Everything posted by Ga[M]er
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This thing might be a tad hard to wrap your mind around, but if you give it a chance, it's likely the Brabus 900 Crawler will grow on you. It would be quite incredible, if you can imagine the scenario, showing up at King of the Hammers in this supercar-esque off-roader and watching literally everyone stare you down, as if they had seen a real-life unicorn—which it pretty much is, glorious glittery aura included. Brabus Goes Off-Road: We Have Liftoff! To celebrate its 45th anniversary, Brabus, a German high-end automotive manufacturer, came up with this crazy doorless, windowless "crawler." That's weird; we're used to road cars and of course G63s out of Brabus, but not this. The Brabus 900 Crawler is wholly unique, and if you had to describe what just passed by camp, you'd probably have no idea what to say: super-fancy side-by-side, Jeep-ish buggy, dune-style G-Wagen, one-of-a-kind custom-fab off-roader? Understandable. The work was all done in-house, making it truly custom. For reference, the 4,550-pound Brabus 900 Crawler is 182.0 inches long, 82.9 inches wide, and 92.0 inches high. That's like four feet shorter than a new Ford Raptor, and about a foot taller. Dripping In Carbon Fiber It's impossible to miss the bountiful integration of exposed carbon in this Brabus build: buggy-style body; roof paneling; roof cowl with a central air intake (providing airflow for rear seat passengers) and two integrated LED lights; rear wing; hood with air intake and air vents; engine cover; and fenders with rocker panels and running boards. There's a ton of carbon fiber on the inside, too, sculpting and integrating interior elements seamlessly. The underbody panels are constructed from aluminum and a robust carbon/Kevlar composite material. It Has Portals A crazy custom CAD-designed tubular frame and chassis accommodates Brabus front and rear portal axles (for almost 21 inches of ground clearance) and custom suspension. The front has billet control arms. Damping comes courtesy of tailor-made height and damping adjustable Brabus aluminum struts. The eight-lug 20x9.5 forged one-piece Brabus monoblock HD Platinum Edition wheels are wrapped in 40x13.50R20 Maxxis Razr MT tires. A full spare in mounted in the rear. Peaking through the eight-spoke wheels are 15.7-inch front disc brakes and 14.6-inch rear disc brakes, highlighted by red Brabus calipers. It also has ABS and an electric parking brake. Open Cockpit, Helmets Included The Brabus 900 Crawler has no glass isolating the slick interior from the great outdoors, allowing for a true open-air, open-element experience. The openness exposes the interior to sun, sand, mud, and water, but that's all part of the fun, right? To account for this exposure, Brabus covered the four carbon bucket racing seats in bright red Silvertex fabric, the same weather-resistant stuff that Brabus uses in its sport boats. Brabus logos on the headrests and four-point seat restraints remind occupants of the buggy's supercar status. A bevy of red anodized interior parts match the rest of the red motif, as does the continued use of carbon fiber. A Lowrance HDS 12 GPS navigation system helps keep the fun on-track, and Brabus can compile map date for the particular area where the Crawler will be used. As you can see from a quick glance at the dash and center console, the Crawler is not overly complex, but it's also no slouch when it comes to technology as evidenced by that huge digital gauge cluster. Dang, it all just looks so good. The center of dash houses an intercom button for the intercom system that can be used with the supplied Brabus carbon helmets. Droolworthy Power Saving the best for last, a healthy underhood rumble is created by the Brabus 900 Rocket twin-turbo 4.5-liter V-8 with a bunch of billet and forged internals and a mighty pshhhh of the turbo blow-off. It's good for 900 hp and 992 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to throw plentiful roost in the dunes, and it's backed by a nine-speed automatic transmission that can be manually shifted through steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. It has permanent all-wheel drive with electronically controlled locking differentials. The result is a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.4 seconds; top speed is limited to 100 mph. Unfortunately, it's not street legal. Exhaust exits on both sides of the vehicle through two matte black tailpipes in front of the rear wheels. With the touch of steering wheel button, the driver can change the exhaust from angry to quiet. Yes, It'll Cost You If this Brabus is not your cup of desert but rather some strange abomination, that's okay. Brabus is only going to make 15 of them over the next three years, so there's no risk of them overtaking the desert. And no one is forcing you to write a $800,000 check to Brabus, but if you have the cash, that's what it'll cost you. https://www.motortrend.com/features/2023-brabus-900-crawler-off-road-truck-portal-axles/
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Former security chief John Lee Ka-chiu has been elected as Hong Kong's next leader, in what is widely seen as a move by the Chinese government to tighten its grip on the city. He is replacing Carrie Lam following the city's chief executive election - in which he was the sole candidate. Known for his pro-Beijing hardline views, he is not exactly well-liked, having garnered only 34.8 points out of 100 in a recent po[CENSORED]rity survey. But this matters little in Hong Kong where the public does not get to directly elect their leader - instead, Mr Lee has essentially been handpicked by Beijing. The 64-year-old has been chosen by an election committee staffed mostly by Beijing loyalists, who voted in what was basically a rubber-stamp election. Rising through the ranks Unlike his predecessors, who either had ties with the business community or experience in the civil service, Lee's background is in law enforcement. Mr Lee joined the Hong Kong police force in 1977 at the age of 20. His early career focused on tackling criminal activity. The father of two was both a Hong Kong resident and a British citizen, until he abandoned his UK citizenship shortly before he was appointed Under Secretary for Security in 2012. When he was promoted to Secretary of Security under Carrie Lam's administration, he played a pivotal role in pushing for the ill-fated extradition bill in 2019, which sparked the city's worst political and social turmoil in decades. When massive street protests against the bill erupted, he continued to back it. He became one of the faces of the local government in press conferences. The protests, which began peacefully, at times descended into violent clashes between the police and some demonstrators. The police, under Mr Lee's watch as security chief, was criticised for their heavy use of water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and occasionally live ammunition in running battles with the protesters. But Mr Lee was highly critical of the protests and fervently defended the Hong Kong police's use of force, saying that the violent actions by some protesters amounted to "terrorism" and "extremism". The US has since imposed sanctions on Mr Lee along with other officials for what they call the undermining of the city's autonomy during the protests. It has led YouTube to block his campaign account. Mr Lee has defended his position fiercely, saying he was only doing his duty "to safeguard security". In June last year, he was appointed Chief Secretary of Administration, the city's second most powerful position. He held the post for less than a year, before resigning in April to run for the top job. Security above all else In June 2020, China passed the draconian national security law for Hong Kong, which made it easier to punish protesters and led to the arrest of more than 100 dissidents. Mr Lee was appointed a member in a newly established committee that oversees national security matters. He said the law has helped Hong Kong to restore "stability from chaos", and he will continue to eliminate "the ideology of Hong Kong independence, violence and extremism". He has hinted his time in office will prioritise security issues, including the security legislation of Article 23, above all else. This is an item in the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini constitution, which says the city should enact its own legislation to "prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion" against Beijing. What is the Basic Law and how does it work? Since an aborted attempt in 2003, no Hong Kong leader has given it another try, but now Mr Lee is calling it "a top priority" for his upcoming administration. He has also become the chairman of a separate committee with the power to decide who are eligible "patriots" to run in any election in Hong Kong. Mr Lee has taken a hardline position on the media, saying last year that the Hong Kong government would look into creating legislation to address what he described as "fake news" and a national security issue. Beijing's 'Pikachu' Among his critics Mr Lee's nickname is Pikachu, a character from the cartoon Pokémon. It's a play on his Chinese name Ka-Chiu but also references what some say is a pet-like loyalty to Beijing. Political commentators believe his selection shows a "shift of priority" from Beijing, and it needs to be viewed in the context of the current state of China-US relations. "Beijing seems convinced now the US is using Hong Kong as a base to try to subvert China," said political scientist Willy Wo-Lap Lam. Critics also say Mr Lee's appointment is further evidence of how Hong Kong is being turned into a "police state", and warn that political crackdowns will intensify under his watch. "Choosing him (Mr Lee) signals that the Chinese Communist Party is not confident about security in Hong Kong. It also lets us know that the central government continues to distrust the Hong Kong government and people," wrote John Burns in a recent column for Hong Kong Free Press, an independent news website. Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, told the BBC there is a real worry that people might be "criminalised for their expression or their thoughts", and says his association intends to raise issues about press freedom with Mr Lee's administration. Under the national security law, independent publications such as tabloid Apple Daily and news website Stand News have been shut down, while journalists and media executives have been charged with "colluding with foreign forces" and sedition. There have also been concerns that Mr Lee lacks experience managing the economy and social welfare. He will take power at a time where the global financial hub is struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He will also have to address issues such a lack of housing and growing inequality. But he appears to have secured backing from the city's elite. A week after his nomination Mr Lee formed an advisory team that includes many prominent figures, including Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing and China's top advisory committee member Henry Tang. Even movie star Jackie Chan is on the list. Victor Li, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd, said in a statement that Mr Lee is "a suitable choice" for the city's next leader, "as a city can only prosper when it is stable." Mr Lee has described Hong Kong as a symphony orchestra and, despite his lack of experience in running a top financial city, he will be its "conductor". Beijing, it appears, has also come to the same conclusion. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-61267490
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Happy Birthday 🎂
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Happy Birthday 🎂!
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Name of the Game : STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II Price : 7.99$ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1237950/STAR_WARS_Battlefront_II/ Offer ends up after Xhours: 10 May Requirements: MINIMUM: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 7 SP1/Windows 8.1/Windows 10 Processor: Processor (AMD): AMD FX 6350 Processor (Intel): Intel Core i5 6600K Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: Graphics card (AMD): AMD Radeon™ HD 7850 2GB Graphics card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 660 2GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 60 GB available space RECOMMENDED: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 10 or later Processor: Processor (AMD): AMD FX 8350 Wraith Processor (Intel): Intel Core i7 6700 or equivalent Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: Graphics card (AMD): AMD Radeon™ RX 480 4GB Graphics card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1060 3GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 60 GB available space
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KIXEYE is celebrating the 4th anniversary of Rise of Firstborn with tons of freebies and surprises for fans of the MMO strategy game. Players can expect new skins, 4th-anniversary goodies and more as a special "thank you" for everyone's support through the years. In Rise of Firstborn's latest update, new castle skins have been added to the game along with upgrades to the hospital and barracks. Players can also expect improved pet enhancement features (enhancement bonuses are now up to level 30) as well as free celebration rewards via players' in-game mailboxes. Plus, from May 12th onwards, players can also brace themselves for the 4TH ANNIVERSARY CAKE MONSTER - hunting down this beast will let players reap righteous rewards in the game. “This Anniversary celebration comes hot on the heels of Night Queen’s Titans,” says Ryan Ward, COO of KIXEYE. “But it was just the beginning of the content we have planned for Firstborn in the weeks and months ahead. We’re thrilled to be celebrating four years of building kingdoms and forging alliances with this update and to be able to add so many changes and additions that our community has been asking for. We’ve got big plans for the game, and we’ll soon be talking more about the next major update as well!” If you're eager to join in on all the festivities this month, you can download Rise of Firstborn on the Google Play Store and on the iOS App Store. You can also have a look at the embedded clip above to get a feel of the upcoming event. Are you on the hunt for more similar titles that will put your skills to the test on your mobile device? Why not take a gander at our list of the top 25 best strategy games for Android phones and tablets in 2022? https://www.pocketgamer.com/rise-of-firstborn/4th-anniversary-new-skins-upgrades-free-rewards/
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Someone has created a Minecraft mod that effectively gives you the ‘new game plus’ experience. It makes sense as you’ll often reach a stopping point in the sandbox game once you’ve beaten all the bosses or built something incredible. It’s one where you can start again as often as you want for a new challenge, but the task is often more about the environment than the big fights. Sure, creatures like the Warden are tough, but that’s not really the point. The Progressive Bosses mod aims to change that by making bosses harder. Progressive Bosses is a mod for Minecraft 1.18 that has a plethora of changes designed to keep the boss fights ramping up in a more challenging way. It operates differently in both single-player and multiplayer too, so you’ll find fun fights no matter how you like to play. You can read all the specifics on the site. Primarily focusing on the Wither and the Ender Dragon, this mod buffs them up whenever you kill them off by increasing their health and damage or giving them a new ability. This take on bosses means that the challenge of a Minecraft world doesn’t end just because you’ve beaten them. Instead, the task ends when you can no longer beat the big bads. If you only like the sound of some of these features, then good news; you can turn off the ones you don’t want. Progressive Bosses is an excellent mod for those who really like the fighting in Minecraft or just want the more objective-driven aspect of the game to go on for a bit longer. If you’d rather spend your time looking at impressive Minecraft builds rather than fighting, we’d definitely recommend you take a quick look at this amazing Star Wars build. It literally won a competition; it’s that good. https://www.pcgamesn.com/minecraft/mod-progressive-bosses
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The content of large tech companies, like Google and Meta, will be more tightly regulated under a new European Union law that received provisional approval Saturday. Among the provisions of the Digital Services Act approved in an agreement between the European Council and European Parliament are transparency measures on the algorithms used by online platforms and services to recommend content and products to users. “Platforms should be transparent about their content moderation decisions, prevent dangerous disinformation from going viral and avoid unsafe products being offered on market places,” Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. “With today’s agreement we ensure that platforms are held accountable for the risks their services can pose to society and citizens,” she added. However, Daniel Castro, vice president of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, a research and public policy organization in Washington, D.C. noted that it remains to be seen exactly how the EU will implement some of the new law’s requirements. “It’s possible that companies like Google and Meta are already meeting the DSA’s transparency requirements for ‘recommender systems’ under their existing disclosures to users,” he told TechNewsWorld. “And these companies have also made progress in the past few years in terms of better explaining to users how they use their information and how their platforms work, such as ad transparency and ad library,” he added. Focus on Big Tech European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained in a statement that the DSA will upgrade the ground rules for all online services in the EU. “It will ensure that the online environment remains a safe space, safeguarding freedom of expression and opportunities for digital businesses,” she said. “It gives practical effect to the principle that what is illegal offline, should be illegal online. The greater the size, the greater the responsibilities of online platforms.” According to the European Council, the obligations introduced in the new law are proportionate to the nature of the services concerned and tailored to the number of users. Very large online platforms and very large online search engines — defined as services with more than 45 million active monthly users — will be subject to more stringent requirements. To safeguard the development of start-ups and smaller enterprises in the internal market, the council continued, micro and small enterprises with under 45 million monthly active users in the EU will be exempted from certain new obligations. “With the DSA, the time of big online platforms behaving like they are ‘too big to care’ is coming to an end,” Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton said in a statement. Castro, though, maintained that the EU is making a mistake by focusing so much on the largest tech companies. “Smaller firms have a significant impact on consumers as well, and the largest companies are often the ones with the most resources and commitment to addressing harms,” he said. Drag on Innovation? Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story, but in a blog written by Karan Bhatia, vice president for global public affairs and government relations, posted in October, the company warned, “While we support the ambition of the DSA to create clear rules for the next 20 years that support economic growth, we worry that the new rules may instead slow economic recovery.” “They would prevent global technology companies like Google from building innovative digital tools like the ones that people have used through lockdown — and that will help European businesses rebuild their operations,” Bhatia wrote. “That would be a missed opportunity for Europe as it looks to the post-Covid future.” In addition to algorithm transparency, other provisions empowering users and society include: The possibility to challenge platforms’ content moderation decisions and seek redress, either via an out-of-court dispute mechanism or judicial redress; and Access to vetted researchers to the key data of the largest platforms and provision of access to NGOs to public data to provide more insight into how online risks evolve. Explosion of Public Scrutiny “Even more impactful than making more information transparent about their algorithms is going to be the researcher data access provision,” observed Alex Engler, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization in Washington, D.C. “There’s only so much you can learn by telling people something broad about a complicated issue as the interaction between an algorithm and millions of people who use it on a daily basis, but when you let professional researchers study all of that , they can come away with much more nuanced, specific understanding of what’s going on,” he told TechNewsWorld. “Did a policy change lead to more disinformation? What are the mental health impacts of using social media?” he asked. “In those areas, we’ll see the most public scrutiny into large online platforms that the world has ever seen. Without any doubt, this will fundamentally change the level of public knowledge about these platforms.” He explained that the DSA requires independent groups to validate what the companies are saying. “That gives them a lot less room to completely mani[CENSORED]te and hide the harms on their platforms,” he said. He discounted concerns about the harm that opening algorithms to the public could have on the companies’ competitive edge. “The competitive advantage of these companies comes more from their user base than the algorithms themselves,” he contended. “Facebook could tell me exactly how their algorithm works, and I wouldn’t be able to replicate the site because I don’t have billions of people coming to my website every day.” Not Leaving EU “The DSA is a significant piece of legislation, but it is unlikely to dramatically change the internet,” Castro noted. “It imposes a number of new obligations on large online platforms, however, none of the rules are so onerous that large tech companies will leave the European market,” he added. “A 450 million person market among the wealthiest countries in the world?” Engler asked. “I think the tech companies will comply with the new law.” “These requirements are not so invasive that these companies won’t be able to make money anymore,” he said, “so I would be very surprised to see them leave.” https://www.technewsworld.com/story/new-eu-law-will-force-google-meta-others-to-expose-algorithms-176689.html
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Microsoft's video game unit Xbox on Thursday said it will tap into cloud computing to make "Fortnite" free to play on mobile devices powered by Apple or Android software. he po[CENSORED]r battle royale title from Epic Games will be the first free-to-play game available through an Xbox Cloud Gaming service available in 26 countries, head of product Catherine Gluckstein said in a blog post. Fortnite's return to iPhones and iPads comes after the game was booted from Apple's App Store for trying to bypass its payment system in violation of the iPhone maker's rules. Apple has clashed in court with Epic, which has accused the iPhone maker of operating a monopoly of its App Store shop for digital goods and services. A US federal judge in November ordered Apple to loosen control of its App Store payment options, but said Epic had failed to prove that antitrust violations had taken place. "Fortnite" will be free at Xbox Cloud Gaming as a result of a partnership with Epic. Fans of the game can play on Apple iOS-powered devices, Android phones or tablets, as well as on Windows computers through web browsers, Gluckstein said. Apple and Google dominate the market, with their operating systems running on the majority of the world's smartphones. "This is just the beginning for us," Gluckstein said. "We're going to learn, implement feedback, and in time look to bring even more free-to-play titles to players through the cloud." Microsoft has courted the favor of antitrust regulators scrutinizing its plan to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, promising that any app store it builds will treat developers fairly. Microsoft's $69 billion deal to buy the video game powerhouse needs to pass muster with regulators in Europe and the United States intent on reining in tech titans. Principles outlined by Microsoft included allowing all developers access to its app store and not requiring them to use the technology firm's payment system for in-app transactions. https://techxplore.com/news/2022-05-xbox-fortnite-game-free-iphones.html
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Lian Li Launches Its STRIMER PLUS V2 ARGB Extension Cables To Make Your PC Bling Even Better! Press Release: LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, announces its new series of ARGB extension cables with the STRIMER PLUS V2. Available for motherboard 24-pin connectors, GPU 8-pin (2x6+2-pin), and GPU triple 8-pin (3x6+2-pin), the STRIMER PLUS V2 offers improved brightness with a new side light diffuser, better flexibility with silicon-wrapped power cables, upgraded compatibility with isolated connectors at the GPU end, and introducing native software control and independent light channel customization with L-Connect 3. RGB focused Located along each side of the RGB part of the STRIMER PLUS V2 are two bands of light-diffusion strips, allowing the light effects to shine in more directions and fill the PC with bright RGB. In addition, the 2.1mm wide top diffuser strips allow for smooth light distribution and maximum brightness. Slim Design The extension cable part of the STRIMER PLUS V2 is arranged in a single, flat row, making the overall thickness thinner than ever at 8mm (previously 11mm). Each 18 gauge power cable is also wrapped in durable silicone. The combination of the new material and single row of power cable makes the STRIMER PLUS V2 more flexible for tighter bends, and slimmer and easier to pass through tight cable grommets. Compatible with more GPUs While the original STRIMER PLUS GPU 8-pin and Triple 8-pin are compatible with most GPUs, some users have experienced difficulties with graphics cards that have power connectors further apart. The GPU versions of the STRIMER PLUS V2 address this issue by having each 8-pin end separated, allowing for wide gaps to be covered between each connector. L-Connect 3 Ready New with the STRIMER PLUS V2, the controller is now natively recognized by L-Connect 3, the new version of LIAN LI’s UNI FAN software which expands its functionalities. L-Connect 3 enables users to quickly change the light effects of the ARGB extension cables without having to reach inside their case. In addition, the software enables users to control each individual light channel of the STRIMER PLUS V2 to create their own mix of light effects (24-pin and GPU 3x 8-pin have 6 channels, GPU 8-pin has 4 channels). For existing STRIMER PLUS owners, a new version of their controller will be sold separately to make their ARGB extension cables compatible with L-Connect 3. https://wccftech.com/lian-li-brings-its-next-gen-strimer-plus-v2-argb-extension-cables-upgrade-your-pc-with-sleeker-rgb/
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(CNN)Donald Trump reasserted his dominance within the GOP this week, helping lift J.D. Vance to victory in a crowded Ohio Republican US Senate field. But that's not preventing other Republicans with national ambitions from attempting to assume the role of kingmaker in primaries over the next month -- even if it means being at odds with the most influential person in the party. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on the opposite side of his onetime boss in two upcoming races. Pompeo has gone a step further than just endorsing Dave McCormick in the Pennsylvania Republican US Senate primary, holding a news briefing to question Mehmet Oz's Turkish citizenship Friday -- the same day Trump is scheduled to hold a rally for Oz. Pompeo is also supporting West Virginia Rep. David McKinley in his primary battle next week against Rep. Alex Mooney, who has Trump's backing. (The two incumbents are facing off due to redistricting.) Like Pompeo, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has lined up behind McCormick in the May 17 Pennsylvania primary, which recent polling has suggested is close. Cruz is looking to bounce back after his preferred candidate in the Ohio primary, Josh Mandel, lost. Cruz joined Mandel on the campaign trail in the final stretch of the race, even mocking Republican candidates for talking too much about Trump. Meanwhile, former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley appeared in a new TV ad this week for Rep. Nancy Mace, who is facing a challenge from the Trump-backed Katie Arrington in the June 14 primary in South Carolina. Mace was critical of Trump in the immediate aftermath of the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, but she ultimately voted against his impeachment. Pompeo, Haley and Cruz would by no means qualify as "Never Trumpers." They are all, however, eyeing the White House -- and searching for ways to differentiate themselves. Endorsing like-minded candidates is a way to not only exert influence and gain allies, but also to demonstrate a vision for the party. Of course, if Trump decides to run again in two years, these Republican contenders would face very narrow paths to the GOP nomination. But if they decide to go forward with presidential campaigns -- whether that's with or without Trump in the race in 2024, or even farther down the line -- the groundwork they are laying now could pay dividends. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/06/politics/republican-kingmakers-2022-primaries/index.html
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A California family unexpectedly discovered that they had been sharing their home with a family of five bears — an adult female and four cubs. The bears recently emerged from underneath a home in Lake Tahoe, where they had been hibernating for the winter. The BEAR League — a volunteer-led bear conservation organization and rescue service — described the bear's emergence on April 19 in a Facebook post. In the post, the group mentioned that the female bear had three 9-month-old cubs of her own, and had "adopted" an orphaned bear cub that was about the same age. Before the winter began last year, the now five-member bear family found an "unsecured crawl space opening" beneath a home in Lake Tahoe, California, where they hibernated for the season. Throughout the winter, the home's human residents heard "some odd rumbling and snoring-like noises" beneath their floors, but were unable to identify the source of the sounds — until the bear family awoke and "prepared to exit" from the crawl space, according to the post, The residents promptly called the BEAR League for assistance. That was when the organization's volunteers discovered that there were multiple bears under the house, BEAR League Executive Director Ann Bryant told the Huffington Post. Upon arrival, BEAR League volunteers entered the crawl space and created a lot of noise to "encourage" the bear family to vacate, according to KTVU FOX 2. BEAR League volunteers are trained to handle such interactions safely, as they are frequently contacted in the spring to assist homeowners who acquired bear "roommates" over the winter, KTVU reported. "They were just waking up," Bryant told KTVU. "We got the mother out, and she called to the babies, and they came." Three species of bears are native to North America, but the Tahoe bears were black bears (Ursus americanus) — the only wild species in California, and there are approximately 25,000 to 35,000 bears in the state, according to the California Department of Fish and Widlife. Black bears can weigh up to 500 pounds (227 kilograms) and during the summer months they spend almost 20 hours each day eating vast quantities of nuts, fruits, insects, and small mammals, fueling up for the coming winter months, according to the Conservation Society of California. According to the North American Bear Center, a bear and wildlife education facility in Ely, Minnesota, black bears begin seeking or building dark, cozy winter dens from September to October. They look for rock crevices, caves and hollow trees — and in some rare cases,a home's crawl space. Once in the den, as the bear prepares to hibernate, its body temperature decreases and its active heart rate falls from 80 to 100 beats per minute to 50 to 60 beats per minute. Black bears will hibernate for several months before reemerging in the spring. In March 2022, the Lake Tahoe Interagency Bear Team, a partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and the USDA Forest Service, asked Lake Tahoe residents to anticipate increased bear activity as the animals emerged from their winter dens, according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune. The Lake Tahoe Interagency Bear Team advises that Tahoe residents and visitors should never approach a wild bear, and if a bear is in the vicinity people should increase their distance from the animal — but you should never run or act aggressively towards the bear. "People really need to make sure their crawl space openings are closed and secured before bears go inside," Bryant told the Huffington Post. "especially in the fall, when they are looking for hibernation dens." https://www.livescience.com/family-of-5-bears-found-hibernating-under-California-home
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A couple years ago, the owner of a stick-shift Jeep handed the keys over to a Jeep dealership for a routine oil change. Unbeknownst to them, a teenage dealer employee who reportedly wasn't licensed to drive and didn't know how to operate a stick-shift attempted to move the owner's Jeep, when it lurched forward with enough force to kill a nearby service technician. But because of the way the law works with regard to the legal liability of vehicle owners, the family of the service tech isn't suing the dealership—they're suing the owner of the Jeep. Wait, The Jeep Owner Is Being Sued? The incident that preceded the suit, as reported on by Fox 2, happened back in March 2020, when an untrained and unlicensed 19-year-old struck and killed 42 year-old Jeffrey Hawkins while behind the wheel of a customer vehicle in the service bay of the Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Michigan. The victim's family is represented by attorney David Femminineo, who was interviewed by Fox 2 and clarified the family can't sue the dealership, because of how the law treats vehicle owner liability. It might not make much sense at first, that the owner—doing what thousands of vehicle owners do every day at dealer service departments—could possibly be responsible for the dealership's unqualified employee's actions, but it's how the law works. The dealership can't be sued for the actions of an employee when either are acting negligently, as odd as it sounds. Whether the dealer is negligent for letting the employee (who couldn't drive stick and didn't hold a valid driver's license, according the the news report) get behind the wheel of the Jeep, or the employee is negligent for doing that even though they should have known not to, is legally irrelevant. The remedy in this case is to seek worker's compensation, which the family of the victim did. The second factor here is a legal principle known as vicarious liability. Anything a driver does with an owner's vehicle—even if the owner doesn't know the driver personally, or didn't know that they'd be the one driving the vehicle—it's still the owner's responsibility. In this case, the Jeep owner gave permission to the dealership to drive the vehicle, and the dealership gave the keys to the unqualified employee, but the Jeep owner is still legally liable for whatever happens involving their vehicle. When an employee kills a person in the vehicle, the Jeep owner is legally liable, even if the dealership and its staff acted negligently. The family is seeking $15 million in compensation in this case, so what can the Jeep owner do? The Dealership Might Still Pay While the vehicle owner bears the legal responsibility for what happens with the vehicle, the dealer may end up ultimately footing the bill, and here's how. The owner can (and is) suing the dealership for indemnity—that is to say that the dealer would be responsible for paying the costs of the lawsuit and resulting damages. But now the Jeep owner has to prove that in court. If the owner's indemnity claim fails, they'll likely be on the hook for everything. The dealership is currently fighting the Jeep owner's indemnity claim. The damages include the benefits that worker's comp has already paid out to the technician's family for the missed wages and medical benefits based on his dependents, as well as how much he made at the time of his death. A lien on the outcome of the various legal proceedings means that worker's comp will seek to be repaid the $100,000 from either the dealership or the owner after the court makes its decision. https://www.motortrend.com/news/jeep-owner-sued-oil-change-dealership-michigan/
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For decades, global fast food giants have been catering to Indians used to eating from local eateries. In recent years, they have moved towards fusion of regional flavours. The BBC's Zoya Mateen and Meryl Sebastian report. Western fast-food was a novelty when McDonald's opened its first outlet in an upscale Delhi neighbourhood in 1996. But the chain persisted, reinventing itself by tailoring its menu to local tastes. So, there was mayonnaise made without eggs, meat patties without pork and beef. There was a palette of bold Indian flavours which found expression in a unique vegetarian spread: McAloo Tikki (a tangy burger made out of potatoes and peas), Pizza McPuff (a calzone-like sandwich stuffed with pizza toppings and cheese), and spicy wraps made from cottage cheese. In no time, the burger had gone national. The company's trademark golden logo became a ubiquitous presence across cities and its catchy jingle - 'I'm lovin it' - a reminder of the good times for many. McDonald's has become a template for American fast food chains that are constantly localising their menus in a bid to dominate the Indian market. The result: a range of offerings that are so liberally flavoured with Indian spices that they bear little resemblance to the original western counterpart. "McDonald's, KFC and Domino's stand out for how successfully they have adapted their products to India, even at a regional level," says Arvind Singhal, chairman of Technopak, a consultancy firm. India is no stranger to a fusion of flavours in its food. This ranges from crushing papadam (a thin, crisp flatbread) into a portion of payasam (a sweet rice pudding) in the southern state of Kerala to sprinkling chilli powder on guava ice cream from the famed Apsara Ice Creams in the city of Mumbai. International brands tweak their products to reach a large audience in India, adding more spices in case of salted foods or making sweets sweeter than how they may be preferred in Europe, Mr Singhal says. "In the 1980s, Nestle came out with a ketchup variant under their Maggi brand that was 'hot & spicy' and it became an instant hit," Mr Singhal says. "Likewise, with Maggi noodles came out with a wide range of flavouring sachets to appeal to a wider but highly heterogeneous group of Indian consumers." But in recent years, brands have moved towards experimenting with more and more unusual combinations in their food. Snickers has introduced a kesar pista - saffron and pistachio that is central to traditional Indian sweets - flavour of its iconic chocolate-nougat bar. Dunkin has launched its own thandai, a chilled sweetened milk drink garnished with dry fruits, rose petals and saffron. And McDonald's has incorporated butter chicken - a po[CENSORED]r sweet and spicy roast chicken preparation - into its burgers. Homegrown brands like Bira have also jumped on the fusion bandwagon, offering a mango flavoured lassi (a sweet-sour yogurt beverage) milkshake beer. Some of the fusion food is also performative though, done to satisfy a market need. "Unusual food combinations go viral when they are covered by food bloggers and it gives a brand visibility," says Karan Dua, who runs the po[CENSORED]r YouTube channel Dil Se Foodie, or Foodie by Heart. But new-fangled customisations can be tedious in a country where there's a local substitute for everything and cuisines are part of a larger culture. Thinking burgers? There's vada, or greasy doughnuts, piping hot and so spicy that eating them can be an extraordinary feat of gastronomic endurance. Fancy a popcorn? How about bhel poori instead, a crispy rice snack even that Bollywood celebrities swear by its health benefits. Not to forget the iconic momo, or steamed dumpling, which has fast become the culinary lodestar of the local fast-food scene. Mr Dua says that things get trickier at regional level, where tastes and food habits can change at every bend of the road. Last year, in Surat city in western India, he tried a fruit tea - a combination of cut fruits and milky tea. In another part of the state, he recalls seeing a store whose po[CENSORED]r item included an ice cream sandwich with slabs of cheese and butter. "In Gujarat, people are used to mixing savoury with sweet in their food and so these combinations are quite common and po[CENSORED]r there. But it'd be a hard sell in a city like Delhi," he says. But fast-foods are only one end of the spectrum. When Pooja Dhingra opened her iconic French patisserie, Le15, in south Mumbai, her plan was simple: she wanted to use French techniques and Indian flavours. This led to many fun flavour combinations - paan (betel leaves) macarons, chai or tea cupcakes, and green chilli truffles to name a few. As her menu received glowing reviews, she began experimenting further, often using her parents as guinea pigs for trials of new flavours. "I've always found it useful to look at my culture and life experiences to create menus. Some of it can be disastrous - like a kala khatta macaron that never worked! - but it can also be wonderful." Once food has the personality and experiences of the chef, Ms Dhingra adds, marketing it is a lot easier too. "My favourite thing to do is to plan our Diwali menu which is always the best of the French and Indian world," she says. "Our kaju katli macaron is a huge hit and this year I'm excited to incorporate the besan laddu on my menu - with a French twist of course!" https://csblackdevil.com/forums/forum/109-news/?do=add
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When Enola Holmes—Sherlock’s teen sister—discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord. Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, with Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham-Carter. Directed by Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag).
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PocApp Studios has officially opened pre-orders for its merge game AlchiMerge on mobile ahead of the title's release this summer. Players can expect to unleash their creativity by Crafting and Selling, as well as by Decorating their own Alchemy Shop in the universe of Castle Cats & Dungeon Dogs. AlchiMerge features a colourful world called Anima for players to explore, as they discover the Vortex Isles on their way to becoming successful entrepreneurs. They'll have to use their wits and cunning to build their own Aclhemy Shop, as well as customise their own Shop Owner with plenty of cosmetics they can use to spruce up their avatar. Choices include Human, Catanian (Cat) or Lupinian (Dog), while items that can be crafted include Potions, Spells and ancient Trinkets. The game also features classic Merge mechanics as players merge items, harvest ingredients, craft magical elements and sell their goods. Gold earned can be used to beautify their shop to boost customer satisfaction and uncover more of the narrative as well. Players can also engage in multiplayer gameplay by joining forces with other Shop Owners and nurturing powerful alliances. If you're keen on learning more about the title, AlchiMerge is now open for pre-orders on the iOS App Store and on the Google Play Store for Android devices following its soft launch on Android in Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, New Zealand, and Poland. You can also check out the game on the official website for more info, or join the community of followers over on the official Twitter page to stay updated on all the latest developments. Are you on the hunt for more similar titles that will put your skills to the test on your mobile device? Why not take a gander at our list of the top 25 best free games to play on your iPhone, iPad or Android Phone in 2022? https://www.pocketgamer.com/blue-archive/bunny-chasers-on-board-event/
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Ex-343 Industries developer Blaze Lightcap says that recent Halo Infinite Season 2 changes including nerfs to sliding and the removal of several trick jump spots make him “sad” about the direction the FPS game’s balance is heading in. The patch notes include a nerf to ‘ramp boosting’ – a technique used by players to gain extra momentum by landing into a slide on a downhill slope, which allows them to cross large distances quickly. A series of “collision fixes on all previously released multiplayer maps” has removed the ability to stand on small props and thin ledges. These collision spots are often used by players to perform ‘trick jumps’ that allow them to traverse maps in clever ways – something that has been a long-running part of the series, with players creating clips and montages of their favourite trick jumps. Another player, Ligh1s, demonstrated that an open window could no longer be passed through even after grappling up to it directly. The developer notes for the patch explain that they are considering if “the environment clearly communicates to the player their traversal options in a consistent and readable manner,” suggesting that they are wary of tricks that might be considered more ‘hidden’ techniques. This approach, however, is in contrast to comments made during the development of Halo 2 Anniversary, where the 343 team considered it important to preserve trick jump spots from the original game. In discussions with Halo fans on Twitter, Blaze, who has also worked on level design for Splitgate, laments this approach, saying that “this particular example isn’t a big deal but it shows intent and is something that is likely across the board.” Blaze comments that removing mechanics such as these will only discourage the community. Trick jumper LBBubba echoes those thoughts, saying that the time and effort spent developing these skills and finding trick jumps “shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing.” Halo commentator Alexander ‘Shyway’ Hope also spoke about the changes, saying he is “feeling betrayed” by trick jumps being patched out with zero warning. Shyway says that these systems encourage players to “invest more time in Halo and appreciate mechanics that make it unique and exciting.” As Blaze puts it, even simple changes like these take “more dev time than you’d expect” to implement – so “why invest manpower taking away things people enjoy?” If Halo Infinite Season 2’s changes aren’t getting you fired up, there’s plenty of other great free-to-play games in our extensive list for you to check out. https://www.pcgamesn.com/halo-infinite/season-2-changes-sad
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Name of the Game : STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ Price : 9.99$ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1172380/STAR_WARS_Jedi_Fallen_Order/ Offer ends up after Xhours: 10 May Requirements: MINIMUM: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 7/8.1/10 Processor: AMD FX-6100/Intel i3-3220 or Equivalent Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7750, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 or Equivalent DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 55 GB available space RECOMMENDED: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: 64-bit Windows 7/8.1/10 Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 1700/Intel i7-6700K or Equivalent Memory: 16 GB RAM Graphics: AMD RX Vega 56, Nvidia GTX 1070/GTX1660Ti or Equivalent DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 55 GB available space