FazzNoth

A former Stadia exclusive, the sequel to Submerged is now coming to PC and consoles, inviting a new host of players into this chilled out, laidback post-apocalypse. Team up with Miku and Taku to explore a beautiful, no combat world and start to uncover its mysteries. Submerged: Hidden Depths is the sequel to Uppercut Games’ 2015 Submerged. It has actually been around for some time, having been originally released as a Stadia exclusive in 2020. Now, however, the game is making the jump to PC and consoles. In this ‘relaxploration’ adventure, returning players will be reunited with Miku and her brother Taku as they explore a new city together and do what they can to restore the beauty of their world, and undo the damage that has nearly destroyed it. Submerged: Hidden Depths will be available on PC and consoles soon. STORY: UNCOVER THE MYSTERY OF SUBMERGED: HIDDEN DEPTHS This game continues where its predecessor left off, in a post-apocalyptic version of our world following massive flooding and the spread of an entity known as the Mass. Instead of the land, cities, and trees we know now, the world has been transformed into a giant ocean, with only a handful of broken buildings still standing tall enough to poke through to the surface. As in the previous game, the story centres around Miku, a girl infected by the Mass, and her brother Taku. Together, the pair of them explore the few remaining structures above the waves. Using her connection to the Mass, Miku strives to restore Seeds that have become corrupted, turning the lush greenery into the sinister Black Plant strangling anything still standing. As players progress, they will uncover diary entries that reveal the history of the world they are in. Over time, these snippets of information will start to come together into a cohesive narrative about what happened to make the world the way it is, and uncover the secrets of the Mass. While intriguing in its own way, the game’s story isn’t a particularly pressing motivation to progress; if anything, it’s somewhat incidental to your innate desire to explore the new world you’re being presented with. Fortunately, this appears to be an intentional decision by the designers to ensure that the game remains a relaxing, easy-going experience without sudden twists and turns stirring up drama. It’s important to note that while the story is not a major focus, there is a story to uncover. Rather than following in the tradition of similar titles with highly ambiguous narratives with no actual answers to be found, Submerged’s world does benefit from clear story-telling when required. More Info: https://www.keengamer.com/articles/previews/submerged-hidden-depths-preview-a-soothing-post-apocalypse/

Iknow Saturdays are usually for sleeping in, but I hope you don’t sleep on this round of deals. Drop has a very special sale on its exclusive collection of MT3 profile keycaps for Cherry-style mechanical keyboards. You can buy two base or ortholinear sets of keycaps and get them for the price of one when you use code MT3FREE until Sunday, February 20th. That may sound like a jumble of confusing jargon for the mechanical keyboard uninitiated, but that’s ok, because we’re here to help people learn as well as save. Drop’s signature MT3 keycaps have a deeply scalloped contour for your fingers to gently rest in as you type. They fit most Cherry MX keyboard switches — the most commonly used type out there — and they’re made of high quality ABS or PBT plastics. They’re designed by Matt3o, and come in all kinds of funky colorways, ranging from a touch of retro to futuristic. This deal is exclusively on the base kits (the QWERTY layouts you’re used to seeing) and ortholinear kits (highly specialized boards with keys arranged in an even grid), with prices ranging from $110 to $130 per set. Since Drop has the exclusive rights to the MT3 tooling, there are no knockoffs or counterfeits out there to rip these off, but they’re also much easier to come by compared to keycaps sold in group-buys that can take months to deliver. Some of these MT3 keycaps have already sold out at Drop, but if you hurry you can still snag a pair of cool sets with this offer and essentially save 50 percent. Now for a deal that isn’t just for us keyboard fanatics. Apple’s latest 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has been a bonafide hit with content creators and power users alike, is now available for $2,299 at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s $200 off the supersized, base-level model, which comes equipped with the M1 Pro 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of SSD storage. The larger MacBook Pro is ideal for photo and video editing given its excellent display and blazing-fast performance, especially when using native Apple apps like Final Cut X. The screen may have a polarizing notch at the top of it, but with terrific hardware under the hood and a wealth of convenient ports, it’s easier to overlook. Read our review. On the topic of speed and performance, Samsung’s 1TB PCIe 4.0-ready 980 Pro is currently on sale for $169.99, complete with a heatsink, at Best Buy and Amazon. This M.2 SSD is fast enough for a serious PC or even the PlayStation 5, and right now it’s $80 off its regular price of $249.99. If you don’t need the heatsink — a requirement for the PS5 — the price is even lower at Amazon, where you can pick it up right now for $149.99, its second-best price to date. While there are certainly larger configurations available, this robust drive should hold a fair amount of games, allowing you to effectively double the storage capacity of your PS5. If you’re into PC gaming, or simply desire a high-quality mouse that doesn’t look like a UFO that’s about to take off from your desk, the Logitech G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse is on sale at Amazon and GameStop right now for $77.99, an all-time low. This lightweight mouse was developed with esports in mind, but you’d never guess it just by looking at its svelte, true ambidextrous design. That’s because it can easily blend in with just about any desk setup without being overbearing or garish, something that is a common occurrence with many gaming-focused peripherals. There is a newer model of this mouse — the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, which is currently on sale at Amazon for $149 — but it costs nearly double the sale price of the last-gen G Pro. Luckily, you can’t go wrong with the original model. Microsoft’s Xbox Stereo Headset is already an affordable value proposition at its full price of $59.99, but it’s now a steal given it’s currently available for about $46 at Amazon, Microsoft, Target, and Best Buy. This headset shares a lot in common with the pricier Xbox Wireless Headset — it’s just wired with a 3.5mm cable. That same wire makes it compatible with just about anything that uses a headphone jack, including non-Xbox consoles like the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. We see these drop in price once in a while, and they’re worth a look if you want a no-frills gaming headset that nails the essentials. Read our review. The Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, another gaming favorite of ours, has returned to an all-time low of $139.99 ($40 off) at GameStop and Walmart. The excellence of the Elite Series 2 comes from its myriad customization options, which lets you fine-tune how the controller feels with a swappable D-pad and thumbsticks. Its optional rear paddle buttons are also mappable to whatever function you please, allowing you to have the edge in first-person shooters and other games where it's essential to keep both thumbs on the sticks at all times. Read our review. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/drop-e2-80-99s-signature-mt3-profile-mechanical-keycaps-are-buy-one-get-one-free/ar-AAU4j7P?ocid=BingNewsSearch

The global revenues for the artificial intelligence (AI) market, including software, hardware, and services, is forecast to grow 19.6 per cent (on-year) in 2022 to $432.8 billion, according to a new report. The market is expected to break the $500 billion mark in 2023, reports International Data Corporation (IDC). AI solutions are currently focused on business process problems and range from human augmentation to process improvement to planning and forecasting, empowering superior decisioning and outcomes. "Advancements in language, voice and vision technologies, and multi-modal AI solutions are revolutionizing human efficiencies," said Ritu Jyoti, group VP, Worldwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation Research at IDC. AI software will see its share of spending decline slightly in 2022 as spending for AI hardware and services grows more quickly. This trend will continue into 2023. Overall, AI services is forecast to deliver the fastest spending growth over the next five years with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22 per cent while the CAGR for AI Hardware will be 20.5 per cent. "Overall, AI plus human ingenuity is the differentiator for enterprises to scale and thrive in the era of compressed digital transformation," said Jyoti. In the AI software category, AI applications accounted for 47 per cent of spending in the first half of 2021, followed by AI System Infrastructure Software with around 35 per cent share. "AI remains a key driver of IT investment, which in turn boosts spending on related services to ensure sustainable adoption at scale," said Jennifer Hamel, research manager, Analytics and Intelligent Automation Services. The AI hardware category grew the most in terms of market share in the first half of 2021 with a jump of 0.5 per cent share. It is forecast to reach 5 per cent market share in 2022 with year-over-year growth of 24.9 per cent. "Of all the spending in the various AI market segments, AI Hardware is by far the smallest," said Peter Rutten, research vice president, Performance Intensive Computing at IDC. https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/global-artificial-intelligence-spending-to-reach-434-bn-in-2022-report-122022000195_1.html

Software Acquisition Group Inc. II (NASDAQ:OTMO) – Stock analysts at B. Riley dropped their FY2022 earnings per share estimates for shares of Software Acquisition Group Inc. II in a research note issued on Wednesday, February 16th. B. Riley analyst J. Nichols now forecasts that the company will earn ($0.56) per share for the year, down from their previous estimate of ($0.32). B. Riley also issued estimates for Software Acquisition Group Inc. II’s FY2023 earnings at ($0.63) EPS, FY2024 earnings at ($0.35) EPS and FY2025 earnings at $0.49 EPS. Separately, Zacks Investment Research cut Software Acquisition Group Inc. II from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday. Software Acquisition Group Inc. II stock opened at $1.34 on Friday. Software Acquisition Group Inc. II has a 12 month low of $1.32 and a 12 month high of $11.60. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.66. A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vivaldi Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Software Acquisition Group Inc. II during the second quarter worth about $148,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Software Acquisition Group Inc. II during the second quarter worth about $168,000. Morgan Stanley bought a new stake in Software Acquisition Group Inc. II during the first quarter worth about $289,000. Fir Tree Capital Management LP bought a new stake in Software Acquisition Group Inc. II during the second quarter worth about $483,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Software Acquisition Group Inc. II by 149.4% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 57,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $576,000 after purchasing an additional 34,684 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.35% of the company’s stock. Software Acquisition Group Inc. II Company Profile Software Acquisition Group Inc II does not have significant operations. It focuses on effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses in software companies. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. https://etfdailynews.com/news/fy2022-earnings-forecast-for-software-acquisition-group-inc-ii-issued-by-b-riley-nasdaqotmo/

Request Rejected. T/C

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shehbaz Gill says national economy is witnessing upward trajectory due to economic policies of prudent government. Addressing a news conference in Faisalabad today [Saturday], he said all major industries are witnessing boom while national exports are increasing under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the government took hard decision to increase prices of petroleum products due to rising trends of international market. He, however, hoped that petroleum prices would be reduced soon. Terming the national health card as government's revolutionary step, he said facility will enable patients to avail medical treatment worth one million rupees per annum in the best public or private hospitals of the country. https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-02-2022/national-economy-witnessing-upward-trajectory-due-to-govt-economic-policies-gill

Acomprehensive review led by an Israeli scientist of all the existing technologies used for collecting big data sets on animal movements in the wild was published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Science on February 18. The review, conducted by an international team led by Professor Ran Nathan of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, analyzed the pros and cons of eight current tracking technologies being used for wild animals today. The analysis looked at criteria such as frequency of location signals, size of the area that the technology can cover, size of the animal, the use of the technology underwater and its cost-efficiency. The review found that the best overall technology was reverse-GPS, which primarily uses acoustic signals underwater and radio signals over land. This technology-enabled effective and simultaneous tracking of small animals both above ground and underwater and was very cheap. Some reverse-GPS technologies could send signals as frequently as once every second. Their utilization revealed phenomena not previously known, including certain behaviors, animals interacting with each other and animals interacting with humans. For example, a new reverse-GPS system called ATLAS was developed by Nathan and Professor Sivan Toledo of Tel Aviv University and their teams, which successfully created a large database of wild animal movement by simultaneously tracking many dozens of wild animals with precise accuracy of a few meters at a high resolution and over a relatively long time period using small, inexpensive radio tags attached to the animals. “This sophisticated tracking system has ushered in a range of exciting discoveries and novel insights, including the first evidence for the existence of a cognitive map in a wild animal (a fruit bat), a pioneering study linking variation among individual birds (pheasants) in their cognitive ability and space-use patterns, and a discovery of a notable spatial segregation in foraging areas among bats that roost in two adjacent colonies, owing to an individual’s memory and information transfer among bats, with surprisingly no evidence for competition as a driving force,” Nathan said. However, the reverse-GPS system had limitations, including that it required prior installation and was usually limited to an approximately 100 km-wide region. Standard GPS, in contrast, was readily available and could cover much larger territories while remaining accurate, but was more costly, limited to larger animals and could not be used underwater, the study explained. The review's conclusion was that the best way to progress was to combine all of the existing technologies in order to harness each technology's advantages. "Coupling movement and environmental big data could help determine impacts of major environmental and climate changes on animal–environment interactions, whereas real-time movement data could uniquely inform biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/big-data-analyses-of-animal-movements-can-help-environment-israeli-led-study/ar-AAU3Aip?ocid=BingNewsSearch

In a car market where dealer markups are common, Miles Brandon has remained faithful to his pledge not to sell above sticker price. World-record long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow, third from left at rear, and Capistrano Volkswagen owner Miles Brandon, far right, with dealership staffers The semiconductor shortage, along with pent-up demand for new and used vehicles, has created the perfect storm for mismatched supply and demand. And dealers are taking advantage of vehicle shortages by adding big markups to vehicles or ladling on thousands of dollars in add-ons. More Info: https://www.autonews.com/best-practices/california-dealer-capistrano-stores-says-resisting-sticker-markups-good-business

Roku Stock Dives After Earnings Report Shares of Roku gained strong downside momentum after the company released its fourth-quarter results. Roku reported revenue of $865.3 million and GAAP earnings of $0.17 per share, missing analyst estimates on revenue and beating them on earnings. The company reported that Active Accounts reached 60.1 million, up by 8.9 million from Q4 2020. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) grew by 43% on a year-over-year basis. In Q4 2021, player unit sales declined by 4% on a year-over-year basis, serving as a significant bearish catalyst for Roku stock. In addition, the company’s guidance disappointed analysts. In Q1 2022, Roku expects to report revenue of $720 million and adjusted EBITDA of $55 million. The company also noted that ongoing supply chain disruptions would continue to impact the economy and that overall TV unit sales would likely remain below pre-pandemic levels, which could have an impact on the active account growth. What’s Next For Roku Stock? Analysts expect that Roku will report earnings of $1.63 per share in 2022, so the stock is trading at more than 60 forward P/E for this year despite the massive pullback. In the current market environment, traders are very sensitive to any negative news from growth companies. In Roku’s case, there’s too much bad news in one report. Player unit sales declined on a year-over-year basis, revenue missed estimates while Q1 2022 guidance was below analyst expectations. A combination of these negative factors led to massive pressure on Roku stock. It should be noted that Roku stock has already lost almost 80% of its value from the highs that were reached back in mid-2021. However, the company is still not cheap at a time when the market is ready to punish high-PE stocks for any shortcomings. In case the broad market pullback continues, Roku stock may gain additional downside momentum and settle below the psychologically important $100 level. Traders should also watch the dynamics of ARK Innovation ETF, which has recently moved to new lows. A panic sell-off in ARKK will signal that its holdings like Roku have more room to fall. For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar. This article was originally posted on FX Empire https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/why-roku-stock-down-28-161515842.html

Boris Johnson has said Europe is at “a very dangerous moment” and stands on “the brink” of a possible war with Russia. He warned in a speech at the Munich security conference that the world was at “the eleventh hour” to avert a conflict and said any invasion would encourage other countries to resort to military aggression. “This is a very dangerous moment in our history. We stand on the brink of what could be a war in Europe,” Mr Johnson said during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart ahead of his speech. The Russia-backed separatist leader of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, earlier ordered a full mobilisation of rebel troops in the region. Joe Biden has blamed Russian-backed separatists for an “uptick” in violence as part of a plan to create a “pretext” for an invasion of Ukraine. The president said he was “convinced” Vladimir Putin’s forces will launch an invasion “within days” beginning with an attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Key Points Boris Johnson says ‘we stand on the brink’ of war in Europe at ‘very dangerous moment Multiple explosions heard in rebel-held Ukrainian city of Donetsk Biden: Moscow has no excuse for invading Ukraine – but will ‘in days’ Russia-backed rebels order full military mobilisation Jeep ‘blown up’ in Donetsk sparks more evacuations Germany joins nations betting on Russian false flags What is a false flag operation? Putin not planning to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine invasion, says Biden https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ukraine-russia-news-–-live-biden-convinced-putin-will-attack-kiev-in-days-as-explosions-heard-in-donetsk/ar-AAU0PYG?ocid=BingNewsSearch

If you prefer to play certain games in a window, rather than full screen on your PC, then you might want to check out the latest Windows 11 Insider update. The Windows Insider Dev update of build 22545 and above - which allows you to sign up to features in testing that are not ready for a final release - is showcasing a feature called 'Optimizations for windowed games'. Enabling this in Settings will allegedly improve latency, and showcase Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rates (VRR) for the games that support these two features. There are some games that should be played in full-screen mode, especially if you've bought an expensive monitor to showcase God of War or Sonic Adventure. But windowed games make it easier to multitask between emails, social media, and watching video side-by-side. Improvements to this only prove further that Microsoft is looking at all aspects of Windows 11 in this upcoming feature update to make this OS its best yet. Seeing Microsoft focus on something like windowed gaming would have been completely unimaginable back in the days of Windows Vista. Analysis: windowed gaming gets its due If you're running build 22545 and above, you can go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default Graphics Settings to turn this feature on. But you can also enable this for certain games by going to Settings > System > Display > Graphics and selecting which games you want to benefit from this feature. It's another welcome move by Microsoft to look at aspects of the operating system that's been left by the wayside. There are plenty of users out there with one monitor, where they like to easily switch between a game and a web browser, or have them side by side. Especially for games that work well for a keyboard and not a controller, you can seamlessly switch windows using Alt+Tab to jump back and forth between the game and whatever else you have open. However, this also looks to be laying the groundwork for better compatibility for games that you can buy on a storefront, such as Steam, Epic Games, and Microsoft's own Xbox app. Having better ways to play a game in windowed mode is only a positive move by the company, and if this display type is getting attention, it makes us wonder what else Microsoft is focusing on for Windows 11 in the coming months and years. https://www.techradar.com/news/windows-11-is-getting-long-requested-improvements-to-windowed-gaming

Anyone interested in technology and listening to music will have noted the arrival of Bluetooth LE Audio, but the new Bluetooth system also promises to revolutionise hearing aids, in terms of price points if not also functionality and form factors. Presenting an in-depth, technical overview of the LE Audio specifications, which were unveiled at CES 2020 (by the author), this new book aims to examine how Bluetooth LE Audio could change the way we design and use audio. Basically, the new version of Bluetooth brings such features as enabling lower-power devices (via its LC3 codec), enabling multi-stream audio to support both left and right hearing aids (with built-in audio synchronisation) and increased broadcast functionality to allow audio sharing. It should replace the current magnetic inductance-based hearing loops in use today. The book is aimed at developers looking to build products who need to understand the specifications, designers of audio products and business managers who may be making decisions about audio opportunities. The good news is that it is also available as a free digital download from the Bluetooth SIG. It’s not a lengthy whitepaper, or some such, but a full book, of some 314 pages. For example, areas covered include: the LE Audio architecture itself, the context of its development, its use cases, channel allocation (multiplexing), Isochronous streams and roles, multi-channel LC3 audio, the ASCS audio stream control service, the BASS broadcast audio scan service, and much more… Speaking of the development of the specifications, the author writes: “For anyone not involved with that eight-year journey, it’s a pretty formidable set of documents to start reading. The purpose of this book is to try and put those specifications into context, adding some of the history and rationale behind them, to help readers understand how the different parts interconnect. I’ve also provided some background information on the market and what’s in a hearable, to help readers relate the specification to actual products.” “In the chapters which delve into detail, I’ve included references to the specific part of the specifications using their abbreviated name and section number, e.g. [BAP 3.5.1] for Section 3.5.1 of the Basic Audio Profile. I’ve tried to limit the number of references, so that they don’t get in the way of the text. The glossaries and concordances in Chapter 13 should also help developers navigate their way around the documents.” You can download it from here. “The new Bluetooth LE Audio set of specifications consists of over twenty documents, providing a toolkit to allow designers to develop a wide range of applications offering higher audio quality, new topologies, and even lower power. The LE Audio specifications also introduce Broadcast Audio, which will drive tremendous innovation in wireless audio for years to come. This book guides you through the specifications, illustrating how they work together and how to use them to develop innovative new applications.” Author The author, Nick Hunn, is Chair of the SIG’s Hearing Aid Working Group, Vice Chair of the Generic Audio Working Group and is described by the organisation as a key contributor to the LE Audio specifications. He is also WiFore Consulting CTO. Introducing Bluetooth LE Audio details Title: Introducing Bluetooth LE Audio Author: Nick Hunn Publisher: Self-published Price: Free Pages: 314 Format: PDF ISBN: 979-8-72-723725-0 Date: January 2022 https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/consumer-electronics/gadget-book-introducing-bluetooth-le-audio-2022-02/

Knight’s Home Hardware in West Lorne is a family-run business operated by Jeff Knight and his family. Jeff and Teresa purchased the store in June 1988 from Rudy Huver, who had operated the independently-owned operation for 12 years (Son David still works there.) Huver had purchased the former Crest Hardware store from Fischer and Kemp in 1976. The current store is the amalgamation of Lemon’s Department store (Jim Lemon was my landlord when I studied for the ministry in Toronto), the post office and the Crest Hardware buildings. Jeff and Teresa operate the store, with their children, Chris and Holly, helping out as needed. There are nine employees, and their jobs require them to become knowledgeable about many diverse types of products and uses – selling retail hardware, cutting keys, carpet cleaning rentals, window, screen and door repairs, glass repairs, paint selection and mixing, seasonal gardening products, and kitchen wares. Jeff and Teresa previously worked in grocery stores, in Shelburne and Dundalk, with the IGA chain. Jeff was also a volunteer firefighter. Upon moving to West Lorne, they immediately found the community to be welcoming to the extent that Jeff remarks that it was if the village and surrounding area “adopted them.” Jeff and his staff love serving the community to the best of their abilities, and plan to continue to so. Unlike many business chains, Home Hardware stores and owners are not franchisees. Home Hardware is a co-operative, with all of the store owners being “owners” of the company. Home Hardware was founded in 1964 in St. Jacobs, Ont. by Walter Hachborn. Jeff Knight says because Home Hardware is a co-operative, he’s permitted more control of what the business stocks in-house, while allowing him to special order any of the thousands of items available from the company’s warehouses in St. Jacobs. “Instead of me working for the warehouse, with them telling me what to stock, they serve us and our customers instead, by providing what we want,” he said. He further explained that the ordering process is straightforward and deliveries are on Wednesday mornings. The item will usually arrive by then, unless it is back-ordered. https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/knights-home-hardware-is-family-owned-and-operated

By Tina Bellon, Hyunjoo Jin and David Shepardson (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's ability to quickly issue safety patches via remote software updates is an approach other automakers eye enviously, but that also carries risk as cars become more like rolling computers. Investors have awarded Tesla's leadership on in-car software with a market value of $905 billion that dwarfs traditional carmakers, many of which are now scrambling to roll out their own ability to offer over-the-air software updates. However, Tesla's risk-friendly culture and its desire to quickly release cutting-edge technology has also put it on collision course with U.S. safety regulators, which have launched a string of recalls and investigations into the carmaker in recent months. The latest included the opening of a formal probe on Thursday into reports of unexpected brake activation. "There's definitely the mindset that you can fix fast so you can take a higher risk," Florian Rohde, a former Tesla validation manager who is now a consultant, said about the electric carmaker's ability to issue remote updates. That behavior was illustrated earlier this month when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ordered Tesla to issue a recall to prevent some of its vehicles from making "rolling stops" instead of coming to a complete halt at some intersections. That feature violated state laws and was a safety risk, the agency said. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, who has a long history of clashing with U.S. safety officials, denied there was a safety issue with the function. "The car simply slowed to ~2 mph & continued forward if clear view with no cars or pedestrians," Musk wrote on Twitter. But the carmaker nevertheless issued a software update to disable the function. NHTSA officials on Thursday said they would push for recalls if they feel safety risks may exist in any vehicles. Tesla has said it develops almost all its software to allow for regular over-the-air updates. The carmaker has issued software updates that control vehicle performance, braking, battery charging and infotainment functions. Tesla has led the auto industry in over-the-air recall updates. While nearly all recalls issued by NHTSA since 2020 required physical fixes, seven of Tesla's 19 recalls since January 2020, or 37%, were addressed with over-the-air software updates, an analysis of public data showed. Tesla handles majority of industry remote software recalls - https://graphics.reuters.com/TESLA-RECALLS/lgpdwxdobvo/chart.png Link: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/analysis-tesla-software-updates-allow-quick-fixes-and-taking-risks/ar-AAU1Lun?ocid=BingNewsSearch

A different nation Voters today are arguing and complaining about the high cost of living and the amount that they have to pay for gas. Looking back to 2017, crude oil was at an average of $50.80 a barrel, 2018 it was $65.23, 2019 was $56.99, in 2020 it dropped to $39.68 due to the start of the pandemic and in 2021 it went up to $68.17. In 2018, the feds raised the interest rate to slow down inflation, and that is what we are looking at now — an adjustment. In 2018, there was no COVID-19, there was no Great Resignation, there was no supply shortage. The current administration was handed a disaster of a nation. We were entering into the second year of COVID, the nation saw the death of more than 800,000 citizens, there is a backlog in our ports because people have left their jobs, schools were closed for more than 18 months and parents had to leave their jobs or cut back hours to stay with their children. Grocery stores have a shortage, and it is not only because of the backlogs in ports — the winter freeze in Texas left thousands of chickens dead, fires in California and Colorado destroyed many crops that should have been in markets, and drought in the Midwest has left the silos empty of grain. It takes more than one year to recoup the losses of farm products. We have millions of people who refuse to open their eyes and see what is clearly in front of them. A nation cannot get back on its feet in just 12 months if its people do not get together and lift up the nation. Infighting will not make the nation better, it will make it weaker. Theresa Grimes, Belleview Unanswered questions There has been much talk since the 2020 presidential election in reference to election fraud. I have a few questions, and I have not been able to get a response from our elected representatives. Were any state voting laws changed by governors or judges prior to the 2020 election? Did states clean up their voting roles prior to the 2020 election? Were those who moved out of state or passed away removed from voter rolls? What was the plan to ensure mail-in ballots were filled out and mailed by only those who were qualified to vote? How can mail-in voting be fraud-free? Going forward, what is the plan of the Republicans to ensure we have fair, open elections where only those qualified to vote cast ballots? In the California recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom, during a traffic stop in Torrance, California, 300-plus recall ballots were found in the vehicle involved. The investigation found there was no evidence of planned election fraud. Do you feel this is a reasonable finding for this incident? Andy Kelleher, Dunnellon Cervical cancer Government is not doing enough to prevent cervical cancer deaths, which are largely preventable, according to the report “ ‘We Need Access’: Ending Preventable Deaths from Cervical Cancer in Rural Georgia” by the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative and Human Rights Watch. I conducted interviews with Black women about their experiences accessing reproductive health care. Lack of medical insurance, as well as lack of reproductive and obstetrical/gynecological services in rural counties, were among the substantial barriers faced by most rural women with limited transportation. It’s time to take action to close the health care disparity gap and give all women access to health care services. Olivia Coley Pearson, Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative and Human Right Watch https://news.yahoo.com/todays-letters-readers-political-infighting-110058544.html

RSPCA urges public to ensure safety of pets as Storm Eunice looms. The Met Office had issued a red weather warning in the South West of England and South Wales for today (Friday 18 February) as forecasters predict strong winds of up to 90mph - while further red warnings followed for London, the South East of England and East of England. An amber alert has been put place in many other areas of England and Wales, while a yellow weather warning for snow and wind has been in place for the North of England and parts of Scotland. RSPCA spokesperson Amy Ockelford said: “Storm Dudley hit parts of the UK hard earlier this week and now forecasters are predicting that Storm Eunice could be even stronger. We’re urging pet owners to keep an eye on the forecast where they live and to plan ahead to ensure the safety of their animals.” A number of flood warnings and flood alerts are in force across the UK so pet owners have been advised to make a plan. Amy added: “Be sure you have a plan so you know how to get your family, and your animals, out of danger should flooding affect you. Floodwater can rise rapidly so we would urge people to act early and never to put themselves at risk to help an animal but to call our emergency rescuers on 0300 1234 999 for help.” Tips to keep pets safe during stormy weather Ensure you have a supply of food and medication for your pets; Ensure cats have access to the house or a warm, inside area where they can stay dry and escape the weather - if the weather becomes extreme, you could keep cats inside; Plan dog walks around the worst of the weather, and avoid any dangerous locations; If your dog is elderly, sick or feels the cold, get them a special coat to keep them warm; Wear reflective clothing if it’s getting dark of visibility is poor, Provide pets with a quiet, safe space to retreat to if they find the wind or storms frightening; Provide outdoor pets, like rabbits, with lots of extra bedding and ensure poultry, like chickens and ducks, have safe, dry shelter; Move outdoor pets inside or into a suitable outbuilding if the weather becomes extreme; Make a flood escape plan and ensure you have suitable carriers for small animals as well as collars, leads and carriers for cats and dogs should you need to evacuate; Rug horses and ponies and ensure they have adequate shelter or move them into stables if the weather is extreme; Make arrangements with a reliable, experienced friend to care for your horse or livestock in case you can’t reach them due to fallen trees or flooding; Consider leaving your contact details on field gates in case of emergency; Wild animals can struggle to find food and water during extreme weather, or may get lost or blown off course - leave out food and water for wildlife and seek help if you find an injured or stranded animal. The RSPCA has about 100 officers trained and equipped to deal with flood-stricken animals, as well as a fleet of 35 inflatable boats. The team can be placed on standby to respond to flooding emergencies, rescue animals and people, and support multi-agency flood evacuations. If your area floods you should consider moving your animals to higher ground (if outside) or moving pets inside - preferably upstairs. If you have to leave pets behind, ensure they have plenty of food and water, leave notices on outside doors making it clear that there are animals inside who need help and contact your local flood warden immediately. Never put your own life in danger to attempt an animal rescue. If you’re concerned about an animal in stormy weather or flooding please take a note of the location and time, and call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 for advice. https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/environment/storm-eunice-rspca-issues-animal-advice-510613

Days after a Canadian border blockade was broken up, the auto industry is facing a serious dilemma. Over the past three decades, manufacturers have adopted “lean” manufacturing. Largely lifted from the Toyota production system, the complex strategy relies heavily on things like automation and other labor-saving steps. But the centerpiece is a system known as “just-in-time,” or “JIT,” production, which has sharply reduced the amount of inventory maintained at automotive factories. That approach, it turns out, is extremely vulnerable to disruptions that can quickly bring factories to a halt. While no other industry has become more dependent on JIT production, it has also become a way of life for everything from agriculture to aerospace to consumer electronics, and it catches some of the blame for the supply chain disruptions and inflation that the industry has been battling the last two years. “Today’s generation of automotive leaders learned from the Toyota production system, focusing on getting cash out of inventory,” Joe Hinrichs, who retired as Ford Motor Co.’s global head of automotive operations in 2020, said. “Now, with everything that’s happened, including Covid, the semiconductor shortage, geopolitical risks and other events,” he said, there is growing concern that lean manufacturing — JIT production, in particular — no longer works. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/auto-industry-reconsiders-production-systems-after-border-protests/ar-AATZ5hx?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Many of us have switched to oats from cornflakes or parantha for breakfast. But are you tired of eating oats in milk or in khichdi? We understand how monotonous it can be for your taste buds. A non-palatable dish is enough to trail you off your diet plans. Check out these desi recipes you can prepare with oats. They are both healthy and tasty. #1 Oats dosa Mix 3:1:1 ratio of oats flour, rice flour, and wheat flour. Then add green chilies, coriander leaves, ginger, cumin, pepper, salt, and water to make a thin batter. Heat a dosa pan and sprinkle some onions, then pour the batter to make dosa. Sprinkle a little oil. When the dosa becomes golden brown, just take it out and serve. No need to flip it. #2 Oats upma Chop vegetables and onion, and slit green chillies. Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, curry leaves, then add onion and fry until transparent. Add vegetables, green chilies. Sprinkle a little salt. Add the oats and mix well for a minute. Add ¼ cup water, then cover and cook for two minutes. Serve hot for breakfast. #3 Oats omelette Use oats flour for this recipe. Make omelette batter with 2 eggs, oat flour, salt, pepper, turmeric powder, some milk. Heat oil in a pan and pour the batter. On top of the omelette, add finely chopped veggies, sprinkle some salt and press them onto the cooking omelette with a spatula. Flip over and let the veggies cook. Serve hot with some ketchup. #4 Oats chilla Dry roast oats and cool. Grind them into a fine powder. In a bowl, add besan, powdered oats, finely chopped onions, ginger and green chili paste, pumpkin, flax, sesame seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, and salt. Make a batter with water. Heat a pan, add oil, pour the batter, and spread evenly. Sprinkle oil on the sides, then flip and cook the other side. #5 Oats laddoo Dry roast rolled oats and sesame seeds until fragrant. Blend them into a powder. Then add grated jaggery and blend together. Once done, take out the mixture and shape them into laddoos. These are very healthy as there's no use of refined sugar or any added oil or ghee. The oil of the sesame seeds acts as the binding agent for the laddoos. https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/lifestyle/desi-oats-recipes-you-must-try/story

Stock futures rose on Friday to unwind some losses after a sell-off on Thursday, when geopolitical concerns ramped further to trigger a risk-off move in markets. Contracts on the S&P 500 gained about 0.5% ahead of the opening bell. The index dropped more than 2% a day earlier, while the Dow dropped 1.8% for its worst day in nearly three months. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), or "fear gauge," came down from its highs a day earlier but still held at an elevated level, holding near 27. Another apparent reversal in the state of the conflict in Russia and Ukraine stoked further uncertainty and volatility for market participants this week. President Joe Biden told reporters on Thursday that the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine was "very high" in the coming days, and that Russia had not in fact moved troops out of Ukraine despite the country's suggestions of a deescalation earlier this week. Crude oil prices fell Friday morning to pause a recent run-up even as Russia-Ukraine tensions resurged. "The two things we're most concerned about right now in terms of headwinds for the market and causes for volatility, are clearly tensions with Russia-Ukraine ... and then clearly, our concern over not just inflation but what the monetary policy response to that inflation is going to be," Art Hogan, National chief market strategist, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. "And those headlines have changed quite a bit too." "We've gone from thinking the Fed would be very, very deliberate in their actions starting in March and telegraph everything ... to having some outliers on the committee talking about being very aggressive, a lot more aggressive than what's priced into the market," he added. "Every day the story changes a bit." Treasury yields steadied after dropping across the curve on Thursday, with the 10-year yield holding back below 2%. This came as markets priced in a lower probability of a front-loaded 50 basis-point interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve in March, with investors looking past hawkish commentary from St. Louis Fed President James Bullard calling for a more aggressive path on interest rates. Other strategists also underscored the dual concerns around Russia and Ukraine and on the Fed for markets in the near-term. "Really, it's about Russia and Ukraine, and it's about the Fed. And on the geopolitical side, I think the challenge for investors is that geopolitical risk is just really hard to weigh," James Liu, Clearnomics founder and CEO, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. "Our view is that we're not yet in a situation where it makes sense to make any real portfolio moves based on this. I mean, first of all, diplomatic channels are still open, so the situation is still evolving on a regular basis." "The challenge is that even if the worst case scenario were to happen, it's hard to gauge exactly what the impact long-term would be on the markets," he added. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-news-live-updates-stock-futures-recover-losses-after-dows-worst-day-since-november/ar-AAU0lKX?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Happy Birthday!