined plan or objective, people assume the worst.”
 “Americans need direct reassurance from the administration and from you, Mr. Secretary, that these reforms will make their lives easier, not harder,” Cassidy said. Democrats derided Kennedy’s nomination during the confirmation process, and Welch, who sits on the committee that ultimately advanced Kennedy’s nomination said at the time that “it’s hard, in many ways, to see how we could do worse.” Three months later, Welch said Kennedy has “exceeded my low expectations.” Kaia Hubbard Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C. Source link #Senate #Democrats #hold #hearings #mass #terminations #HHS #decrying #RFK #destructive #rampage Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As eyes turn toward Turkey, a question looms: Who will show up for Russia-Ukraine peace talks? As eyes turn toward Turkey, a question looms: Who will show up for Russia-Ukraine peace talks? As eyes turn toward Turkey, a question looms: Who will show up for Russia-Ukraine peace talks? Source link #eyes #turn #Turkey #question #looms #show #RussiaUkraine #peace #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review A Retro Fighter Delight | COGconnected Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review A Retro Fighter Delight | COGconnected The two main series in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 are Capcom vs. SNK and Power Stone, but there are plenty of other games. Source link #Capcom #Fighting #Collection #Review #Retro #Fighter #Delight #COGconnected Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Nvidia turns positive for 2025, third ‘Magnificent 7’ member to do so as favored group regains groove Nvidia turns positive for 2025, third ‘Magnificent 7’ member to do so as favored group regains groove Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images Nvidia on Wednesday climbed into positive territory for the year, becoming the latest “Magnificent 7” member stock to flip into the green amid the broader market’s recovery. The artificial intelligence darling surged more than 4% in the session, bringing its gain for this week above 15%. That rally has pulled the stock up about 0.7% year to date. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Nvidia in 2025 Nvidia’s surge above its 2025 flatline comes after CEO Jensen Huang announced Tuesday that the company would sell more than 18,000 of its top AI chips to Saudi Arabia. Huang joined other technology executives and President Donald Trump on a trip to a Saudi-U.S. investment forum held in Riyadh. Multiple Wall Street analysts told clients that the deal between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. could help the company alleviate any hit from shipping constraints on goods going to China. “We believe the ***** of thousands of … chips to Saudi Arabia this year could help mitigate some of the estimated low-teens billions of dollars in revenue headwinds tied to the China restrictions,” Rosenblatt analyst Kevin Cassidy wrote. Latest ‘Mag 7’ stock turns positive for year With Wednesday’s jump, the well-known technology giant joined fellow “Magnificent Seven” members Meta Platforms and and Microsoft in trading above breakeven for the year. Meta and Microsoft have risen more than 12% and 7%, respectively, in 2025. This recovery has pushed Nvidia’s market cap back above $3 trillion. However, the stock is still more than 13% off its 52-week high notched in January. Mag 7 stocks this yearTicker Stock Year-to-date performance (%) METAMeta Platforms12.7MSFTMicrosoft7.2NVDANvidia0.7AMZNAmazon-4.2GOOGLAlphabet-12.8TSLATesla-13.4AAPLApple-15.6 Source: FactSet Nvidia has become a retail investor favorite amid two years of monster gains as the AI craze took the market by storm. Following that big run, traders questioned this year if the trade tied to this technology was losing steam. Concerns about slowing AI spending, coupled with ballooning Magnificent 7 valuations, caused the group to start to roll over in February. Nvidia shares then took another beating early last month as market participants worried that Trump’s initial plan for reciprocal tariffs on China would hurt the company given its high manufacturing exposure in the country. But those levies were temporarily slashed in a key trade deal announced between the two countries on Monday which raised hopes that a trade war can be avoided. These moves come as the broader market also clawed back losses. The S&P 500 traded into the green on Tuesday and added to that gain a bit Wednesday, a stunning reversal after the benchmark index at one point this year fell into bear market territory on an intraday basis. To be sure, other megacap tech names continued to drag on the market. Apple and Tesla have tumbled more than 15% and 13%, respectively, year to date. Alphabet is also in the red for the year on lingering concerns AI could be ruining its golden search business. Source link #Nvidia #turns #positive #Magnificent #member #favored #group #regains #groove Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Skyrim lead recalls Bethesda working their “a**es off” to make the game just 4.8GB Skyrim lead recalls Bethesda working their “a**es off” to make the game just 4.8GB *****-PANGPANG1d 11h ago I don’t get the criticism at all. From the visuals to the story, music, voice acting, and gameplay, it’s incredible on every level. Sure, some parts aren’t perfectly balanced yet and there are a few glitches, but the game isn’t even fully released. I’ve put around 80 hours into The Breach update already (300 or so in total), and I still can’t get enough. Source link #Skyrim #lead #recalls #Bethesda #working #aes #game #4.8GB Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI will show how models do on hallucination tests OpenAI will show how models do on hallucination tests Sam Altman Co-founder and CEO of OpenAI speaks during the Italian Tech Week 2024 at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni on September 25, 2024 in Turin, Italy. Stefano Guidi | Getty Images News | Getty Images OpenAI on Wednesday announced a new “safety evaluations hub,” a webpage where it will publicly display artificial intelligence models’ safety results and how they perform on tests for hallucinations, jailbreaks and harmful content, such as “hateful content or illicit advice.” OpenAI said it used the safety evaluations “internally as one part of our decision making about model safety and deployment,” and that while system cards release safety test results when a model is launched, OpenAI will from now on “share metrics on an ongoing basis.” “We will update the hub periodically as part of our ongoing company-wide effort to communicate more proactively about safety,” OpenAI wrote on the webpage, adding that the safety evaluations hub does not reflect the full safety efforts and metrics and instead shows a “snapshot.” The news comes after CNBC reported earlier Wednesday that tech companies that are leading the way in artificial intelligence are prioritizing products over research, according to industry experts who are sounding the alarm about safety. CNBC reached out to OpenAI and other AI labs mentioned in the story well before it was published. Read more CNBC news on OpenAI OpenAI recently sparked some online controversy for not running certain safety evaluations on the final version of its o1 AI model. In a recent interview with CNBC, Johannes Heidecke, OpenAI’s head of safety systems, said the company ran its preparedness evaluations on near-final versions of the o1 model, and that minor variations to the model that took place after those tests wouldn’t have contributed to significant jumps in its intelligence or reasoning and thus wouldn’t require additional evaluations. Still, Heidecke acknowledged in the interview that OpenAI missed an opportunity to more clearly explain the difference. Meta, which was also mentioned in CNBC’s reporting on AI safety and research, also made an announcement Wednesday. The company’s Fundamental AI Research team released new joint research with the Rothschild Foundation Hospital and an open dataset for advancing molecular discovery. “By making our research widely available, we aim to provide easy access for the AI community and help foster an open ecosystem that accelerates progress, drives innovation, and benefits society as a whole, including our national research labs,” Meta wrote in a blog post announcing the research advancements. Source link #OpenAI #show #models #hallucination #tests Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok is posting about ‘white genocide,’ South Africa Musk’s xAI chatbot Grok is posting about ‘white genocide,’ South Africa Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images The Grok chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI startup is responding to user queries with unrelated comments about the controversial topic of “white genocide” and South Africa. CNBC on Wednesday found numerous instances of Grok discussing the topic in response to unrelated users prompts. Screenshots of examples were also posted by users across X. When an X user asked Grok to fact-check the salary information of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer, Grok responded with a non-sequitur that touched on Musk’s controversial views about South Africa, where he was born and raised. “The claim of ‘white genocide’ in South Africa is highly debated,” Grok wrote in the unrelated reply. “Some argue white farmers face disproportionate violence, with groups like AfriForum reporting high ******* rates and citing racial motives, such as the ‘Kill the Boar’ song.” When an X user told Grok that its response was not about baseball, Grok apologized “for the confusion” and confirmed that the original inquiry was about the sport and “not white genocide.” The chatbot then proceeded to discuss the topic once more, saying “Regarding white genocide in South Africa, it’s a polarizing claim.” Grok posted similar unrelated responses to other X posts about cartoons, dentists and scenic vistas. The chatbot’s comments come a few days after a group of white South Africans were welcomed by U.S. officials in Virginia’s Dulles International Airport as refugees who argued they fled the country because of racially motivated violence, NBC News reported on Monday. Their arrival coincides with President Donald Trump’s administration decision to end refugee admissions from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan and the Republic of Congo. In February, Trump signed an executive order cutting U.S. aid to South Africa after he alleged that the country was discriminating white farmers. As part of the executive order, Trump also offered to resettle white South Africans. Musk’s xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WATCH: Elon Musk speaks at Saudi-U.S. investment forum. Source link #Musks #xAI #chatbot #Grok #posting #white #genocide #South #Africa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas go on strike to protest new dress code More than 1,000 Starbucks baristas at 75 U.S. stores have gone on strike since Sunday to protest a new company dress code, a union representing the coffee giant’s workers said Wednesday. Starbucks put new limits starting Monday on what its baristas can wear under their green aprons. The dress code requires employees at company-operated and licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada to wear a solid ****** shirt and khaki, ****** or blue denim bottoms. Under the previous dress code, baristas could wear a broader range of dark colors and patterned shirts. Starbucks said the new rules would make its green aprons stand out and create a sense of familiarity for customers as it tries to establish a warmer, more welcoming feeling in its stores. But Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents workers at 570 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores, said the dress code should be subject to collective bargaining. “Starbucks has lost its way. Instead of listening to baristas who make the Starbucks experience what it is, they are focused on all the wrong things, like implementing a restrictive new dress code,” said Paige Summers, a Starbucks shift supervisor from Hanover, Maryland. “Customers don’t care what color our clothes are when they’re waiting 30 minutes for a latte.” Summers and others also criticized the company for selling styles of Starbucks-branded clothing that employees no longer are allowed to wear to work on an internal website. Starbucks said it would give two free ****** T-shirts to each employee when it announced the new dress code. Starbucks said Wednesday that the strike was having a limited impact on its 10,000 company-operated U.S. stores. “Thousands of Starbucks partners came to work this week ready to serve their customers and communities,” the company said in a statement. “It would be more productive if the union would put the same effort into coming back to the table to finalize a reasonable contract.” Starbucks Workers United has been unionizing U.S. stores since 2021. Starbucks and the union have yet to reach a contract agreement, despite agreeing to return to the bargaining table in February 2024. The union said this week that it filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Starbucks’ failure to bargain over the new dress code. Source link #Starbucks #baristas #strike #protest #dress #code Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BIOMORPH Review | TheXboxHub BIOMORPH Review | TheXboxHub Paul writes: BIOMORPH on Xbox is a pretty good game; one that makes a decent fist of the Metroidvania tropes. Source link #BIOMORPH #Review #TheXboxHub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ancient reptile footprints upend theories about when animals evolved to live on land – NBC News Ancient reptile footprints upend theories about when animals evolved to live on land – NBC News Ancient reptile footprints upend theories about when animals evolved to live on land NBC NewsEarliest amniote tracks recalibrate the timeline of tetrapod evolution Nature‘Turning point’: claw print fossils found in Australia rewrite story of amniotes by 40 million years The GuardianAmateur paleontologists uncover earliest known ‘reptile’ footprints YahooNewly discovered claw-mark fossils suggest reptiles evolved earlier than we thought Live Science Source link #Ancient #reptile #footprints #upend #theories #animals #evolved #live #land #NBC #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3D Platformer Nikoderiko: The Magical World Getting Physical Director’s Cut And Collector’s Edition Releases 3D Platformer Nikoderiko: The Magical World Getting Physical Director’s Cut And Collector’s Edition Releases Nikoderiko: The Magical World is billed as “a love letter to platformers” that sees players bounding across colorful worlds filled with 3D platforming challenges, quirky characters, and challenging boss battles. The new Director’s Cut edition expanding the game with a new world to explore, a new Hard Mode difficulty, and new music from composer David Wise–best known for his work on the Donkey Kong Country series. Along with the new content, the Director’s cut also sports enhanced visuals and additional voiceover languages. If you played the original, you can transfer your data to the Director’s Cut–ensuring you won’t have to replay through content you’ve already completed. Preorders are available on PS5, Switch, and Xbox. Source link #Platformer #Nikoderiko #Magical #World #Physical #Directors #Cut #Collectors #Edition #Releases Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

'Unfinished business': Day driven to land second major 'Unfinished business': Day driven to land second major Ten years after winning his first and only career major, Australia’s former world No.1 Jason Day retains a burning desire to capture more big golfing spoils. Source link #039Unfinished #business039 #Day #driven #land #major Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chainsaw Man Anime Limited Edition Is Up For Preorder At Amazon Chainsaw Man Anime Limited Edition Is Up For Preorder At Amazon Even though it has been a while since it first arrived, Chainsaw Man continues to be one of the hottest anime series of the 2020s, and at long last, it’s finally getting a proper Blu-ray release. Strangely, the anime is only being released in a Limited Edition format, but you can choose from two versions, both of which release July 29. Walmart has an exclusive Chainsaw Man Blu-ray with a steelbook case, and there’s also a Limited Edition with a collectible book at multiple retailers, including Amazon. Walmart originally listed Chainsaw Man for $56, but the retailer has since slashed the price to $43. If you preordered at the initial price, your order total will automatically be adjusted to reflect the discount as part of Walmart’s preorder price guarantee. $43 (was $56) | Releases July 29 The Walmart-exclusive Steelbook Edition contains the original 12-episode run that covers the first 38 chapters of the manga source material, but the striking cover does feature a close-up of Denji transformed into the titular Chainsaw Man. On the inside, you’ll find an image of Denji in his human form enjoying a movie with his boss and Special Devision 4 co-workers from the Public Safety ****** Hunters association. For bonus materials, you’ll find several art galleries featuring character, publicity, and episodic storyboard artwork. $85-$98 | Releases July 29 The Limited Edition is currently priced at $98 at Amazon and Walmart, which is higher than Crunchyroll’s price ($85). With Amazon and Walmart’s preorder price guarantees, you’ll be eligible for any price cuts offered between the time you order and release. Typically, both retailers lower prices to match the competition, so it’s very possible this will drop to $85 soon. The Limited Edition comes with the same on-disc extras alongside a 72-page booklet featuring various character design illustrations from the anime. It has a regular cover featuring promotional art of Denji about to transform into the Chainsaw ******, and a protective slipcase of Denji transformed. In case you missed it, Chainsaw Man tells the story of freelance ****** hunter Denji, who forms a contract with his trusty ****** dog Pochita after he is betrayed and horribly murdered by the Zombie ******. Fused with one of the most powerful devils in existence, Denji soon becomes a person of interest on a national scale as sinister forces look to exploit his power. Dumb as rocks but possessing a good heart, Denji soon makes new friends along the way as he integrates into society. The show was a huge hit after it launched, thanks to its surprisingly touching storytelling, fascinating mythology, and beautifully animated action sequences. The next storyline from the Chainsaw Man manga, the Reze Arc, is being adapted into a feature film that releases in theaters in Japan on September 19. If you’re looking to read the manga, most of it is available in paperback format. The easiest way to dive in is with the Chainsaw Man box set that collects Volumes 1-11, which form part of the overall first act known as the Public Safety arc. The box set also comes with an exclusive double-sided full-color poster, and you can grab it for $56 (was $100). From there, you can buy the manga paperbacks that have been released for the ongoing second act of the series, the Academy Saga. Volume 18 just released on May 6, and Volume 19 is up for preorder ahead of its publication this October. Chainsaw Man Manga Chainsaw Man manga boxset Finally, you can get a very cute–and cool–collectible in the form of BLDR’s Chainsaw Man action figure. This official 10-inch building set released earlier this year and includes 311 pieces. There are some really nice details here, like the head and arm chainsaws wielded by the demonic hero, an impressive amount of articulation, and even the tie has some flexibility to it. Normally $20, you can pick this up for $14.80 through Amazon. Source link #Chainsaw #Man #Anime #Limited #Edition #Preorder #Amazon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Use debt as a stepping stone, not a sink hole Use debt as a stepping stone, not a sink hole 0:05 spk_0 Welcome to living not so fabulously. So David, did you know that Mary on the Mary Tyler Moore Show didn’t have a job when she got to Minneapolis? 0:12 spk_1 No, she didn’t. 0:13 spk_0 No, the first episode was her interview with Lou Grant. 0:16 spk_1 OK, and how is that relevant? 0:19 spk_0 Because Mary made it look so easy, and today’s guest is here to share that TV isn’t exactly like real life. Barton Jackson is the powerhouse executive director of the New York LGBTQ plus Chamber of Commerce, where he’s turning ****** ambition into economic impact. 0:31 spk_1 After maxing out credit cards chasing opportunity in Seattle, Barton learned that building community equity is just as crucial as financial equity. Now he’s helping LGBTQ businesses across the Big Apple cash in on their own worth.And he’s got the receipts. 0:45 spk_0 I find the first part of uh Barton’s interview so interesting because it parallels my story of when I moved to Denver. Shortly after college, I also moved to a new city with $5000 in my pocket just like Barton. Uh, and it wasn’t nearly enough, even in 1999. Yes, the late 1900s. 1:00 spk_1 Right, and you did amass a bunch of credit card debt trying to fit in with the in crowd. Yeah, but I 1:06 spk_0 think Barton had his act together a little bit more quickly than I did. 1:09 spk_1 I think so too. Let’s hear what he has to say. 1:12 spk_0 Welcome to the show, Marton. 1:14 spk_2 Good morning. Thank you for having me. 1:16 spk_0 So, welcome to the show. We appreciate you coming on. A lot of ****** kids growing up in small towns across America, dream of the day when they can finally flee off to a better city with safety and acceptance. You did that, but you weren’t quite prepared for that. Would you mind elaborating on that story a little bit? 1:34 spk_2 Sure, so, um, you know, quick synopsis, uh, born in California, raised in Idaho, moved to Seattle, Washington after college, and then came to to to to New York. So, uh, in the process of growing up in Idaho, um, as you might imagine, not a lot of um LGBTQ plus connectivity or support um from city and state at the time.Uh, and, you know, it was really a matter of do your work, kind of keep to yourself. There wasn’t really the ability to have mentors or a lot of feedback, um, from people who were going through the same life experiences unless you were, you know, enjoying the nightlife. Uh, so, uh, when I moved to Seattle, Washington, that was during the subprime mortgage crisis, so everything was shutting down, uh, in terms of job opportunities.And, you know, my sister had sold me on it, uh, you know, telling me that there were opportunities to do uh career advancement, find my way further up, um, the corporate ladder. I was already working in banking at the time, and, uh, moved to Seattle, Washington without a job, uh, thinking that I had enough savings to kind of get by and uh a friend to let me couch surf, uh, and then very quickly found out that Seattle’s expensive, uh.And, uh, you know, racked up a decent amount of credit card debt. I think it was about 10,000 at the time. Uh, you know, while I found stable work, I was a contract employer after finally finding an opportunity after three months of living there, um, but then, you know, had to find an apartment, had to furnish the apartment, um, had to keep myself well fed, you know, all that good stuff. Uh, so, you know, quickly realizing that, you know,Relocating without a job uh was was not uh in my best interest, uh, but, you know, that kind of accelerated my desire to to save up and and and eliminate that credit card debt, cause you could see it eating away at your paycheck, um, when you wanted to have other life events like travel or visiting family. Most of my family at the time was still living in Idaho. I wasn’t certainly doing any major travels myself.Um, and, and kind of saw that I needed to save up and and bring that debt down if I was going to live a better qualityof life. 3:52 spk_1 You mind sharing with us how you felt emotionally during that time ******* of this kind of financial insecurity? Were you scared? Were you ashamed? We did, were you more even more determined? 4:04 spk_2 I was probably more determined, um, you know, for me, money, credit, you know, uh, all that are tools, right? It’s, it’s, it’s, if you’re using it responsibly, it’s an investment. Was I using it responsibly? Yeah, probably not. But uh the thing that was different for me is I saw a different investment when I moved to Seattle, Washington, becauseYou know, where I went from a place where, you know, you could be fired by the wrong boss if they didn’t like that you were gay, um, and, you know, uh, an **** AIDS prevention education treatment center that was like the size of a shoebox and a strip mall that was regularly protested and, and really no support for the community outside of the bars and, um, you know, the, the a nonprofit that was run by uh our our drag queen population. There was nothing.Uh, in terms of, of sport, and so here I come to this city.When I finally landed a job, uh, it was for Credit Union. It wasn’t a glamorous job. I was essentially a teller, but I loved it, um, because, you know, I met the CFO who was a gay man, married, had two adopted children. I didn’t even know that was like a viable future, uh, I guess I ceremonial be married at the time, uh, and then, you know, he invited me to the Greater Seattle Business Association, which is the LGBTQ plus Chamber of Commerce in Seattle.And, uh, you know, here I am getting on a boat cruising, uh, the, the, the sound, and on it are the Sisters of Perpetual indulgence to executives of Fortune, you know, 500 companies, you know, foreign dignitaries, uh, small business owners that, you know, might make ice cream on, on Capitol Hill, right? And it was just so cool to see a community thatA was had empowered itself over years, um, but B was well organized and, you know, wanted to invest in community for its own betterment. 6:03 spk_0 Hold that thought button, we’ll be right back after this quick break. 6:16 spk_1 So welcome back. If you’re just joining us on Living Not So fabulously, we’re talking to LGBTQ advocate Martin Jackson, who overcame his own financial struggles and is revealing what we can do to build a more inclusive and financially stable future. 6:29 spk_0 So Barton, you were just telling us before the break about how you were being exposed to this whole different kind of lifestyle, all these opportunities that you didn’t know you necessarily had coming from a small town.How did you get focused on creating the life that you wanted and not get sucked into trying to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak, and then not be able to have other opportunities downthe road? 6:51 spk_2 Sure, so, um, I think it’s really important when you’re looking at your life, you know, recognizing it’s yours, right? It’s nobody else’s, and, you know, kind of thinking about your values and and what’s important to you. Uh, so for me, you know, uh, when I came out, you know, I was already, you know, I think within the first year, you know, my first friend decided to, um, unfortunately take their life and, you know, throughout a decade.Um, you know, I would lose 1 or 2 friends a year, whether it was from, you know, suicide, drug addiction, uh,You know, violence bias, um, you know, **** AIDS complications, you name it, and what I ultimately saw, um, was that it was lack of resources, lack of investment, and, um, you know, lack of support, and so that was also part of that night and day coming from Iowa to Seattle. So, you know, I started to think, what can I do?You know, kind of off the side of the desk or as my, my whole self, uh, both in profession and in my, my, my personal life, uh, and, you know, I decided to start marrying those things together and finding where I could balance them. So for me, uh, you know, I was still in the financial industry. I stayed in banking from the time I left Idaho to the time I was in Seattle, and then, you know, um, when I came to New York, and for me,Finding out how to kind of get where I wanted to go was finding the employer that found value in letting me bring my whole self to work, um, but also, uh, bringing that into community. And so uh when I came to New York, I was employed, um, you know, right off the bat, I think a month later, uh, andI, my first role, I was a personal banker. I was in that role for about a year and a half. Then I was a store supervisor for a brand new location in Columbus Circle. I was that for about a year and a half, uh, and then I was the assistant store manager for uh a new location up in Inwood forJust about a year and a half, uh, and then I was a small business banker for about 3 years and then I was a commercial banker or commercial lender for the remainder of the time before becoming the executive director here and the the the the secret to all that was I represented my community.But I also represented it myself as a banker, always at the same time, always wanting to help people, whether it was during professional hours or after hours, leveraging my education, my experiences, you know, uh, my background, you know, you know, wherever it was applicable. 9:33 spk_1 Yeah.Thank you for sharing that. I, I think it’s, it’s great to see how you transitioned from your early life in Idaho through uh to what you are doing today. You are very connected to the LGBT community and to the business community in the Big Apple. And so we know that you have kind of your, your thumb on the pulse of what is going on with small businesses.Uh, especially right now between Trump’s attacks on DEI and the manufactured trade war that we have going on right now, how is this, um, impacting, um, the small businesses that you’re working with? How are they struggling? Is it especially a hard time for them? Can you provide us with maybe some numbers or some idea of what you’re seeing happen right now under Trump 2.0? 10:20 spk_2 You know, that’s an excellent question, and it’s probably one that’s answered, um.Similar to to anywhere you go, which is that um uncertainty is is is is is a challenge for business at any level.Um, but it certainly is for, um, you know, businesses that come to a chamber of commerce, right? Like our responsibilities is to build an ecosystem. Um, we are here to provide visibility, advancement, connectivity, uh, and we’re also there to provide education and and insight, right? So our whole part purpose as a chamber is to be some sort of economic engine. Um, and so, you know, there are things about, um,You know, DEI and I’ll talk about it from um a chamber’s perspective, which is more about strategic sourcing, right? Many of our businesses look to do business with other businesses or corporations or governments, so, um.You know, whether you have a certification as part of your strategic sourcing, um, and some examples are, you know, if you are a veteran of military service, you and you own at least 51% of your company and operate your company, uh, there are certifications to recognize you formally as a veteran owned and operated company. Same thing is true for uh ********* women, uh, and then, uh.LGBT, um, and, you know, the difference is that most of the programs are recognized by some level of government, um, you know, wherever you go in in the US there there’s some level of of density for um interest in making sure those businesses are visible.Uh, LGBT is one of the ones that has a challenge with with government recognition. So, you know, when we talk about the DEI landscape from a strategic sourcing lens, Part of me, the, the, the, the, the, I’m trying not to get bitter yet. I know I turned 40 but and and we’re on the cusp, butUh, part of me just wants to shrug and say what’s changed, right? Um, you know, the other part of me says that, you know, visibility matters. Um, our population was, was heavily decimated, um, you know, AIDS uh endemic, uh during the, the, the, the 80s, all the way through till mid 2000, I think 09.was when we started to see uh AIDS mortalities decline, right? So we went from the 80s all the way till when, like, you know, Taylor Swift started making music, right? Uh and so you have intergenerational losses of entrepreneurial uh drive, capital, estates, knowledge, right, uh especially in metropolitan areas like New York. So I would argue.Um, anecdotally, uh, and a little bit statistically that, you know, our economy is probably as LGBTQ plus economy has a lot of opportunity for investment, you know, uh, of the sample size that I can go to of the chamber, you know, we’re probably most businesses on average are grossing an annual revenue of about 1.1 million in the metro New York City area.And you know, high concentration of professional services, uh, you know, so what you’re seeing is an opportunity for other industries, um, but also to map out where those are, you know, uh, so the uncertainty part of it is, you know, if this is a national headwind, what’s going to happen city or state wise? Will there be discussions of, of, ofAdding in LGBTQ plus recognition for uh for businesses. And you know, part of that comes with the opportunity for doing business with government, um, but the other ******* opportunity is the generational development of new entrepreneurial pools, uh, for New York City and New York State, right? So that could potentially mean.You know, we’re about 19.5 million New Yorkers, I believe. Um, you know, I won’t use the new Gallup poll for the 9.3%. I, I’m gonna stick to, uh, you know, Williams Institutes, um, statistics on, on our ratio against, uh, the general population, but you know, if you apply that and you apply the entrepreneurial ratio and you just tended like everything was equal in New York City and New York State.You’re probably talking about 58,000 businesses, give or take, that are either partially or or majority owned by LGBTQ plus New New Yorkers. Um, and then if you go statewide, you’re probably talking somewhere close to 109,000 businesses. So, you know, if thatWe equivalent to the small business contributions towards GDP from the general population, then you’re talking about probably like 58 billion being supported by LGBTQ plus businesses. So visibility versus uncertainty, kind of a constant theme for us, um, regardless of, of where we are, uh, in our history. Uh, and then the other part you mentioned was tariffs. Tariffs is also currently a level of, of uncertainty, right?You know, we’re we’re going back and forth, we’re we’re seeing this used as a negotiation tactic, um, but you know, what’s that going to mean largely to our small businesses, right? Many of which you know, kind of require from an access to capital standpoint or an operational spend standpoint, the use of overseas vendors, right? Uh, so you’ve got to, you know, have to now look very diligently at their supply chain, you know, especially if they are themselves are a supplier to.Like a big big box retailer, uh, or someone with a large contract, um, to, you know, an industry that’s gonna be very sensitive to any sort of increase in the cost of goods soldto them. 16:12 spk_1 Martin, do you mind sharing with us what is one piece of financial advice with your experiences and your inner experience working with small businesses that you would give to the LGBT community today? 16:26 spk_2 Uh, it’s, it’s, it’s all math, uh, you know, don’t, don’t overthink it, uh, you know.Budgets seem scary, but you can forecast pretty easily what you can and can’t afford, and you can decide.What is and isn’t worth it, right? Um, so whether it’s your personal household or your business, um, you know, it’s important to kind of do a risk assessment of things that you want to do. Uh, you know, I mentioned moving to New York years ago, I think 1213 years now, um, and I learned my lesson from when I moved from Idaho to Seattle, Washington. I looked at the cost of goods comparables between Seattle and New York. My eyes shot out of my head when I saw the rent.Um, but then I figured out what kind of job, uh, when I moved here would be sustainable, you know, I didn’t look for the fanciest neighborhood to live in, the best apartment. I looked for what was going to be adequate to meet my needs, and what would allow me to save up and kind of scale up my, my, my, my lifestyle. Um, and when I say my lifestyle, I’m, I don’t do a lot. I mean, if I’m not working, I’m probably at home painting or or drawing, uh, butYou know, for me it was like, how do I acquire a home, um, how do I make sure that I can control my cost of living, which is my biggest expense, you know, what’s it gonna take for me to save? So, you know, what are my expenses now? What kind of income do I need? What kind of savings plan do I need to have to get where I wanna go? And, you know, I’ll I’ll be honest, uh, I, I did.Pretty OK, uh, but I certainly had some setbacks, uh, and so, you know, I would say I’m, I’m probably a couple years behind where I wanted to be on, on homeowner acquisition, uh, but I’m I’m very happy with, with, with, you know, the fact that I’m in in my maybe forever home, uh, my, at least it’s appreciating, uh, which is always great, and uh that’s, that’s my biggest thing is it’s don’t freak out about, um,You know, making a decision, just do the math, make it informed, assess your risks, what’s it gonna cost, what are you gonna make, um, and, and keep that simple. And if you feel overwhelmed,Reach out to people and ask questions, like you’re not an island unto yourself. Um, if you’re a business owner, right, you’ve got a banker and attorney and an accountant. I guarantee it, right? If your personal household, whether you have um a chosen family or, you know, your, your, your, your, your biological family, uh, they’ve lived there, right? They’ve been there, they’ve done that, they got the t-shirt, but also, you still have a banker, you probably have a tax advisor or uh at least you can kind ofUh, pick someone’s brain that’s that’s in that industry, right? There are people to ask, there are communities around you cannot forget the value and the impact that your community can have when you’re making critical decisions. Um, I did that when I bought this place. So even though I, I did the math and I knew I could afford it and I would be OK, my, uh, real estate agent was, uh, you know.Uh, a good friend and, um, that has been doing it for 10 years, so I could trust her, her, her knowledge and expertise. Well, I was doing it longer. I knew her for 10 years, excuse me. Uh, my real estate, uh, attorney came from the chamber. I’d known him for years. Uh, and then, uh, my, cause I needed to do some renovations, uh, my contractor, I’d known for years through.Another networking group. And so I could ask all these people figure out my budget, figure out what my risks were, um, of going under, at or over budget, uh, to make sure that I, I didn’t go crazy when I, when I purchased my, my, my firsthome. 20:07 spk_0 Thank you for sharing that and thank you for all the work that you do at the chamber in New York. It’s, it’s critically important and we appreciate you sharing your personal story. It was great having you. 20:15 spk_2 Oh, thank you, it was a pleasure. I really appreciate it. 20:18 spk_0 Man, interviews like that just really inspired me because it really shows that the community is there for each other, especially in hard times, like we’re all dealing with rightnow, 20:26 spk_1 right? I agree with that. I also appreciate how he talked about this idea of strategically blending his social life with his professional life. You know, we call that building your power tribe. That’s when you haveA group that is both the combination of the people you love to hang out with and have fun with, as well as the people that you are focused on building something with. So what is in the middle of that Venn diagram is your power truck. Yeah, 20:53 spk_0 and wecan attest, it can be all too easy to just focus on aHanging out with their fun friends, and that can have sometimes dire consequences to your financialsituation, 21:00 spk_1 right? So our assignment for you this week is to think of those 3 to 5 friends that you have that could also be in your power tribe. They’re your colleagues as well, or at least trying to build something. 21:12 spk_0 So thanks for tuning into another episode. Like what you see, scan the QR code to follow Yahoo Finance, podcasts, or for more videos and expert insights. When you do, another tariff gets itemized on Amazon.com. Thank you. And until next time, stay fabulous. 21:32 spk_3 This content was not intended to be financial advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional financial services. Source link #debt #stepping #stone #sink #hole Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

D-Wave Pushes Back on Short Seller Case With Strong Earnings D-Wave Pushes Back on Short Seller Case With Strong Earnings After rising by an astonishing 683% in the last year, quantum computing firm D-Wave Quantum Inc. has left investors divided. On one hand are the bulls who feel that the company’s recent technological achievements have the potential to upend computing as we know it; these investors suspect that, despite signs of being overvalued, D-Wave has ample room to continue to ascend. On the other hand, bearish investors suspect the company will eventually come crashing down, either due to overenthusiasm by other investors or failure to live up to its hype. Short sellers have recently made a case against D-Wave, arguing that the company’s technology is not likely to usher in a quantum revolution after all and that its path to sustained and growing profitability is fraught. However, the company’s early-May first-quarter 2025 earnings report might be a point in favor of the bulls, as D-Wave posted records in revenue, gross margin, and other metrics. Solid Revenue Growth May Suggest a Path Forward Revenue has long been a sticking point for investors hesitant to take up a position in D-Wave. Skeptics question the company’s ability to generate revenue—and, more fundamentally, the marketability of its technology and products at this stage. Jensen Huang, CEO of chip giant NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:)., sent quantum stocks sliding in January 2025 when he speculated that useful quantum computers (with broad applications for business and personal use) were likely two decades away. While D-Wave may be at the forefront of one line of quantum technology development, if a solid path to revenue gains is not in sight for many years, investors will shy away. Fortunately, the company’s first-quarter revenue of $15 million is one data point pushing back at this timeline. D-Wave’s revenue surged by more than 500% year-over-year (YOY), thanks in large part to the ***** of a quantum computing system. A single system ***** does not automatically suggest revenue gains are in store going forward, but it may nonetheless provide some reassurance that D-Wave’s products have a market. Along with the revenue boost, D-Wave also increased its customer base over this *******. Strong GAAP Gross Profit and Cash Position Along with concerns about revenue, investors also hesitate regarding D-Wave’s path to consistent profitability. While the company posted a net loss of $5.4 million for the first quarter, this is an improvement of $11.9 million compared to the prior-year quarter. Perhaps more importantly, D-Wave’s GAAP gross profit came in at $13.9 million, a quarterly record for the company and an increase of more than 700% YOY. D-Wave’s strong GAAP gross profit performance is thanks in part to its higher margin, high-profile ***** in the first quarter—GAAP gross margin for the ******* reached 92.5%, up from 67.3% in the same quarter of 2024. With improving gross margins also comes a more favorable cash position, which is especially important as D-Wave continues to develop new technologies while it is not yet generating substantial revenue. The company ended the quarter with more than $304 million in cash and equivalents; D-Wave leadership said that this stockpile is sufficient to support the company until it reaches consistent profitability. In the Clear, or Still Reason to Pause? While D-Wave’s earnings report was sufficiently positive to send shares skyrocketing by about 50% in the days immediately following its release, cautious investors may not yet be fully convinced about the company. For example, bookings (received customer orders that are expected to generate future net revenues) decreased by almost two-thirds YOY to $1.6 million. And while the company’s customer base grew, it still only had a pool of 133 customers as of quarter’s end. These may be reminders for some investors that D-Wave’s position remains precarious. In the days following D-Wave’s earnings announcement, analysts at both Benchmark and Needham & Co. boosted their price targets for the firm. Even so, with a consensus price target of $10.17, shares of D-Wave currently exceed analyst predictions, suggesting that short-term upside potential may be limited or non-existent. Finally, though D-Wave has noted some promising technological achievements, investors should keep in mind that many experts still believe functional and commonplace quantum computing is still a long way off—and that major tech firms and an array of competitors are also working to be the first to bring these products to market. Original Post Source link #DWave #Pushes #Short #Seller #Case #Strong #Earnings Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

The Library of Congress is in limbo as GOP leaders question a Trump takeover – Politico The Library of Congress is in limbo as GOP leaders question a Trump takeover – Politico The Library of Congress is in limbo as GOP leaders question a Trump takeover PoliticoIn rare move, Congress pushes back on Trump over Library of Congress The Washington PostOpinion | George Saunders on the Firing of Dr. Carla Hayden The New York TimesDOJ official who defended Trump in hush money trial now also leading Library of Congress USA TodaySenior Justice Department officials tapped by Trump to run Library of Congress are denied access CNN Source link #Library #Congress #limbo #GOP #leaders #question #Trump #takeover #Politico Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Insulet Surges on Q1 Beat, Emerges as a Top S&P 500 Performer Insulet Surges on Q1 Beat, Emerges as a Top S&P 500 Performer Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ:)’s recent outperformance has caught investors’ attention and has earned it a designation as a top performer on the S&P 500. The medical device company, known for its innovative tubeless insulin pump system, saw its stock price climb by over 24% in the past five days. This jump in Insulet’s stock price has been driven by multiple catalysts including a recent earnings report that exceeded analyst predictions. Following this outperformance, the company’s upgraded full-year financial outlook further boosted investor confidence. So now the question for Insulet becomes whether or not the company can sustain this momentum and continue to deliver the strategic results that it will take to meet its newly upgraded guidance. Insulet’s Q1 Earnings Triumph and Guidance Uplift The company’s stock price rally was a direct response to Insulet’s first quarter 2025 earnings report. The company reported total revenue of $569 million, marking a substantial 28.8% increase year-over-year and a 29.8% rise in constant currency, comfortably exceeding analyst consensus estimates of $543.20 million. This top-line strength translated directly to the bottom line, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) coming in at $1.02, significantly outperforming Insulet’s analyst community’s consensus of $0.81. Total Omnipod revenue reached $554.1 million, up 28.0% year-over-year (29.0% in constant currency). Gross margin expanded by 240 basis points to 71.9%, and operating income rose to $88.8 million, or 15.6% of revenue. Full-year 2025 guidance was raised: Total revenue growth now expected at 19%-22% in constant currency Omnipod revenue growth guidance raised to 20%-23% Gross margin guidance improved to 71% Insulet: Innovation in Insulin Delivery At the core of Insulet’s success is the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system, which features SmartAdjust technology. This system works with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to adjust insulin every five minutes. Users benefit from: Reduced hyper- and hypoglycemia Smartphone control, including an iPhone app, launched in the U.S. Segmental growth highlights: How Insulet Builds Market Share Omnipod 5 was launched in several new markets in early 2025, expanding to 14 countries. Insulet is focused on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients. The tubeless design of the Omnipod remains its key differentiator in a competitive insulin pump market. Insulet’s Next Chapter: Sustaining the Momentum Insulet’s climb in the S&P 500 reflects the success of its Omnipod insulin delivery systems and its strategic market approach. Strong Q1 2025 earnings and increased full-year projections highlight the company’s effective capture of the growing diabetes care market. Continued innovation in the Omnipod 5, coupled with aggressive global expansion and a focus on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, positions Insulet for long-term growth. In the evolving diabetes market, Insulet’s tubeless technology caters to the increasing demand for patient-focused solutions, suggesting a promising future. Investors seeking growth in the medical technology sector will find Insulet’s current performance indicative of a company leading the way in diabetes management. Original Post Source link #Insulet #Surges #Beat #Emerges #Top #Performer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

If You Liked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Play These Games Next If You Liked Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Play These Games Next It would be inaccurate to say Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 snuck up on all of us. We were enamored with its setup, art direction, and gameplay from its reveal trailer, but we’ve all been on this hype train before. For a game to live up to its initial excitement is rare, but Clair Obscur managed to do it with confidence. It’s the kind of game that, despite having multiple epilogues, leaves you wanting more. And if that is the case, here are some games you should check out if you just couldn’t get enough of Gustave and friends’ adventures. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 If You Liked The Story Clair Obscur begins with a compelling premise where everyone in the world knows the exact age at which they will die, and that number is getting smaller and smaller. Perhaps a product of a generation of modern game designers growing up with the medium and now hitting a point in their lives where they are thinking about mortality, Expedition 33 is not the first game to grapple with this idea. Like every game on this list, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is very different from Clair Obscur, but it does share a similarity in that its characters are fully aware of their mortality. The cast is made up of genetically engineered soldiers who are born as young adults and only live ten years. The narratives branch in very different directions, but those compelling ideas about what it means to grow old are explored in both games. Final Fantasy X To go into why there are similarities between Clair Obscur and Final Fantasy X would potentially spoil late game details of both, but just know that developer Sandfall has cited the tenth Final Fantasy specifically as inspiration for its game. They explore different ideas, but are tonally similar, with both having a melancholy edge. Super Mario RPG If You Liked The Gameplay I personally love an RPG with timed button pressing mechanics. It keeps the combat engaging, and also lets you take on enemies and bosses that are out of your league, as long as you are willing to persevere. Nintendo’s Mario RPGs popularized this style of gameplay, and they hold up surprisingly well. The 2023 remake of Super Mario RPG is an excellent look at where those mechanics arguably began, and 2024’s Switch release of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is also excellent. Sea of Stars For a nostalgic, but contemporary option, Sea of Stars is another mechanically excellent RPG that keeps you on your toes by rewarding dodging and doing bonus damage with smart, timed button presses. Persona 5 Royal Like the Final Fantasy X recommendation above, Persona 5 Royal does not feature timed-button pressing, but it is an excellent turn-based RPG, and is one that developer Sandfall cites as an inspiration. Persona lacks the compelling death countdown and focuses more on merging RPG gameplay with slice-of-teenage-life, but moving through Clair’s combat menus and its overall user-interface design are incredibly reminiscent of Atlas’ beloved RPGs. Both feature mechanics based on evolving relationships with party members that reward you with new moves, too. Assassin’s Creed Unity If You Liked The Setting/Art Direction Clair Obscur is French as hell, and there is arguably no better representation of France in video game form than in Assassin’s Creed Unity. Unity will always bear the reputation of its troubled launch where the game was riddled with issues, but all these years later, the game is reportedly stabilized and lives up to its initial promise. If you loved hanging out in an abstract version of France in Clair, wait until you see the “real” thing in Unity. Lies of P And speaking of abstract versions of France, the fictional city of Krat in Lies of P is, similar to Clair, inspired by the Belle Époque *******. The two games look similar (in a complimentary way to both), and for bonus points, Clair features some Souls-like mechanics and Lies of P is a Soulslike. Final Fantasy XVI If You Liked Ben Starr In Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, actor Ben Starr plays a character named Verso. In Final Fantasy XVI, Starr plays a character named Clive Rosfield. Verso and Clive look kind of similar, share somewhat dour but inviting personalities, and – shockingly – sound kind of similar. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit like I was hanging out with Clive from another universe when I met Verso. You could also check out Khazan: The First Berserker, which is a Soulslike released earlier this year that stars Starr as the main protagonist. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated If You Liked The Flying Waters Location Speaking with creativebloq.com prior to the game’s release, Sandfall art director Nicholas Maxson-Francombe cited an unexpected reference when talking about the Flying Waters location. “SpongeBob has the same kind of idea where they’re just walking normally underwater. So I was like, why not try to make a realistic version of that?” The idea was apparently born from the team wanting an underwater level, but wanting to avoid creating a whole new set of underwater and swimming mechanics. So, if you enjoyed being underwater, but not playing an underwater level, we suggest arguably the best SpongeBob video game, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated. For more on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you can read our review here, get some gameplay tips, learn why it’s a bad game to play with a newborn, and why we liked the beginning so much. Source link #Clair #Obscur #Expedition #Play #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]