Podcasts about IPS

It is no secret that gaming is hurting right now, especially in crypto. TGE's are down, games are shutting down, and everyone is feeling a bit gloomy, even with BTC hitting ATH's.And while all that may be true, MapleStory Universe is living a different reality. Today, we have @nexpacetime joining us to talk all about:- MapleStory Universe launch & how it went- Dealing with a massive surge of players & bad actors- Bridging the gap between mobile & PC with a seamless gaming experience- The Infinite IP Playground & MetaPlay- Being a builder without needing a coding background- Growing accessibility in more countries- A Multi-IP Universe is coming, but with which IPs?

It's Jeffrey Epstein day. Again. The media continues to drip and leak stories which may or may not be true. Because when it comes to the media, well, there's a reason we provide our sources. WatchMojo, a YouTube channel known for lukewarm takes on pop culture IPs, has come up with a new listicle comparing Nazi Germany to the current state of America. All right. You got us. Let's play. Emmanuel Macron and his wife are suing Candace Owens. But why, you may be asking. We're here to tell you.GUEST: Josh FirestineClick here for today's sources: https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/sources-july-24-2025Let my sponsor American Financing help you regain control of your finances. Go to https://americanfinancing.net/crowder or call 800-974-6500. NMLS 182334, http://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/.Save 50% off your first month go to http://puretalk.com/CROWDERDOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-appsJoin Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/PremiumGet your favorite LWC gear: https://crowdershop.com/Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBitsSubscribe to my podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/louder-with-crowder/FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/scrowder Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/louderwithcrowder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencrowderofficialMusic by @Pogo

Send us a text✨Take the Class Here - https://irishpaganschool.com/p/otherworld_ulster_cycle1In this deep dive into Irish mythology, Jon O'Sullivan of the Irish Pagan School explores the influence of the Otherworld on the legendary events of the Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley). While the Ulster Cycle is often seen as a story of human heroes and battles, there's an undeniable presence of Otherworldly forces shaping the narrative.Jon discusses how figures such as Macha, the Morrigan, and even the bulls themselves tie into the supernatural realm, impacting characters like Cú Chulainn and the entire course of the saga. Discover how these mystical elements influence Ireland's most famous epic and the role the gods and Otherworld entities play in shaping the fate of heroes.✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

With migration continuing to make headlines in the media, we unpack what actually defines a “migrant”, and how the UK's largest producer of official statistics goes about counting them.  We also shed light on the misuse of migration figures.    Transcript    MILES FLETCHER  Hello and a very warm welcome to a new series of Statistically Speaking - the official podcast of the UK Office for National Statistics. This is where we hear from the people producing the nation's most important numbers, about how they do it and what the statistics are saying.   Now it's hard to think of one statistic that could be said to have been more influential these past few years than net international migration. Suffice to say it's the one ONS statistic that probably draws more media attention than any other.  But to fully understand the migration figures, and the swirling debate around them, we'd say it pays to know a little about how they are put together. And the first thing you need to know about that is what, or who, is a migrant in the first place. As usual, to unpack and explain the migration statistics we have the top experts from the ONS and beyond. Mary Gregory is director of population statistics here at the ONS. Madeleine Sumption is director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, and new chair of the National Statistician's Advisory Panel on Migration. And to help us understand how the numbers are used and abused in public debate, we're also delighted to welcome Hannah Smith, senior political journalist at fact checking charity Full Fact. Welcome to you all.   Madeleine, to start with you if I may, with that fundamental question, quite simply, what is a migrant?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Well, there are actually lots of different definitions of a migrant and we use different definitions at different points in time. The standard definition of migration that we use in this country is long term migration, so people moving for at least 12 months, and so the Office for National Statistics figures on immigration, emigration and net migration are all using that definition. And people in that data, they're migrants regardless of whether they are British or not British. So you could have a British person who's gone to live overseas for a few years and coming back they would be counted, in theory, at least in the data, as a migrant. There are other definitions though that are very useful for policy. So sometimes people talk about migrants, meaning people who don't have British citizenship, and the value of that is that these are people who are subject to immigration control, effectively that the Home Office is regulating their status. But it's also sometimes quite useful not to look at whether someone's a citizen now, because of course people can change their citizenship, and many migrants to the UK do become British citizens. So it can be useful to look at whether someone has migrated in the past. The standard definition for that is whether someone is born abroad. But now we've got all these exciting new data sets from administrative data, and so there's a new definition that's creeping in and being used a lot, which is someone who was a non-citizen at the time they registered for their National Insurance Number, regardless of whether they've subsequently become a British citizen. So it's a bit confusing sometimes for the external user, because for various reasons, we have to have all of these different definitions. You just have to know which one you're looking at at any point in time.    MILES FLETCHER  But the basic headline definition, as far as the ONS is concerned -and I guess internationally too because it's important that these figures are comparable- is that it is a person traveling from one country to another for a period of 12 months.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  That's right  MILES FLETCHER  And I guess that is something that is perhaps not widely understood. People understand that migration has a degree of permanence, so they move from one country to another, and yet you can be a migrant in quite a sort of transient way.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  That's right, we have short term migrants as well. So we have a lot of people who come to this country to do seasonal work. For example, they spend up to six months in the country. Then you have people who are long term migrants by the ONS definition and they may spend two to three years here, for example, if they're a worker or an international student. So you're right. I think in people's minds, often when they think about who is a migrant and who comes to mind, they will typically think of someone who is moving permanently. But actually a lot of migrants to the UK only stay for a couple of years.   MILES FLETCHER And none of these people, when it comes to measuring them, none of these people arrive Paddington Bear style with labels around their necks saying “I am a migrant”. The ONS in measuring migration has to classify whether these people qualify or not.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  That's true, and that is very tricky. And it's something I think the non-technical user of the statistics finds it difficult to appreciate quite how hard it is for ONS to work out who is a migrant or not. Because we have millions of people crossing our borders every year, most of them not migrants. We have tourists or people who come in to visit family members. There are all sorts of people and reasons why those people come and go, so ONS is really looking for the needle in the haystack, and a relatively small share of people who are crossing the borders are actually migrating.   MILES FLETCHER  Well, that seems a good moment to bring in the person who is in charge of finding that needle in the haystack statistically. Mary, tell us how we approach this task. Perhaps start off by explaining how we used to do it. MARY GREGORY  Previously we used a survey called the International Passenger Survey, and there we would ask a sample of people as they came into the country, or as they left the country, what their intentions were, and we'd be able to provide very early estimates based on people's intentions to stay or to leave.   MILES FLETCHER  This is people at airports and other ports of entry, ferry ports, for example, simply approaching people as they wander along the corridors, almost in a random sort of way.   MARY GREGORY  Exactly that, you might have seen them. If you have travelled through an airport you may have seen a desk that sometimes says Office for National Statistics. And there would sometimes be people there with very carefully scheduled timetables to make sure that we collect a good cross section of people.   MILES FLETCHER  So the International Passenger Survey is essentially a big sample survey. Nothing wrong with that, and yet, the number of people being stopped at airports who did actually identify themselves as being migrants was quite small, and that made for some very broad-brush estimates didn't it?   MARY GREGORY  Yes, as you can imagine, people travel through airports or ports for many different reasons, and a lot of those people traveling will be traveling for a holiday or business or to visit family. And so the proportion of those people who are actually going to become residents or leaving for more than 12 months is very small, which makes it really difficult to pick up a good sample of those people.   MILES FLETCHER  And because it's fair to say the International Passenger Survey was never set up to measure migration in the first place, and that was something ONS found itself pointing out for a long, long time before things actually changed. MARY GREGORY  For a number of years we made clear that it was being stretched beyond its original purpose, and that it was the best measure we had at the time but now we think we can do better. And I think one other really important aspect of that is understanding that the survey was asking about people's intentions, and intentions don't always match reality of what we then see.   MILES FLETCHER  Because you might arrive as a student, end up working, settling, starting a family...   MARY GREGORY  Yes. Or you might find that you've arrived planning to stay for a year and then change your mind and you've left again. So it could go in either direction.   MILES FLETCHER  So the case for change was strong. What has changed? How is migration measured now?   MARY GREGORY  So now we have a variety of different ways to measure depending on the nationality of the people arriving. So for anybody from outside the EU, we have good data around visas from the Home Office, so we can use that to understand who is coming and what their reasons for travel are, and we can come on to that a little bit later. For people within the EU, that was a bit more difficult because prior to exiting the EU nobody needed a visa. And so at the moment, we use administrative data, so that's data collected for other purposes, and we use data from DWP, so the Department for Work and Pensions, to understand who has come into the country and who is staying in the country for more than 12 months. And for British nationals, we still, at the moment, use the International Passenger Survey, but we hope to change that very soon.   MILES FLETCHER  And essentially, the last use of the IPS, as far as migration is concerned, is to capture British passport holders leaving the country because nobody else is counting them out.   MARY GREGORY  That's right, and it's actually just stopped collecting that data. So we will move to the new methods very soon.   MILES FLETCHER  Okay, so how successful would you say this shift has been?   MARY GREGORY  I think we've definitely improved the data we can provide. It's a better reflection of people's behaviours. We know that because we've compared the different methods and looked against the census and how the population has changed there. But there are also other advantages as well. So we can now look a lot more at why people have come to the UK, or which are the people who are leaving, so we know more about the reasons for migration as well.   MILES FLETCHER  Madeleine, you run what's recognized as one of the leading think tanks in this area. How much of an improvement is the current system?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  I think the data that we have, particularly on non EU citizens, is much better than it was in the past. Just to give an example, back in the early 2010s there was a big political debate about what the right level of net migration should be, and the government had a target of getting net migration down to under 100,000 from where it was. It was around 200 to 300 thousand at the time. So of course, the biggest question was, how do we do this? And the problem was that, based on those old data, we had no idea how many students were leaving the country. If someone came on a student visa we maybe caught them coming in but there were various problems. We just couldn't measure accurately enough the students going out. And so this most basic of questions, how can the government meet its net migration target, was not possible to answer with the data. Fast forward now ten years, and at least for non EU citizens, we now have pretty detailed data so we can say, okay, this number of people came in on student visas, this share of them left, that share is actually a bit lower than people were expecting. So those are quite interesting data. At the moment we can do the same for work visas, family members, refugees - so that's a dramatic improvement. There's still work to do I think on EU citizens. The ONS is measuring quite high levels of both EU immigration and emigration, of people who don't seem to be coming on visas and probably have a status from before Brexit, but we don't have a great sense of that. And as Mary mentioned, we currently don't really have any data on British citizens migrating, so that will need to be fixed. But yeah, I think the overall picture on immigration and emigration is much better than it was. Separately in the system, there are some challenges, let's say, with the surveys that give us data on the population of people in the country, their characteristics and so forth. And that, I think, has deteriorated a little but hopefully will come back on track.   MILES FLETCHER  And bedding in the new system has brought about the need for some pretty big revisions. And that, of course, brings challenges doesn't it. Around confidence in the numbers when you have to revise by several hundred thousand the number of people that have been classified as migrants. And you get these sort of headlines about the ONS, you know, missing the population of Cambridge or wherever it was. But it wasn't a question of missing people as such, was it? It was just getting better data to understand which of the people coming and leaving should actually be classified as a migrant.    MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yes. There were a number of issues there. There were a couple of cases where it was a case of missing people. There were some Ukrainians, for example, that got lost in the data. But that was a relatively small part of the overall revisions. Mostly, I think there's a challenge, and this challenge is not going to go away entirely but I think that the situation is improving, that when people's behaviour is changing the ONS still has to make assumptions about how long people are going to stay if they want to produce the data quickly. And so when you have a big policy change, you've got new groups of migrants coming in who don't necessarily behave, you know, leave and arrive after the same amounts of time as the previous groups of people who came in. Then you're more likely to have some revisions. And that's one of the things we've seen over the past few years.   MILES FLETCHER  Let's trace the story of migration, if we can, just over the course of this century so far because it's been one of, if not the biggest, political stories. And you might argue, one of the factors that has determined the course of political events in this country. Obviously the ONS is not a political organization, but its figures do tend to have an enormous influence in that direction. Migration really became a big issue in that sense around about the early part of the 21st century when countries were joining the EU from the old Eastern Bloc. And suddenly there was a perception not only that there were large numbers of people arriving as a result of EU enlargement, but that the ONS was struggling to actually keep track of them as well.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yeah. I mean, I would say that the increase in migration was even a few years earlier than that. The EU enlargement was one of the biggest events in migration in the last 30 years but there had already been a bit of an uptick in non EU migration, even from the late 1990s, and that is something that we saw across a number of countries. So the UK has been a major destination country, and is, if you look at comparable European countries, towards the top of the pack. But interestingly, we've seen some broadly similar trends in quite a lot of high income countries towards higher levels of migration. And that, of course, you know, as you've said, it's made migration much more salient in the political debate, and it's greatly increased the demand for accurate migration stats. And not just stats on the overall numbers, which of course are important, but really understanding who is coming to the UK. You know, what kinds of visas are they on? What do we know about their characteristics, their nationalities? How do they do when they get here...So I think that the demand for good migration statistics is just much higher than it was at a time when the UK experienced relatively limited migration.   MILES FLETCHER  It's arguable that it was indeed rising EU migration that actually led to the events that led to Brexit. What has changed in terms of migration flows because of Brexit?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Well, the changes have been really big actually. I mean before Brexit quite a substantial share of all migration was from EU countries. After the referendum, even before the UK left the EU but after the referendum vote had been taken, there was already a decline in EU migration for a host of reasons including the exchange rate and so forth. So in some ways Brexit did what it was expected to do in reducing EU migration to the UK, because when free movement ended we saw quite a dramatic decrease in EU migration. And net migration from EU countries is now actually negative. So we've got the EU citizen population in the UK shrinking. But what was unexpected about Brexit was that then there was quite a big increase in non EU migration for various reasons. So partly policy liberalisations that at the time didn't necessarily look like a massive liberalization, but I think that the take up from migrants was much more enthusiastic than perhaps the government had expected. Lots of things came together. More international students, more workers, the war in Ukraine of course and lots of Ukrainians coming to the UK. And all of those came together at the same time and meant that we then ended up unexpectedly with these record high levels of net migration, peaking at just over 900,000 between 2022 and 2023. And now, of course, the numbers are coming right down again. So we had a record increase, we've then had a record decline to back to what are actually still pretty high levels of over 400,000. So we've really been on a roller coaster ride in terms of the migration patterns in the last few years.   MILES FLETCHER  Yes, and statistically the contrast between what's happened recently is that these migrants have become much more conspicuous and much more measurable because they're being covered by visa data, whereas previously, the EU migrants in the early part of the century weren't actually picked up until the until the census in 2011 were they?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yes and my hope is that because we're now measuring migration using visa data, when we get to the next census hopefully it will mean that those revisions - especially given that we'll have planned revisions over the next few years to the data - the hope is that that will mean we won't need such big revisions at the next census because we will have had a slightly more accurate measure between the censuses.   MILES FLETCHER  And I guess the three elements in this recent wave of migration that have attracted particular attention, yes, people have come to work and people have come to study as previously, but in this latest wave, people were bringing more of their dependents with them weren't they? Perhaps because they were coming from further afield?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  There's a bit of a puzzle about precisely why that increase in the number of dependents happened when I think it seems like there were probably two main factors. You've got international students bringing family members. We saw a shift in the countries as you mentioned, the countries that students were coming from. A lot more students from Nigeria, and they're more likely to come with their family members. We also saw a really big increase in the number of people coming to the UK as care workers after the government opened up a route for care workers. And so in one year alone, in 2023, there were visas issued to over 100,000 care workers, and they brought more than 100,000 family members with them, partners and children, that is. But that's now changing, because in response to these changes the government then introduced restrictions on the migration of family members, specifically of care workers and international students. So we've seen over the last year that fewer people are now bringing their family members with them.   MILES FLETCHER  Interesting example of better data enabling a policy response in that sense.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yes, and I think it has been very helpful that we've had these data on dependents. Ten years ago we would not necessarily have known. We would have seen that migration was high but it wouldn't have been very easy to distinguish whether people were coming as the partner of an international student or the partner of a health and care worker and now we do have those figures which is incredibly helpful for the policy debate.   MILES FLETCHER  Oh, Mary, one thing we haven't spoken about so far is the impact of COVID. How did the system cope with that period? In measuring the negligible flows to start with, but then the turning on the taps again as things returned to normal...   MARY GREGORY  I think in terms of measuring the statistics it was a massive challenge because the International Passenger Survey stopped and then it was agreed that it wouldn't restart measuring migration, and it actually accelerated our progress to what is now a better measure, but it happened under very difficult circumstances. So we very quickly moved to using administrative data. So data collected by government already to help us measure. And of course there was so much going on then that added to the challenge. Exiting the EU, changes to the immigration system etc. So it was really important we were very careful about how we make sure we understood what had caused the changes and how we measured it really accurately.   MILES FLETCHER  There was indeed another test of the credibility of the ONS migration estimates when it was announced that a very large number of people had applied for settled status just as we were about to leave. These are EU citizens applying for settled status in the UK just as we're about to leave the EU. How do we reconcile those two very different estimates, because a lot of people use them to suggest that there were far more people here than you've been telling us for all these years.   MARY GREGORY  What we can do is we can look at the data sources available to us. The census is a really valuable source in that respect because it gives us the most comprehensive view of the whole population for England and Wales, done by ONS. Obviously, Scotland and Northern Ireland are done by their own statistical offices but we can look at that to get a much better understanding of the full components of the population. But of course, it was really difficult. When there was free movement across the EU we wouldn't know for sure how many people have come and how many people have left. And that's actually become a little bit easier in terms of a statistical viewpoint, because now people do need to have visas in order to travel unless they've got settled status already.   MILES FLETCHER  The new system has been bedding in these last couple of years, and you've had the unenviable job of announcing some pretty large revisions to the figures. Have things settled down now?    MARY GREGORY  So I think we've made really good progress on people traveling from outside the EU as Madeleine already referred to. We know a lot more about them. We're more confident in that aspect, and we would hope therefore, that the revisions in future will be much lower in scale. There will always be some revisions because we are making assumptions about people. Just to pause on that for a second. We publish data five months after the reference period, but obviously it's 12 months before somebody meets the definition of being a migrant. So we have to make some assumptions about who will stay and who won't, but those are relatively small and should be small in terms of revisions. So I think with non EU numbers we have made really good progress and that is the largest part of the picture. So just to put that in perspective, in terms of immigration just over four in five people immigrating in in our latest data are from outside the EU, so that's positive. Where we do have more work to do is those people coming from within the EU and British nationals, and we've got plans to develop the methods for both of those so we will see revisions coming up in both of those areas. We will put out more information in the autumn about the progress we've made, and if they're ready and we think the quality is good enough, we will implement those methods in November. Otherwise, we'll wait until the following publication because for us it's really important that when we do this we do it properly.   MILES FLETCHER  And important for everybody to remember that the ONS, in the job it does, can only make the best of the information that's made available to it at any given time.    MARY GREGORY  Yes absolutely. And I think especially with the British nationals where there are a lot of challenges. Because, of course, if you're a British national you come and go as you please. The other things that we are looking to improve are going to be less significant in terms of the headline numbers but are also really valuable. So if we can change the methods for EU, for example, we should be able to do more on people's reason for migration. And we also hope to do more on breaking down those from outside the EU, to understand a bit more detail about how long people are staying and if they change visas, that kind of thing.   MILES FLETCHER  Mary, thank you very much. That seems a good moment to bring in Hannah.   Hannah, then, from what you've heard, as someone who's in the business of tackling misinformation and ensuring that debates are properly understood, what is your assessment of how useful, how reliable, the ONS migration data are?   HANNAH SMITH  Now as we've been hearing from Madeleine there's been some significant improvements in the way that the data is collected and published. I think another thing that can give people confidence is how transparent the ONS has been with not only the strengths of the data, but also the limitations and the work they're doing surrounding ongoing development with that. I think that's absolutely key when we're talking about access to good information –transparency- understanding what the data can tell us and what the data can't tell us, and what the ONS is looking to do to change that. I think ultimately this is, as we've been hearing, a really complex issue, and trying to reconcile that with the fact that it's of massive public interest. And, as Madeline has been saying, someone who is not a technical user of the statistics, it's really important for someone like that to be able to understand these issues in a straightforward way, and trying to find that balance between getting the right level of detail that can be understandable for a general user is difficult. But I think the ONS has been really open about the challenges with that, and this conflict between the idea of timeliness and completeness of data, as Mary was just saying, we don't have complete data at the moment that the first statistics are published, but obviously the alternative is just to wait a really long time until that full data is available. So I think trying to strike that balance is also key, and something that, like I say, just being transparent about that is the best way to approach it.   MILES FLETCHER  In your work for Full Fact, what do you come across as the major misuses of migration figures, the deliberate misunderstanding of migration figures. And how well equipped Are you to combat those?  HANNAH SMITH  It's hard to know how much of it is deliberate misuse of migration figures, and how much of it is, as you say, due to just misunderstanding the data. I think there are obviously some things that we don't know, some information gaps. So, for example, the scale of illegal migration is something that's perhaps a bit harder to capture, just by the very nature of it. That's something that we found is a really common theme in the things that we're fact checking. You know, we've seen surveys that show that a quite significant proportion of the public thinks that the data shows that more people are entering the country illegally than legally. We fact check politicians who make similar claims. So we know this bad information does cause real harm, and I think that's why the information that the ONS is publishing is really, really important for reasoned debate, and just having that information available is the first step to help counter the bad information that's out there. MILES FLETCHER  You mentioned illegal immigration or undocumented migration, that by its very nature is a tricky one, because it's difficult to accurately measure isn't it, and to come up with a robust estimate that can counter exaggerated claims.   HANNAH SMITH  Yeah, of course. And we know that some of the people who are arriving in the country, either undocumented or illegally are captured in the data. So for example, the data we have on small boat arrivals, but it is ultimately, like you say, hard to estimate. And I think similarly to what Madeleine was saying earlier about the different definitions of what constitutes a migrant. Different people will have different views or different understandings of what constitutes illegal migration. So that's another thing that we have to bear in mind when we're talking about this issue.   MILES FLETCHER  And do you feel you've got the tools to effectively combat the worst excesses of the Wild West that social media often is?   HANNAH SMITH  Yes we do work with social media companies. So we have a partnership with Meta which allows us to directly rate misleading content that we see on their platforms. And we definitely do see a lot of content specifically related to migration which thanks to that partnership we are able to have influence on. But at Full Fact I think we're always calling for improvements in how better to combat misinformation, not only in this space, but just generally. So media literacy, for example, we think is a really vital step that's needed to ensure people are equipped so that they can spot what's fact and what's fiction. And we've been making a lot of recommendations in what can be done to improve media literacy to meet the public's needs. We also think that legislation needs to be strengthened to tackle this kind of misinformation and other sorts of harmful misinformation that crop up online. So yeah, we do have a lot of tools at our disposal, but we think that the information environment and the regulations surrounding it could always be strengthened.   MILES FLETCHER  That's interesting. And what sort of areas do you think it could specifically be strengthened? As far as the production of statistics are concerned?   HANNAH SMITH  I think, as I say, transparency and accessibility is key. I think perhaps trying to anticipate where misunderstandings could crop up. A lot of the work we do, or an approach that we can take with fact checking, is something we call pre bunking, which is trying to look at what topics are resonating with the public, what things we think might crop up, and then producing content that puts the correct information out there. Ideally, trying to get ahead of the bad information. I don't know if I'm going to butcher this saying, but a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth had time to put his boots on. I think that pre bunking is an effort to try and reverse that. And I think there's a parallel there with anticipating, as producers of information, where the misunderstandings might be likely to fall, and putting content warnings on or health warnings as prominently as possible, and also making sure that the people that are using the information, whether that's the media, politicians, other people, are aware of potential pitfalls to try and minimize the risk of that spreading to a wider audience.   MILES FLETCHER  Survey information we have from our own sources - the public confidence in official statistics survey - suggests that people who have heard of the ONS tend to recognize the fact that it is independent, that we are not subject to political control, and therefore you might think people should have confidence in the figures. Is that corroborated by your experience?   HANNAH SMITH  That's really interesting. I'm not entirely sure. I think from a fundamental point of view, I think trust in organizations like the ONS, knowing that you're getting impartial evidence, knowing that you're getting unbiased information that's been put through the most robust scrutiny that it can be, can only be a helpful thing. We know that trust in politics is at a very low level, so having those impartial producers of information that we know aren't subject to any political control or affiliation, I think can only be beneficial for that.   MILES FLETCHER  Madeleine, this is where the National Statistician's Advisory Panel on Migration comes in, the body that you chair. Can you just tell us a little about its work? What its role is?   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yes. So this is a new body that will advise the ONS on migration statistics. Obviously, the ONS migration teams have been soliciting expert advice in various ways for several years. I know this because I've been part of that process as well, but the arrangements are being formalized now, actually building on the model that I think has worked quite well in some other areas of migration statistics, like labour market data, for example, to have a panel of independent experts who help advise on things like whether the statistics are really answering the questions that users have. Obviously ONS has a lot of excellent statisticians, but they're not expected to be deep in the weeds of the policy debate and really sort of understanding exactly how people want to use the data and so forth. So the idea of this panel is to have some of that independent voice to help ONS shape its vision of what kinds of data it can produce. How can it make them more relevant and accessible to users, that kind of thing?   MILES FLETCHER  And I guess when you ask most people whether they think migration does have a role to play, particularly in modern economies, answering that question depends on having good data, having data that meets the needs of experts in economics and so forth. So we can see whether indeed, migration is having a positive economic benefit.    MADELEINE SUMPTION  Yes there are lots of things that the data are needed for. So looking at the impacts on the economy is one of them that the Office of Budget Responsibility, for example, uses the migration data when it's making its forecast of how much money there is effectively. So you know, how big is the population? What are people likely to be paying in tax? What are we likely to be spending in addition on services? Because we have more migrants, more people in the population. So it's important for the financial impacts. It's important for planning public services. How many school age kids are we going to have? How's that changing? What do we need to do to plan school places? And yeah, then it's important for the broader policy debate as well, understanding different categories of migration, what should the Home Office do? What should other government departments do, and thinking about how to respond to the impacts of migration.   MILES FLETCHER  Yeah. And you can't calculate GDP per head of population until you know how many heads there are, to reduce it to its most simple terms.   MADELEINE SUMPTION  Indeed. Yep. And that's been one of the challenges. There are more challenges along those lines, when thinking about the impacts of migration, we're getting a lot more administrative data, so data from basically the records of different government departments and agencies around the country, that will tell us things like how many migrants are claiming benefits, or how many migrants are imprisoned, or any number of things. And it's really important that if you want to be able to interpret those statistics, you really must have a good idea of how many migrants are from different countries, different parts of the world, are in the country in the first place. Otherwise you might make your calculations wrong. And I think there is still more work to be done in that area, in particular looking at population. We've been talking mostly about migration in and out of the country. There's still a fair amount more to be done on making sure that we have really accurate statistics on the number of people who are here at any one point in time.   MILES FLETCHER  Mary, finally from you then, do you support that good progress has been made, but important steps are still to come?   MARY GREGORY  I think so. I mean, there's always improvements that can be made. No matter how good we get, we will always want to do better. But I think also it's such a privilege, but a huge responsibility, to work on something so important, and we don't take that lightly in ONS. We know that these numbers make a difference to so many people, and as Madelene said, the number of people in the country is a really important number, but so often the thing driving that is the migration figure. So without the really good migration data, we don't have the really good population data, and so we will keep working on that together as well as we can.   MILES FLETCHER  And on that positive note we must come to the end of this podcast. Thanks to you, Mary Madeleine and Hannah, for your time today, and as always, thanks to you at home for listening.   You can subscribe to future episodes of Statistically Speaking on Spotify, Apple podcasts and all the other major podcast platforms. You can also follow us on X, previously known as Twitter, via the @ONSFocus feed.   I am Miles Fletcher, and from myself and producer Steve Milne, until next time, goodbye.    ENDS  

Panelists: Dim, Jon, AndyTalking Points: Expanding on existing IPs, Lionheart and Superman, Reddit, Jim Jeffries, taste tests, the Epstein list, Wrestling Mt. Rushmore, Jon and Dim's wrestling lore and legacy, Dating a Gamer, Stop Killing Games movement, more Beats By AI, the Benoit issue#LOTR #terminator #wwe #nxt #wcw #gaming #epstein #reddit #greenlantern #news #melbourne #movies #social #chatgpt #ironheart #marvel #streaming #thedukeleverageshow #instagram #spotify #podcast #itunespodcast #soundcloud #australia #newpodcast #podcaster #newepisodeIf you think you have a story to share or want to find a safespace to argue the pointless and the poignant, drop us a line at therealdukeleverage@gmail.com or DM us on the social media feeds. We're all about making dreams come true!https://linktr.ee/thedukeleverageshowDon't forget to hit the URL in the profile to get to our links. Make sure to like, share and follow and if you've listened to over 2 hours over 3 episodes you should keep our doors open and buy us a coffee!

18 07 2025 A LA GRAN 730 - Lic. Rosberg Jara, Sindicato de Enfermeria de IPS by ABC Color

In today's Daily Fix: After 5 years Netflix officially greenlit the Assassin's Creed Series Live Action Project alongside showrunners Robert Patino (Westworld, DMZ) and David Weiner (Brave New World, Halo) who said the show is going to be about Power, Greed and Vengeance. Plus, Cyberpunk 2077's latest update brings some surprise features—including support for Mac, 3 new vehicles —like the Yaiba Semimaru from the Kickdown comic book, AutoDrive and more. And Roblox just launched a licensing platform that allows Roblox creators to get licensing for their games from big IPs like Netflix, Lionsgate, and SEGA.

The salient point of today's discussion revolves around the profound themes of societal and individual responsibility as portrayed in the new MCU series "Ironheart" and the film "Jurassic World: Rebirth." Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell delve into how these narratives reflect the complexities of life, faith, and the moral dilemmas associated with technological advancements and ecological stewardship. Particularly, we explore the character development of Riri Williams, who embodies the struggle against systemic barriers, juxtaposed with the existential challenges faced by the dinosaurs in "Jurassic World: Rebirth." The conversations reveal not only the entertainment value of these new IPs but also their capacity to provoke thoughtful reflection on our values and beliefs as a society. Through our analysis, we aim to illuminate the intersection of faith and fandom, encouraging listeners to engage with these stories on a deeper level.The episode begins with an exploration of the current state of fandoms, particularly focusing on the recent releases of the Ironheart television series and the Jurassic World Rebirth film. The hosts, Joshua Noel and TJ (Tiberius Juan) Blackwell engage in a lively discussion about the themes and narratives presented in these works. They emphasize the significance of representation in media, specifically noting how Ironheart serves as a platform for diverse storytelling. The conversation then transitions to the Jurassic World Rebirth film, where the hosts critique its plot, character development, and the underlying messages regarding environmentalism and the ethical treatment of creatures that exist beyond human control. They express admiration for the film's ability to intertwine entertainment with deeper societal issues, ultimately leading to a rich dialogue about the implications of mixing technology with nature. Throughout the episode, the hosts invite listener interaction, encouraging them to share their thoughts on the material discussed, thereby fostering a sense of community among the audience.Takeaways: The podcast episode discusses the themes of accessibility and affordability in technology, particularly in relation to the new Ironheart series and the Jurassic World Rebirth film. We explore the differing characterizations of Riri Williams in the comic versus the television adaptation, noting her development from a flawless character to one with relatable flaws. The conversation emphasizes the importance of valuing all forms of life, as highlighted by the narrative arcs in both Ironheart and Jurassic World Rebirth. The hosts reflect on the implications of using technology as a means to cope with loss, raising questions about the morality of resurrecting loved ones through AI. A significant theme involves the critique of capitalism in the pharmaceutical industry, questioning who truly benefits from scientific advancements and technological developments. The episode concludes with a discussion on the potential for future Jurassic World content, particularly a desire for horror elements in upcoming video games or films. .We discuss all this and more in this one! Join in the conversation with us on Discord now!.Support our show on Captivate or Patreon, or by purchasing a comfy T-Shirt in our store!.Check out all of our What's News episodes:

This week on Giant Sized Violence, comic writer and editor David Mariotte discusses his extensive work on beloved franchises such as Transformers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Power Rangers, and Godzilla. He shares insights into his creative process, the challenges of editing multiple IPs, and the importance of exploring themes of identity and gender in comics. David also highlights his involvement in the upcoming anthology, Samidoon: Comics for a Free Palestine, and expresses his hopes for future projects, including potential crossovers and personal writing endeavors.

NC State football camp is right around the corner and on the latest podcast we discuss the Pack with IPS beat writer Rob McLamb!  

Al talks about Tamagotchi Plaza to Kevin Timings 00:00:00: Theme Tune 00:00:30: Intro 00:02:34: What Have We Been Up To 00:21:32: I Know What You Released Last Month 00:23:38: Game News 00:42:07: See How Many Of The Top 10 Steam Games Kevin Can Guess 00:52:10: Tamagotchi Plaza 01:12:25: Outro Links Gaucho and the Grassland Release Wandering Village 1.0 Release Cottonville Release Tiny Garden “Summer Breeze Content Update + Cosmetic Pack” Disney Dreamlight Valley “The Storybook Vale - Part 2: The Unwritten Realm Update” Len's Island Post 1.0 Roadmap Stardew Valley Top rated game on Steam Contact Al on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TheScotBot Email Us: https://harvestseason.club/contact/ Transcript (0:00:30) Al: Hello, farmers, and welcome to another episode of The Harvest Season. (0:00:34) Al: My name is Al. (0:00:36) Kev: My name is Kevin. Supposedly. (0:00:37) Al: And we’re here, we’re here, supposedly. (0:00:40) Al: Why? What’s what has happened? (0:00:40) Kev: I don’t know. I’ve just… I mean, I’ve never seen the documentation to back it up. (0:00:46) Kev: I’m just saying. (0:00:46) Al: You’ve never seen your birth certificate. (0:00:47) Kev: Birth certificate? No, I don’t… I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen it now. (0:00:51) Kev: If… Yeah, I mean, I probably had to dust it out for something. (0:00:52) Al: Wow, have you seen your driving license or your passport? (0:00:56) Kev: Oh, yeah, you know what? Sure. I guess driver license. Yeah, all right. (0:01:01) Al: Is this Kevin, Kevin, is this where we find out that you’re undocumented, Kevin? (0:01:06) Kev: You know, I’d be a surprise to me too. But here’s the fun part is it doesn’t matter anymore. (0:01:13) Al: Well, that’s device very true. (0:01:22) Al: All right, and we’re here today to talk about cartridge code games, because I didn’t get (0:01:23) Kev: Oh, you know, I can keep that gym in. (0:01:33) Kev: and not nothing (0:01:34) Al: through that sentence. (0:01:36) Al: Is that how this episode is going to be? (0:01:38) Kev: That’s supposedly where you’re talkin’ to me (0:01:41) Al: I need a holiday. (0:01:42) Kev: Well, well, you’re close to one, aren’t you? (0:01:44) Al: Good news! (0:01:46) Al: All right, this episode, we’re going to talk for a very short period of time, (0:01:51) Al: and you’ll understand why later. We’re going to talk about Time of Got You Plaza. (0:01:57) Al: Spoiler alert, don’t play this game. Before that, we’ve got some news. We have what we’ve been up to. (0:02:07) Al: But first of all, wait, do I normally do that in that order? I know what you released the (0:02:11) Al: the last months before what we’ve been up to. (0:02:11) Kev: Isn’t it normally what we’ve been up to first usually? Yeah (0:02:14) Al: I think it is, yeah, OK, right. (0:02:16) Al: Yeah, let’s do that. (0:02:17) Al: Ah, why, why? (0:02:18) Al: It was a section and it just it just moved the title, not the whole section. (0:02:19) Kev: I was destroying (0:02:22) Kev: He’s destroying the show live on on air (0:02:23) Al: Stupid thing. (0:02:25) Al: I’d love to destroy some show notes. (0:02:28) Al: So we’ve got before that, we’ve got some news. (0:02:30) Al: We’ve got I know what you released last month. (0:02:33) Al: But first of all, Kevin, what have you been up to? (0:02:36) Kev: Um, let me think here, um, not yeah, I (0:02:42) Kev: Okay, so a lot of the usuals. Um, a little busy this week. Um, uh (0:02:48) Al: running away from ice agents. Sorry. I really should not joke about that because the ice will (0:02:50) Kev: Yeah, oh no, yeah, yeah that is a genuine concern every day (0:02:57) Al: hear it and they’ll come for you. We can clip it for the slack. (0:02:58) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah (0:03:03) Kev: The joys of being (0:03:05) Kev: Yeah, the joys of… (0:03:06) Kev: being a brown skinned boy in America right now. (0:03:13) Kev: There’s an ex… (0:03:15) Kev: So… (0:03:17) Kev: It feels like a lot of these ice raids are in the workplace, right? (0:03:21) Kev: And so, mine just feels extra, like, odd because I work for a Chinese company, Technica… (0:03:28) Al: Oh no. Oh no. (0:03:28) Kev: Well… (0:03:29) Kev: I mean, they are… (0:03:31) Kev: They have a… (0:03:33) Kev: Incorporation… (0:03:34) Kev: They are incorporated here in America, right? (0:03:36) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:03:37) Kev: They are in separate American companies. (0:03:39) Kev: But, you know, the HQ is in China, so… (0:03:41) Al: And let’s not let’s not pretend like technically an American company would stop any rabid anti-Chinese (0:03:41) Kev: You know, there’s a… (0:03:48) Al: people in America doing anything, you know? (0:03:48) Kev: Oh, yeah! (0:03:49) Kev: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. (0:03:51) Kev: For sure, I’m just saying, like, there’s… (0:03:53) Kev: There’s a few layers, extra fun layers to this equation. (0:03:54) Al: Yeah. (0:03:57) Al: As always, they’re not going to come for you in that case, because they’re only coming (0:04:00) Kev: Yeah. (0:04:03) Al: for the manual laborers, right, because they’re the only ones that– (0:04:06) Al: be illegal, obviously. That’s true. That’s true. Oh, goodness. (0:04:08) Kev: They’ll run out eventually. We’re still in year one. (0:04:14) Kev: I live in Georgia. I mean, I’m in the blue area of Georgia, but it’s still Georgia. (0:04:19) Kev: Southern. (0:04:21) Kev: Oh, good. (0:04:21) Al: Oh, a happy, happy podcast. (0:04:25) Al: What have you been up to, Kevin? (0:04:28) Kev: Well, while I’m not sweating my legal status, even though I was born here, (0:04:34) Kev: Um, I’ve been, I’ve been playing. (0:04:36) Al: I mean, who knows whether that counts or not anymore? (0:04:38) Kev: Uh, according to some people in certain positions, I’ve been, uh, I’ve been playing card games, uh, a lot of card games in the past week. (0:04:50) Kev: Like, yeah, a lot of the usual stuff, but, um, Marvel snap. (0:04:54) Kev: We got the, the fantastic Ford season, um, the, the like, uh, based off the new movie, um, that’s coming up. (0:04:58) Al: Ah, yes. Is that July then? Cool. Any good cards? (0:05:02) Kev: Yeah. (0:05:03) Kev: Yeah. (0:05:03) Kev: That’s the July season. (0:05:05) Kev: And okay, there’s two (0:05:08) Kev: Okay, so (0:05:10) Kev: Yes. Okay. First of all, the season pass card is is mr. Fantastic, but the Pedro Pascal version (0:05:17) Kev: so one you get the bonus of Pedro Pascal at first I was I was (0:05:22) Kev: Hesitant about Pedro as mr. Fantastic. I don’t get me wrong. I love Pedro (0:05:26) Al: Yeah, you were being racist about him, yeah. (0:05:28) Kev: Yeah, but but just mr. Fantastic so like the whitest white boy you’ve ever seen right and now I’ve been I’ve been I’ve warmed up (0:05:36) Kev: to it. In fact, I’m down. (0:05:38) Kev: For the revision, let’s let’s just retroactively put Pedro Pascale in all the Mr. Fantastic (0:05:43) Kev: appearances. That’s what I’m down for. The cards pretty dang good. Marvel Snap is reaching (0:05:53) Kev: to play. It feels like it’s reaching to play. So there’s just it’s just going bananas, like (0:05:58) Kev: the power levels going up, which, you know, in most card games, that’s what you have to (0:06:02) Kev: do because you have to keep releasing new cards that people want to buy. But the other (0:06:08) Kev: Interesting tidbit, okay, I can’t remember when they introduced it or (0:06:12) Kev: if it’s always been there. (0:06:15) Kev: So you know that there’s a season pass in Marvel Snap, it’s the big thing. (0:06:18) Al: Yep. I am aware. (0:06:20) Kev: There’s the premium season pass, that’s where you actually pay the money and (0:06:25) Kev: you get the card, right? (0:06:26) Al: Yeah. Yeah, that just unlocks 10 extra levels, right? (0:06:26) Kev: Because the season pass, every player gets it, but (0:06:29) Kev: you don’t get half of it until you pay the $10 or whatever. (0:06:32) Kev: All right, do you remember there is a super premium? (0:06:38) Kev: That’s what it was originally. (0:06:38) Al: Yes, you’re going to tell me it’s now different. (0:06:40) Kev: So X number of months ago, they said, okay, now if you get the super premium, (0:06:46) Kev: you will get this variant, right? (0:06:49) Kev: And for people familiar in Snap, variants are a big thing because they’re your (0:06:52) Kev: flare, I guess technically it can unlock a card for you if you don’t have it. (0:06:58) Kev: But it’s nice, it’s not mandatory. (0:07:02) Kev: It’s an existing card or whatever, but it’s just a little extra icing on top, right? (0:07:08) Kev: And so I was like, okay, sure, that makes sense. (0:07:09) Kev: A nice little extra bonus if you get the super premium. (0:07:12) Kev: I never got the super premium because I didn’t want to pay $20 for that. (0:07:18) Kev: But now they have finally, they’ve pushed the button, (0:07:24) Kev: they’ve crossed the line, they broke the glass. (0:07:27) Kev: There is a brand new card in the super premium version. (0:07:30) Al: Oh no. No disaster. (0:07:32) Kev: Yep, and the optics aren’t great because I don’t. (0:07:38) Kev: No, if you remember a couple of weeks ago, I talked about there was a mode where they (0:07:41) Kev: introduced a new card, but it was basically impossible to get the card just playing for free. (0:07:46) Al: Yeah, you had to have like 500 matches or something. (0:07:49) Kev: Yeah, something like that. (0:07:51) Kev: Yeah, so people were already up in arms about that. (0:07:54) Kev: And that was about a month ago or so. (0:07:57) Kev: So now they’ve got this, so it’s just very clear that the devs or the higher ups, whoever, (0:08:04) Kev: There’s pressure being put on the game to make it (0:08:07) Al: » Yep. I don’t know any other games like that, but yep. (0:08:08) Kev: more pay to win, right? (0:08:10) Kev: I mean… (0:08:12) Kev: Yeah… (0:08:14) Kev: Yeah, I know. (0:08:16) Kev: Completely novel idea. (0:08:18) Kev: But yeah, they’ve done that finally. (0:08:22) Kev: And the worst part is it’s a pretty decent card. (0:08:24) Kev: So… (0:08:26) Kev: The Fantastic Four, all the new versions that will come out. (0:08:30) Kev: A lot of them revolve around this… (0:08:32) Kev: It’s a mechanic that’s existed since the start of the game, (0:08:36) Kev: They, they kind of labeled it. (0:08:38) Kev: End of turn. (0:08:39) Kev: Um, it’s just an ability that activates at the end of turn. (0:08:43) Kev: Um, for like, right. (0:08:44) Kev: So like Mr. (0:08:45) Kev: Fantastic, he gives like a card in your hand, like a plus one power or something. (0:08:49) Kev: End of turn. (0:08:49) Kev: Right. (0:08:50) Kev: And then some of the other fantastic four members, um, they all have. (0:08:50) Al: That’s different, because that’s not what Mr. Fantastic was before. (0:08:55) Kev: No, right. (0:08:56) Kev: He was an ongoing, he boosted other ones, but yeah, this new version (0:08:58) Al: Yeah. (0:08:59) Kev: just boost cards in your hand. (0:09:01) Kev: Um, I’m trying to remember, but there were cards that had this kind (0:09:04) Kev: of ability at the beginning. (0:09:06) Kev: Um, like sunspot, sunspot. (0:09:08) Kev: One right end of turn he would gain a power right um so (0:09:08) Al: Yes, yep. (0:09:12) Kev: So it’s basically that idea, but they just like okay. We make an official label now (0:09:17) Al: Yeah, because I think they were just like random things it was just like it would say (0:09:21) Kev: Yeah (0:09:22) Al: in the description what it happened because I think the other there was I guess you know (0:09:23) Kev: Right (0:09:26) Al: Red Hulk was another one that would do that it would it would give you it would gain power (0:09:27) Kev: Yeah exactly exactly (0:09:32) Al: based on what you didn’t use I think I can’t remember or the opponent used yeah yeah otherwise (0:09:33) Kev: Or what the opponent like if they didn’t use the other energy yeah (0:09:38) Kev: Yeah, but exactly right there were a handful of cards that did that but they they and this was I don’t know a couple months (0:09:43) Kev: ago they they codified that well this season they’re pushing that like all the think three of the four (0:09:49) Kev: Have or at least three of the four have end of turn abilities and the super premium card (0:09:57) Kev: Is the fantastic car? (0:09:59) Kev: And the fantastic car gives a boost to end of turn cards, so it works in this whole (0:10:06) Kev: Fantastic. (0:10:08) Kev: That’s a decent card and it looks fun and cool, but it’s behind this extra paywall. (0:10:16) Kev: So, that’s got people riled up, unhappy, myself included. (0:10:16) Al: Mm-hmm. Not great (0:10:22) Kev: So, and again, the worst… (0:10:24) Al: Side note… (0:10:26) Kev: I’m sorry. (0:10:27) Al: Side note, there’s… you say it’s the fantastic art. (0:10:30) Al: Have they done non-living beings before? (0:10:34) Kev: Uh, well, I mean not counting robots. Um, no, I don’t think so. Like that’s the first like vehicle sort of thing (0:10:40) Al: Yeah, because they’ve done like, obviously, like, they’ve done like ego and they’ve like, (0:10:41) Kev: No, I think yeah (0:10:45) Al: they’ve done like other celestial beings and stuff like that, but like, (0:10:47) Kev: Yeah, yeah (0:10:49) Al: yeah, and you write robots and stuff, but I don’t like, (0:10:51) Kev: Don’t sentient beings (0:10:52) Al: the fantastic car doesn’t even like, pretend to be sentient. (0:10:56) Kev: No, no, it is just a car right it’s just a vehicle (0:10:58) Al: Yeah, it’s literally a car. (0:10:59) Kev: Yeah, that one that flies but still (0:11:02) Al: They’re running out of people already, is that the problem? (0:11:03) Kev: Yeah, no (0:11:05) Kev: I (0:11:07) Kev: Don’t think they’re running out because Marvel has a lot of dumb characters, but you know the the ones people get excited about maybe they’re (0:11:17) Kev: They’ve been going a little fast (0:11:20) Kev: They did actually a while back they introduced a new card called skills (0:11:26) Kev: Which are not not characters. They’re just like so (0:11:30) Kev: The a lot of the dr. Strange spells were called (0:11:34) Kev: skills they introduce some magician type characters who generated skills in your in and (0:11:41) Kev: Skills they when you play them, they just disappear they they have a cost they they play them they have an ability and they disappear (0:11:47) Al: Yeah. (0:11:49) Kev: So they don’t stay and generate power on your board or whatever (0:11:53) Kev: And so they introduced that so that that was kind of like their first really like okay, we’re introducing some new cards that aren’t just characters (0:12:01) Kev: But yes the fantastic cars for it as I can tell (0:12:04) Kev: It’s like the first one that’s like a piece of equipment or or vehicle or whatever (0:12:05) Al: I, I just remembered, I just remembered Thanos gives you the Infinity Stones. (0:12:09) Kev: Yeah, oh (0:12:11) Kev: Yeah, there you go. Yeah, I forgot about that. Yeah, that’s just true those aren’t characters. Yeah (0:12:14) Al: It was not the first, and I don’t need people telling me, “Oh, technically the (0:12:18) Al: Infinity Stones have a consciousness.” (0:12:25) Kev: But yeah (0:12:27) Kev: So it’s it’s a wild time and the worst part is Marvel snap is still in my opinion good like the game is good though (0:12:34) Kev: Cakes are still solid (0:12:36) Kev: It’s grown so much that you can kind of play whatever you deck want you want now (0:12:42) Kev: I’ve said that a handful times and still true, right? (0:12:44) Kev: But I said that because there there were errors of snap where we’re they were dominated by certain archetype or a certain card or whatever (0:12:44) Al: Mm-hmm Oh (0:12:49) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah (0:12:52) Kev: Right, we don’t see that as much now. There are no real problem (0:12:57) Kev: children (0:12:59) Kev: But but maybe because of that I don’t know but they’re (0:13:04) Kev: They’re pushing harder for the pay to win like give us money (0:13:08) Kev: So that kind of sucks especially because again, I like the game. It’s still enjoyable in my opinion (0:13:13) Kev: The games are still six turns. They’re fast. They’re there because he can play lots of different types and and and archetypes and it’s fun (0:13:23) Kev: But so yeah, I will keep playing until like I don’t know what we’ll see i’m the frog in the boiling pot and all that (0:13:29) Kev: we’ll see (0:13:32) Kev: But other than that, the other… (0:13:34) Kev: A big card game I’ve been playing. (0:13:42) Kev: Marvel Rivals Season 3. I need to do that in grey. (0:13:45) Kev: I don’t know if you saw it, but… (0:13:47) Kev: Sorry, it’s just so I thought. (0:13:49) Kev: I’ll report on that when I do play it. (0:13:53) Kev: Magic the Gathering. (0:13:56) Kev: I’m still playing the Arena, the online version. (0:13:59) Kev: And Final Fantasy sets still going strong and all that. (0:14:02) Kev: I tried drafting for the first time. (0:14:04) Kev: Online, but it’s still drafting. (0:14:07) Al: Is that is that a built in feature of Arena? (0:14:34) Kev: If you pick a card you want out of your pack and then you pass the cards to the next person and you know (0:14:40) Kev: Everyone kind of swaps packs and everyone keeps selecting out of these different packs until you have a pile of your own cards from all (0:14:47) Kev: These different packs (0:14:49) Kev: and (0:14:50) Kev: So it was always a novel idea. I never tried it before but I know something very weird about like, okay (0:14:55) Kev: I have this pack. I don’t want to share the cards. Why am I giving you my cards, but (0:15:01) Kev: But it works out because after you know the (0:15:04) Kev: packs are going around and rotated and all that like you have a deck that you (0:15:10) Kev: know there’s X number of packs and from that you’ve actually built the deck that (0:15:14) Kev: kind of sort of works if you know what you’re doing right and everyone’s kind of (0:15:18) Kev: on the same playing field because everyone’s opening all these new packs (0:15:21) Kev: nobody has any you know bringing in any existing cards or whatever so it’s kind (0:15:27) Kev: of a levelish playing field um bit of luck in there of course depending on (0:15:31) Kev: what you open or whatnot. (0:15:34) Kev: it’s a fun novel idea. And so on Arena, the version I play, the actual drafting part (0:15:43) Kev: is done with bots. You don’t actually do it with the other players. So that’s nice because (0:15:48) Kev: you don’t have to, you know, there’s not a timer or anything, you know, you’re just like, (0:15:52) Kev: okay, here, I think about it, pick what I want. Or if you know, if you need to go step away, (0:15:57) Kev: go to the bathroom, whatever you can, right, there’s no pressure to actually finish the draft (0:16:01) Kev: in X number of minutes or whatever. (0:16:05) Kev: But then when you build your deck, then you go, uh, you play against actual other players who’ve done the similar, um, drafting process. (0:16:12) Kev: Um, so, um, it, yeah, it’s an awful experience. (0:16:16) Kev: I think it’s fun actually. (0:16:18) Kev: Like I get it now with the appeal of the drafting. (0:16:20) Kev: Um, and, uh, but yeah, it’s, it’s good. (0:16:24) Kev: Final, the Final Fantasy cards was so good. (0:16:25) Kev: I, I, I’m angry at how good they are. (0:16:29) Kev: Um, the two, um, but I, at the very least I stayed clean. (0:16:34) Kev: I haven’t any money into magic for in a hot minute. (0:16:38) Kev: Um, and at least not any for anything for Final Fantasy. (0:16:42) Kev: So I feel good pounding myself on the back for that. (0:16:44) Kev: I’ve stayed strong. (0:16:45) Kev: Um, but yeah, other than that, um, nothing, nothing else. (0:16:50) Kev: I can’t, man. (0:16:51) Kev: Oh man. (0:16:51) Kev: Have you seen the master’s costume, Pokemon masters, the costumes lately? (0:16:56) Al: I’ve seen some of it. (0:16:58) Al: I’ve not really kind of been paying too much attention. (0:16:58) Kev: Did you see the, did you see the, the Larry, the vacation layer? (0:17:04) Kev: Oh, okay. (0:17:04) Kev: Hold on. (0:17:05) Kev: All right. (0:17:05) Kev: I’m going to make the usual slack exclusive thread. (0:17:08) Kev: Um, um, but yeah, it’s a, uh, uh, they gave Larry a, a, uh, Hawaiian, like a (0:17:18) Kev: lowland themed, um, uh, vacation suit and masters. (0:17:23) Kev: It’s very funny. (0:17:24) Kev: Um, uh, they also got summer Cynthia. (0:17:28) Kev: So she’s, I believe five or six variants of Cynthia now, because guess what? (0:17:34) Kev: Popular. (0:17:34) Kev: Did you know that Al? (0:17:35) Kev: Did you know she’s popular? (0:17:36) Al: Hm hm hm, whaaat? (0:17:37) Kev: Um, um, Skyla got a fun suit with jump off. (0:17:43) Kev: Um, yeah, masters is good. (0:17:45) Kev: The big, I haven’t dropped money on it in a while, but I, I want those costumes. (0:17:51) Kev: So yeah, I can say. (0:17:52) Kev: So that’s me all gotcha, all, all gambling, all card games. (0:17:56) Kev: What about you? (0:17:56) Kev: Al, what gotcha and gambling have you been up to lately? (0:18:00) Al: Oh, just my usual Pokemon, right? (0:18:02) Al: Although I’ve not put any money in since Go Fest. (0:18:03) Kev: Yeah. (0:18:05) Kev: I heard about that, that last episode, you got your training. (0:18:06) Al: So, yeah. (0:18:08) Kev: Gimme, gimme, gimme gold in the, in the, in the Dakota, get her weren’t yet. (0:18:13) Kev: I’m, I need to know, is she free? (0:18:16) Kev: I need to know. (0:18:19) Al: think so. I don’t think so. No, what have I actually been playing? Let’s see. I’ve been (0:18:20) Kev: Yeah. (0:18:26) Al: playing Tamagotchi Plaza and when I say playing, I played about half an hour and then searched (0:18:31) Al: online to make sure I wasn’t missing anything before I sold the game. More about that later (0:18:36) Kev: Wow, that’s fast. (0:18:37) Al: on in the episode, but that’s your, yeah it is. I have never, I’ve never stopped playing a game (0:18:46) Al: that fast and not been like, “Ugh!” (0:18:49) Al: This just isn’t for me, and instead being like, “This is just a bad game.” (0:18:52) Kev: Oh I’m excited, I’m excited to hear about this later. (0:19:00) Al: And I’ve also been playing some Land’s Island, slowly, obviously, because if you’ve listened (0:19:06) Al: to the previous episode, listener, you will know that I am not playing on my Steam Deck, (0:19:11) Al: which is how I normally play games, Steam Deck or Switch 2, while watching TV with my wife. (0:19:19) Al: So I’ve got to play it at my desk, and I don’t like doing that, right? Who wants to be sitting at (0:19:24) Al: your office desk playing games? So I’ve just been doing it for a couple of hours a week, (0:19:26) Kev: Alright. I get it. It’s undecided, but maybe. But hey, I mean, good for them, right? Yeah, (0:19:31) Al: but I have been enjoying that, I think. I think I’m enjoying Land’s Island, I think it’s a fun game. (0:19:42) Al: Yeah, I mean, I’m still annoyed about the controller support, but other than that, (0:19:47) Al: I think I’m enjoying it. (0:19:48) Kev: yeah. Yeah, that, that, I mean, that’s, that’s very fair. I’m with you on that boat. I want (0:19:53) Kev: controllers for my games, by and large. (0:19:56) Kev: I did not grow up a PC gamer so, um, you know, obviously I can do, you know, point (0:20:02) Kev: and click or management type games. (0:20:04) Kev: There’s no problem on the mouse, but like the people who do shooters and stuff like (0:20:07) Kev: that on the, the, on the mouse and keyboard, I don’t get it. (0:20:11) Kev: I can’t, I can’t, it’s, it’s beyond my poor comprehension. (0:20:17) Kev: But hey, good for lens Island. (0:20:18) Kev: Like that was a journey, but they got there. (0:20:21) Kev: Um, they, they, yeah. (0:20:23) Al: something like that. They got somewhere anyway. All right, I think that’s it. I’m just kind (0:20:27) Kev: They did stuff, they improved, they improved to some measure, I’m told. (0:20:37) Al: of waiting for Donkey Kong, to be honest. (0:20:38) Kev: Yeah, yeah, I don’t blame you. It’s like that game looks very good and shocker and yeah, yeah, I (0:20:44) Al: Yeah. Soon. (0:20:48) Kev: Wish he had more transformations. That’s it’s like the big thing. We’ve only seen three. Maybe there’s more (0:20:52) Al: Well, there might be more like surely they would have shown (0:20:55) Kev: Yeah, well the question is (0:20:58) Kev: Like what’s a good number right like because you know, obviously (0:21:02) Al: Yeah, like ten would be too many probably like that feels over (0:21:06) Kev: Yeah, right (0:21:09) Kev: And there’s probably gonna be some super transformation for the final fight because that feels like a thing this they would do (0:21:13) Al: Of course, of course. (0:21:16) Kev: But like normally I’d say I know five is a good number not counting anything finale spectacle transformation (0:21:23) Al: Well, let’s see what happens, but I’d be surprised if they’ve shown us everything. (0:21:28) Al: Let’s put it that way. We’ll see, but we will see. (0:21:32) Al: All right, well, let’s get into I Know What You Released last month. (0:21:37) Al: A quiet month, apparently, June was. I don’t know how I missed this out of the episode from (0:21:42) Al: two weeks ago, which is when I was meant to do it, but apparently I did. (0:21:46) Al: Just three games released. We got Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma. (0:21:52) Al: I haven’t played that. (0:21:53) Al: We’ve got Lenz Island 1.0. (0:21:55) Al: Obviously I’ve played that. (0:21:56) Al: And we’ve got Tamagotchi Plaza. (0:21:58) Al: Please do not play that. (0:22:00) Kev: I’ve played none of these games one day. I’ll play a room factory game. I would like to I (0:22:08) Al: Yeah, I feel like I could- (0:22:08) Kev: Mean (0:22:10) Kev: Yeah, I mean it’s it’s story of seasons, but more anime juice up the anime they said (0:22:16) Al: It’s much, I would say it’s much more like, it’s a combat game that just happens to have (0:22:21) Al: farming in it, rather than, especially now, I think you could probably argue in the four (0:22:22) Kev: sure okay sure yeah yeah sure and you know what that makes sense like you’re (0:22:27) Al: and before days, that it was Harvest Moon with, with combat, but now I think it’s definitely (0:22:34) Al: focused the other way around. (0:22:39) Kev: gonna do two series differentiate sure why not long as they have the cow all as (0:22:42) Al: Yeah, yeah, different cow, but yeah, all right. (0:22:45) Kev: well (0:22:49) Kev: Wait, it’s a different they don’t use the story of Caesar’s cow (0:22:50) Al: Well, I don’t think so. (0:22:53) Kev: Oh, no, never mind. It’s all it’s almost don’t care (0:22:58) Al: Yeah, because they don’t have standard animals in Unfactory. (0:23:00) Al: They have like other animals. (0:23:01) Al: So it’s kind of like a lion cow, but you will love the name. (0:23:04) Kev: Oh, huh, I’ll check it out. Okay, I’ll see a (0:23:08) Al: It’s called a buff-a-moo. (0:23:11) Kev: buffer (0:23:13) Kev: Let’s see. So like a buffalo but a buffer. Okay. Oh (0:23:19) Kev: Okay, that’s oh wait no that is a while (0:23:23) Kev: Mmm the design is kind of cute, but it also makes me think of the the girl dog from from (0:23:30) Kev: Full metal alchemist. I don’t like that (0:23:32) Al: Well, there you go. (0:23:38) Al: All right, we’re going to get into some news and we are going to start off with Kevin’s (0:23:38) Kev: Okay, that’s that’s an interesting camera (0:23:44) Al: favorite news. (0:23:45) Al: Gaucho and the Grassland have announced that they’re releasing on the 16th of July. (0:23:51) Al: You may notice, Kevin, that is basically now. (0:23:54) Al: When this episode comes out, it will be out. (0:23:55) Kev: that is when this episode comes out I will be playing this game probably i’m assuming it has (0:23:59) Al: Yeah. (0:24:01) Kev: controller support that’s that’s the the uh kind of the line in the sand for me great well yeah (0:24:04) Al: It says it has feel controller support, but I don’t know whether I can trust that or not. (0:24:12) Kev: you know that’s a good point too but um yeah I don’t know what can I say it’s still the same like (0:24:19) Kev: every trailer just continues to deliver the same promise you are being a cowboy that’s it (0:24:25) Kev: it and I like it’s a fun yeah yeah the the the the art style is cute kind of that overcooked (0:24:26) Al: Kevin was sold the moment he saw the first thing about being a cowboy, he was like “I’m sold, (0:24:30) Al: I don’t need to know anymore!” (0:24:37) Kev: the looking art style um but yeah I get you get to yeah and I can see that you you get to lasso (0:24:40) Al: It’s doing a little bit of the Animal Crossing curved world as well. (0:24:47) Kev: cows like that you know they knew that’s the activity you want to do you throw you have your (0:24:51) Kev: Europe, you’re the last of the count, so they… (0:24:55) Kev: I’m sold. (0:24:56) Al: Yeah. I need to know how it feels. Right. Because the controls for that, it could either be interesting or just horrific and terrible to play. So it’ll be interesting to see how that goes. (0:25:08) Kev: uh you’re right and it’s gonna be a very delicate like thing to get right so we’ll we’ll see um (0:25:17) Kev: tune in because I promise you you will find out on this show thoughts on about this game (0:25:20) Al: It does have a demo. (0:25:23) Kev: one form or another it does I won’t play it i’m just going in blind i’m going all in (0:25:30) Al: Next, we have Wandering Village. They have announced that they’re exiting Early Access. (0:25:38) Al: They’re releasing their 1.0 this week on the 17th of July, one day after Gaut you on the (0:25:44) Kev: That’s right after. I only have one day if I want to play Cowboy if I want to do this. I will not do that. (0:25:45) Al: grassland. (0:25:53) Al: And that is going to Steam Switch, Xbox and PlayStation all on the same page. (0:25:57) Kev: What a wild trailer because you have your huge dinosaur with the village or whatever on top (0:26:02) Kev: in the trailer. Oh okay, I didn’t know that. The art style is interesting because it’s 3D but like (0:26:03) Al: on onboo, I believe his name is. (0:26:11) Kev: 2d characters and and like (0:26:14) Kev: It’s not octopath like (0:26:16) Kev: It’s a full like CG 3d looking world, but the characters look like flat paper. It’s it’s it’s very interesting (0:26:25) Kev: Dynamic the thing is bad. Just interesting. But yeah is you have that and then you have people with like (0:26:32) Kev: Bane masks and then people (0:26:36) Kev: Burning the whole village (0:26:38) Kev: Forest for some reason. I don’t know. There’s a lot going on here. It is fascinating (0:26:44) Kev: And coming out on all consoles and everything that’s good good for them. That’s that’s impressive (0:26:49) Al: Yep, continuing this week’s releases, (0:26:54) Al: we have Cottonville is releasing on the 17th of July. (0:26:58) Kev: They’re just making up for last month by everything out one week as they stay. (0:27:03) Al: Everything on the same day. (0:27:06) Al: This was originally a Kickstarter, but apparently the Kickstarter was banned. (0:27:12) Al: And so now it’s just, yeah, so goodness sake. (0:27:12) Kev: B-band? (0:27:16) Al: Let me let me read what it was. (0:27:19) Al: There’s a statement on it. Here we go. (0:27:21) Al: This was back in the 15th. (0:27:21) Kev: Oh goodness. (0:27:23) Al: Dear Community, it says titled Kickstarter Update. (0:27:29) Al: Dear Community, firstly, we would like to sincerely thank you for your incredible (0:27:33) Al: support and participation in our first Kickstarter campaign. (0:27:36) Al: It genuinely means the world to us. (0:27:38) Al: Unfortunately, due to an oversight on our part, our Kickstarter campaign was (0:27:43) Al: suspended for unintentionally breaching Kickstarter’s guidelines. (0:27:47) Al: As a result, all contributions have been fully remembered. (0:27:49) Al: We are very grateful for the support gathered and to out show appreciation to all our backers (0:28:14) Al: and we are working on the very best solution to how to reward your contributions. (0:28:20) Al: Thank you again for your amazing support and interest in Cottonville. It truly means so (0:28:22) Al: much to us. While this was our first experience with Kickstarter and it did not go as planned, (0:28:27) Al: we’ve learned a lot. We’re looking forward to future campaigns now armed with valuable. (0:28:34) Kev: that didn’t answer my question. Why? Were crimes committed at any point? Maybe. Unintentional (0:28:40) Al: So I wonder, so it looks like what they did was they cancelled the Kickstarter and created (0:28:43) Kev: crimes? (0:28:52) Al: a new Kickstarter, and I’m wondering whether that’s the rule they broke, like you can’t (0:28:58) Al: recreate a Kickstarter or something like that. (0:29:00) Kev: Mm-hmm. I can see that that makes sense (0:29:03) Kev: Yeah, I’m big. Why well, why would they do that in the first place? I don’t know (0:29:08) Al: Don’t know, is this game a scam? I don’t know. (0:29:10) Kev: big (0:29:14) Kev: That I mean there’s the other fact that they are making the game without Kickstarter anymore (0:29:20) Kev: That’s the I did these are very weird flags. I don’t know. They’re red flags. They’re just weird flags (0:29:29) Al: » They are definitely flags. (0:29:31) Kev: Yeah, and the wildest part is it’s for this game that (0:29:38) Kev: Like isn’t for me. It feels very Facebook (0:29:42) Al: Oh, yeah, I hate the look of the game into it. (0:29:42) Kev: like gamey (0:29:45) Al: So it’s from it’s from the publisher Red Deer Games who have done such games (0:29:51) Al: such as Sprout Valley, Garden Buddies. (0:29:54) Kev: Monocats, I don’t know any of you wait no in a Sprout Valley (0:29:56) Al: And a bunch of other things that all definitely look like scam games. (0:30:01) Kev: And is this money laundering very possibly you (0:30:05) Al: I mean, Sprout Valley was a game and it was a fine game. (0:30:10) Al: Garden Buddies, I’m pretty sure we didn’t. (0:30:12) Al: It’s a publisher, not a developer, right? (0:30:16) Kev: yeah look i’m the game dev people oh it’s a public oh the publisher sure well okay exactly (0:30:23) Kev: well exactly the more reason to believe it may be money laundering the devs are maybe legit and (0:30:28) Al: Although, well, so this is where it gets interesting, is Cottonville is developed by the publisher. (0:30:39) Al: I think it’s their first game that they’re developing, rather than publishing. (0:30:40) Kev: you’re right it is you’re right um well that’s um (0:30:49) Kev: this is very strange and again if it were like a game that you know looked better you know that (0:30:58) Kev: being that might be one thing but it looks so I don’t know it just it just feels very weird (0:31:08) Al: it does. It is very weird. It does have a demo. Will I play the demo? Who knows? We’ll see. (0:31:08) Kev: the way the characters are always looking at you. (0:31:10) Kev: Straight up the camera, I don’t like it. (0:31:22) Al: Will I buy the game? Probably not, but I guess it depends how the demo goes, I guess. It’s (0:31:24) Kev: I also probably own that. (0:31:29) Al: just, yeah, those animations are so weird. [sighs] (0:31:32) Kev: Yeah (0:31:33) Kev: it (0:31:35) Kev: Comes out same day as wandering village, which noticeably feels much less possibly a scam (0:31:42) Al: Well, that game’s already out, it’s just not out in 1.0. (0:31:46) Al: All right, rounding out this week’s releases, (0:31:52) Al: Tiny Garden have announced their Summer Breeze content update (0:31:57) Al: and cosmetic pack are releasing on the 17th of July. (0:32:02) Kev: It’s our I don’t know. I gotta think of a barbenheimer equivalent cotton (0:32:07) Kev: wandering garden, I don’t know (0:32:10) Al: Best bet is, I think it’s the same week as Barbara Naimer happened. (0:32:13) Kev: Really that’s incredible (0:32:13) Al: Yeah, because it was definitely July and I think it was this week. (0:32:18) Kev: Yeah, my favorite thing about barbenheimer like I mean both movies are fine or whatever but people kind of under their breath were like (0:32:23) Al: Two years ago. (0:32:25) Kev: But barbie was a little bit better though (0:32:27) Al: Oh, it absolutely was, yeah, I enjoyed Oppenheimer, but it was it was not as good a film. (0:32:29) Kev: Yeah (0:32:36) Al: But I look, I’m not saying it’s a bad film, but I mean, Barbara. (0:32:43) Al: It was my film of the year that year. (0:32:44) Kev: I mean, the two lead roles kind of killed it in every aspect. (0:32:52) Al: Yeah, yeah, 21st of July, it was I was right, it’s the same week. (0:33:00) Al: So this would be Gaucho Wandering Cotton Garden. (0:33:07) Kev: yep there you go glad we found our episode title (0:33:07) Al: Oh, OK, fine. (0:33:11) Al: Yeah, new content pack DLC for Tiny Garden. (0:33:18) Al: If you’re enjoying that game, it was such a cheap game. (0:33:21) Al: I suspect this will be paid. (0:33:22) Al: It’s DLC. It does look like it’s paid DLC, so I mean, go support it. It’s good. (0:33:29) Kev: - Yeah, there you go. (0:33:31) Kev: That’s a cute idea of like, it’s all cosmetics. (0:33:36) Kev: Whole game is cosmetics, right? (0:33:38) Kev: So like introducing these packs, that’s a good idea. (0:33:42) Kev: And it’s like there’s some, (0:33:44) Kev: like you can grow palm trees and wait, (0:33:47) Kev: no, there’s new mechanics. (0:33:48) Kev: Hold on, they’re saying new mechanics. (0:33:48) Al: So I think so if I if I understand it correctly, the new plants and new mechanics are a free (0:33:49) Kev: Oh, oh music. (0:33:55) Al: update and the cosmetics are the DLC. (0:33:58) Kev: Uh, okay, that makes sense as it should be good for them (0:34:02) Al: That is the correct way to do things, yes, I agree. (0:34:04) Kev: Pokemon (0:34:10) Kev: But good for them good for you tiny garden you little garden that (0:34:15) Al: We also have an update for Disney Dreamlight Valley. (0:34:19) Al: I feel like these are coming out all the time and also I care about them less and less. (0:34:22) Kev: I mean it’s yeah yeah that’s that’s good that’s called diminishing returns and (0:34:30) Kev: and that’s what happens when you have Disney with a bajillion IPs and (0:34:36) Kev: whatever and and the worst part is like I don’t know I most of these don’t feel (0:34:43) Kev: like big story expansion I mean a lot of them are but I don’t know just I look at (0:34:50) Kev: other games like look at the mojo (0:34:52) Kev: games right when the new contents there’s big story chapters and stuff to (0:34:57) Kev: do these I don’t know maybe it’s all because it’s existing IPs like I don’t (0:35:05) Kev: know it just doesn’t have the same hype around it maybe it’s because it’s too (0:35:11) Kev: saccharine they can’t they can’t go crazy they can’t have the chapter where (0:35:16) Kev: or Scar eats Remy from Ratatouille. (0:35:20) Al: I, yeah, I wonder if, because obviously they’ve done this thing where the DLCs have been split up, (0:35:25) Al: so this update is called the storybook veil part two, the unwritten realm update. (0:35:32) Kev: Okay. Okay, one name. (0:35:38) Al: And I kind of feel like maybe it would be better if they just did all the DLC (0:35:42) Al: for the storybook veil at once, right? Because we talked about this before, where I don’t think I’d be (0:35:50) Al: booting up Stardew every two months if there was a new update, but the way that he bundles it all (0:35:54) Kev: Mm-hmm (0:35:56) Al: together in an update every two years or three years or whatever, means that I’m super excited, (0:36:01) Al: because it’s like, oh, it has been years since I’ve probably played the game, let’s go in, (0:36:05) Al: we’ve got loads of new content, I’m really excited for that. Whereas this is just constant, here’s (0:36:10) Al: new update. And I suspect they’ve probably got numbers to show that this keeps people invested, (0:36:18) Al: Right. Like if we talk about. (0:36:20) Al: I wouldn’t want one big update every two years for that, but I don’t know. (0:36:25) Al: It’s a difficult one, but I don’t even play the game anymore. (0:36:25) Kev: Uh-huh, well I mean, yeah I’ve never played the game so I’m just completely talking without (0:36:30) Al: So who might it complete? (0:36:36) Kev: any frame reference. (0:36:38) Al: What that’s not what we do (0:36:44) Kev: So we say right after declaring cotton fields a scam without having touched it or planning (0:36:48) Al: No, I did not, excuse me, I did not, I would like to clarify, as per my lawyers have just (0:36:49) Kev: to. (0:36:55) Al: told me to do, I, lol, I did not claim that the game was a scam. I asked whether it was (0:37:03) Al: and felt, it said it felt a little scammy. That is all I’m saying. I, yep, that is very (0:37:08) Kev: - Feel of a scam. (0:37:12) Al: different to claiming it is a scam. It feels scammy, it’s not the same thing. (0:37:14) Kev: - True, true. (0:37:16) Kev: Yeah, true. (0:37:18) Al: This one has, so this update, what does this have? The final part of the story for (0:37:26) Al: the storybook veil, which is Maleficent and Hades doing some stuff. (0:37:32) Al: Who’s the new characters? Is that Peter Pan? (0:37:33) Kev: It’s embedded, looks like it. (0:37:37) Al: And who else is with Peter? Is that Aurora? No, not Aurora. What am I talking about? Who is that? (0:37:44) Kev: Trying to see that is (0:37:44) Al: I just saw the colour of dress. (0:37:47) Kev: Wait, who is that? Is that a player character? That might be the player character. I don’t think I recognize (0:37:49) Al: Oh, that’s the player character, that would make sense, right? And a monkey? Who’s the monkey? (0:37:53) Kev: Yeah, I know (0:37:57) Al: I can’t see, this image is so small. (0:37:59) Kev: It is I’m trying to yeah, that’s just a pet monkey (0:38:03) Al: And for some reason, the patch notes don’t mention characters other than Maleficent and Hades. (0:38:09) Al: Like normally they list, I don’t think so. (0:38:09) Kev: Wasn’t Peter Pan already added? Oh (0:38:14) Kev: Okay, I don’t know I don’t know it says yeah there become pals with Peter Pan you’re right yeah, I don’t know that’s just a pet monkey (0:38:18) Al: Oh, here we go. No, I there is Aurora, right? So venture into the pages of a storybook to uncover Aurora in an enchanting dream style, in addition to her regular (0:38:26) Kev: There’s a guy who looks evil with wings. He looks cool. I don’t know what else (0:38:34) Kev: And that dog on Peter Pan (0:38:36) Al: Anyway, whatever. There’s an update. I don’t think you need us to explain. (0:38:42) Kev: There’s Eric’s dog - what’s the best dog in Disney movies we should we should make it ranking (0:38:50) Al: That sounds like a greenhouse episode. All right. (0:38:53) Kev: Best pets for Disney (0:38:56) Al: We have two more news updates. The first is Lens Island have released their post 1.0 roadmap. (0:39:04) Kev: Mm-hmm is the bro map just say take the money and run I’d applaud somebody if they said that (0:39:05) Al: So, first of all. (0:39:06) Al: I mean, they had a Kickstarter that if they were going to take the money and run it would (0:39:15) Al: have been back then. (0:39:16) Al: So they say the rest of July will be post release bug fixing. (0:39:21) Al: In August, there will be a community feedback update. (0:39:22) Kev: Sure (0:39:25) Al: I have community feedback. (0:39:26) Al: Give us proper controller support. (0:39:29) Kev: There’s the the developer livestream you see you can yell at them in real time. Thank you (0:39:34) Al: Also, silly question, is that not the whole point of early access, (0:39:37) Al: is to get community feedback and update it based on that? (0:39:39) Al: Like, why are you waiting until after 1.0 to do that? (0:39:42) Al: Whatever. (0:39:42) Kev: It’s fine, it’s fine (0:39:44) Al: And then in December, they will be releasing a major content update. (0:39:48) Al: No information on that. (0:39:49) Al: Just there will be stuff and more coming in 2026. (0:39:51) Kev: So I was about to say, so the roadmap is we’re going to work on it, maybe. (0:39:53) Al: So it’s a pretty loose. (0:39:58) Al: You know. (0:40:01) Al: Yeah, yeah, yeah. (0:40:03) Al: the update is. (0:40:04) Al: We’re going to bug fix, and then we’re going to add some changes, and then we’re going to (0:40:08) Al: have a new new content. And it says December. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t this year. (0:40:10) Kev: listen to people yeah yep we’ll see I mean but they’re gonna continue to (0:40:23) Kev: support it which I mean every game does now because games or service did you (0:40:28) Kev: know that out (0:40:29) Al: Yes. And let me double check. (0:40:32) Al: But I think this is, let me double check something. (0:40:38) Al: And they do just seem to have. (0:40:40) Al: So I am not aware of another game that they’re working on just now or anything else. (0:40:46) Al: I thought I was aware of one, but no, I think that’s a different company. (0:40:50) Al: So maybe they are just planning on continuing work on Lenz Island. (0:40:55) Al: I I doubt that that is going to be continue to be. (0:40:59) Al: And final piece of news, Kevin Stardew Valley is now the this Stardew Valley is now the (0:41:05) Kev: » Yeah, that’s correct. (0:41:18) Kev: Hmm, yeah, yeah this this one scares me (0:41:27) Al: top-rated game on Steam. (0:41:29) Al: Iso. (0:41:29) Kev: That scares me (0:41:35) Kev: Steam has a lot of games on it. I’ll I (0:41:39) Kev: Know there has to be I know there has to be a number one (0:41:44) Kev: Like but it just feels so surreal that the game that (0:41:49) Kev: Not that we care about per se but that is so close to us because of this podcast like (0:41:55) Kev: That’s the number one. That’s wild to me (0:41:58) Al: So have you don’t click on the don’t click on the link to the top 250. (0:42:03) Al: Have you looked at it at all? (0:42:04) Al: I want to check. (0:42:04) Kev: No, I’m not. (0:42:05) Al: OK, so let’s do a little let’s do a little game. (0:42:08) Al: See how many of the top 10 Kevin can guess. (0:42:11) Kev: Oh, there’s a bajillion games on Steam. (0:42:15) Kev: I don’t know. (0:42:17) Al: Think of games that people like. (0:42:17) Kev: All right. (0:42:18) Kev: OK, OK, Portal 2 is number two because that’s the one that (0:42:21) Al: So, yeah, so we know that we’ve got two already. (0:42:21) Kev: got me dethroned. (0:42:23) Al: We’ve got Stardium and got Portal 2, number one and number two. (0:42:25) Kev: Oh, well, let’s see. (0:42:28) Kev: And here’s part of the question, right? (0:42:30) Kev: How is this calculated, right? (0:42:32) Kev: Because if a game has 5.0 review (0:42:34) Al: Yeah, so I suspect you have to get above a certain amount of, let’s put it this way, (0:42:35) Kev: But only has 100 reviews (0:42:37) Kev: It’s probably not hitting the top (0:42:39) Kev: Even though if it is really good you know (0:42:45) Al: I will give you a clue, every single one of the top 10 has over 100,000 volts. So it’s (0:42:51) Kev: Okay. Sure. (0:42:52) Al: at least some kind of popular game. Nope, that is number 14. (0:42:56) Kev: Sure. Okay. Like, uh, I know Baldur’s gate three is up there. (0:43:01) Kev: No, it’s Baldur’s gate three is really wow. (0:43:04) Al: Yep, number 14 with 8.73. I will say it’s very crowded at the top, right? So 8.73, (0:43:08) Kev: Wow. I, wow. I’m, I’m. (0:43:14) Al: compare that to Stardew at 1, 8.87, right? Like there’s not a lot in it, they’re all very close. (0:43:21) Kev: I’m not gonna get a single guess here (0:43:23) Al: I think you will keep going. I think you will get some wrong, but I think you’ll get some right. (0:43:27) Kev: Okay, see yeah cuz I mean like okay, I’m trying to think oh, this is hard right because a lot of games (0:43:35) Kev: Are really good, but they’re ports right like (0:43:38) Kev: Spider-man is now on Steam if I recall right the spider-man 1/2 are they (0:43:42) Al: Definitely not up there. It was not it was not a very well-received port because it was very bad. (0:43:48) Kev: Yeah, that’s true I forgot about that right (0:43:48) Al: I don’t I can’t even see them in the list. Let’s see where we’ve got Spider-Man. (0:43:51) Kev: Like uh see this is the thing (0:43:53) Al: The first Spider-Man is 140 and Spider-Man 2 is not. (0:43:58) Kev: Great that’s fantastic see this is the thing like I have to think about I don’t think about steam as much as (0:44:07) Al: Would you like some clues? (0:44:09) Al: I can give you some. (0:44:10) Kev: Is one of them Stanley parable (0:44:10) Al: They all. (0:44:12) Al: It is not there. (0:44:14) Kev: God yeah, okay. Yeah, I don’t know this is oh (0:44:17) Al: Let me let me give you a clue. (0:44:19) Al: Let me give you a clue by giving you genres. (0:44:19) Kev: Okay, okay. (0:44:22) Al: So we have what number three, the genre is open world survival craft. (0:44:28) Kev: Oh my goodness. Oh god. Is it power? No! (0:44:32) Al: No, it is not power world. (0:44:33) Kev: I’m kidding. I know it’s not power. (0:44:35) Kev: What is it? (0:44:38) Kev: Did, oh, what is the name? (0:44:40) Al: Our world is 241. (0:44:41) Kev: Is Umamusume pretty derby? Did it skyrocket to the top? (0:44:47) Kev: Do you know what I’m talking about, Al? (0:44:48) Al: I have no idea what you’re talking about. (0:44:52) Kev: Okay, oh man, I’m happy. (0:44:54) Kev: Dale is going to be thrilled. I brought it up on the podcast. Okay. (0:44:57) Al: Right, let’s stick to this. Open world survival craft, think of a game, a very popular game, (0:44:58) Kev: I’m okay. I’ll bring it up. Fine. Fine. That is no, cause that’s not on steam. Um, hug. (0:45:05) Al: that people like. What was that? Just say it. It was not Minecraft, no. I was tempted (0:45:11) Kev: See, no, cause Minecraft’s not on steam. Yeah. Yeah. No. Cause Minecraft’s not on steam. (0:45:18) Al: to say it’s open world survival craft, but not that one, thinking you were going to think (0:45:22) Kev: Yeah. Yeah. No. (0:45:23) Al: Minecraft initially. It is not correct, but it’s not Minecraft, but it is. (0:45:26) Kev: Is it? (0:45:28) Kev: AHHH! Is it um, oh gosh, I just I’m not a steam person. I don’t know these as well. Um, I what is? Oh my gosh. What is? (0:45:37) Kev: What is this? (0:45:38) Kev: What is that one horror-y game? (0:45:42) Kev: The four or something like that? I don’t remember. Just tell me. I don’t know. You’re gonna fail all these out. (0:45:44) Al: No, no, what? I don’t understand. It’s not Minecraft. It is 2D. (0:45:50) Kev: Oh wait. Oh (0:45:52) Al: Come on! Terraria number three! There we go! (0:45:52) Kev: Terraria! Oh my gosh. Terraria. Oh duh. Wow, I’m stupid. Yeah. (0:45:58) Kev: Terraria, duh. How did I not think that? Yeah. Wow. (0:45:59) Al: You will not get number four. I have never heard of this game. People Playground? (0:46:04) Kev: Well, I don’t know what that is. Um, okay, okay. (0:46:07) Al: Neither do I. It’s a sandbox game, apparently. Number five. Zombies. (0:46:13) Kev: It’s not it’s not art. It’s not gonna be an RE game. It’s (0:46:15) Al: No, but not far off. You’re kind of in the right game’s circle. (0:46:18) Kev: No, it’s I mean (0:46:26) Kev: I mean is it dead by I mean I don&am

Send us a text✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/freeDid the two legendary bulls, the Donn Cuailnge and the Finnbhennach, have a rivalry in the Táin Bó Cuailnge? In this engaging video, Jon O'Sullivan of the Irish Pagan School delves deep into the lore of Ireland's Ulster Cycle to uncover the myth behind these famous creatures. Discover the backstory of the two bulls, which traces back to their former incarnations as pig keepers, Friuch and Rucht, and their endless rivalry through multiple lifetimes. Jon explains how this mythological feud between Connacht and Ulster ultimately culminates in their final showdown. This fascinating journey into Celtic mythology highlights the connection between the bulls and the Irish Otherwor.Explore more Irish mythology, heritage, and spirituality with us at the Irish Pagan School, and gain access to free resources on Irish culture!✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Es gibt kaum ein Thema, das gerade so kontrovers diskutiert wird wie Labubu. Die einen lieben die kleinen Figuren und hängen sie sich an ihre Louis-Vuitton-Tasche. Die anderen hassen sie. Auf TikTok kursieren sogar Videos, in denen sie zerschnitten werden. Die große Frage: Ist Labubu wirklich Popkultur oder eher ein soziales Experiment, das zeigt, wie stark uns geschicktes Marketing beeinflussen kann?Unser heutiger Gast ist Chris Reitermann. Er ist CEO von Ogilvy und Präsident von WPP China und bereits zum dritten Mal bei uns im Podcast. Wir sprechen mit ihm über den globalen Hype um Pop Mart, künstliche Verknappung als Geschäftsmodell und die Frage, ob chinesische IPs wie Labubu Teil einer neuen kulturellen Softpower sind. Außerdem geht es um die wichtigsten Entwicklungen aus der Werbewelt. Chris berichtet, wie AI, Creator-Economy und Micro-Communities das Marketing in China gerade grundlegend verändern. Er erklärt, wie Plattformen wie TikTok neue Zielgruppen erschließen, warum Amazon in Europa angreifbar wird und welche Rolle AI-Plattformen wie WPP Open in Zukunft spielen.asiabits hier abonnieren: asiabits.comDamians Team kontaktieren: www.genuine-asia.comGast: Chris ReitermannModeratoren & Hosts: Damian Maib & Thomas DerksenSchnitt & Produktion: Eva TrotnoSend us a text

La unión de IPS denuncia que deben elegir entre pagar renta o cubrir la nómina de sus trabajadores. El mensaje es claro: no hay plata y las presiones tributarias del gobierno van en aumento.

Routers, switches, IPs, MAC addresses - if those and dozens of other IT terms sound like different language to you, you're not alone!In this episode of The Offset Podcast we're discussing essential IT vocab, devices and workflows. Of course, in a single episode there is a ton that we can't cover, but if as a creative, IT stuff is confusing to you, than this overview will certainly help. Being conversant with IT terms is a must in modern post production. Some of the specific topics we explore in this show include:Why IT knowledge is essential on lots of levels including communicating with other people in the industryUnderstanding the role of a router and WAN vs LAN connectionsThe role of a switchIP essentials - public IP vs internal IPDHCP vs Static/Fixed IPsVLANS and their role in more complicated network structuresThe value of an IT ecosystem/product integration and a ‘single pane of glass' approachFirewalls and their importance in VLAN setups & incoming/outgoing connectionsExploring network speed and performance options - 1GbE, 10GbE etcUnderstanding jumbo frames/MTU sizeThe role of WIFI in the professional environment Remember, if you like this episode please do us a favor and like and subscribe where ever you find it!

Pacientes Colombia lanzó una alerta sobre lo que han denominado el "cartel del VIH" dentro de las EPS intervenidas por el Gobierno nacional. Denis Silva, portavoz de la organización, ha expuesto que estas aseguradoras están centralizando el manejo de medicamentos en una única IPS, la Fundación Siam, que no reporta información útil ni indicadores de salud adecuados sobre los pacientes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So occasionally one of us will make a joke in-episode where my brain goes “Ding! Fodder for the write up” and then I have time to think on it, flush it out, edit out the dumb bits, or forget my original idea, have it again, and essentially…do the same thing, only faster and more of the dumb bits get left in. Anyway. That happened here and we're doing the second version of it (hence that lead-in sentence being the lead-in.) So, for those who weren't there, there was this time in the early-to-mid 2010s, right around the time A) the movie we're talking about it coming out and B) Nerd/Fandom culture is kinda hitting the apex of where that's going to go, where we loved combining different fandom IPs on t-shirts and mugs and stuff that we could take digital art and print it on. So think things like R2-D2 and C3PO riding on the Tardis, or it's the Pink power ranger with that mean girls quote about wearing pink on Wednesdays, or Link and Zelda riding on Pokémon or whatever. So this joke in the episode led me to wonder if there were any Avengers x Arrested Development shirts like this and after about 10 minutes of internet searching, I'm coming up mostly empty, but I cannot shake the feeling they existed at one point. I can picture it in my mind: Tobias a blue Hulk, Iron Man as Gob using the Aztec Tomb with War Machine as his assistant, Black Widow as Maeby asking Cap where he got his “cross necklace” so she can go on a ski trip, Hawkeye driving the stair car while the Maximoffs ride on the back….yeah. The shirt draws itself. Or it would, if it were 2015 and I had any artistic abilities. Oh well. Anyway, we did an episode about Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's a two-parter. This is the first part. Enjoy.

Ben gets together with other hosts from the Robots Radio Network and talk about a bunch of different IPs. Learn with him as he learns new facts about different series. Make sure to follow us on Twitter at @FFLorecast. Want to suggest a future topic for us on the show? Email us at ⁠fflorecast@gmail.com⁠ Live every Wednesday at 8pm est/5pm pst on ⁠twitch.tv/benoftemeria⁠ New episodes Every Friday! Robot Radio Network Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/AW5Wc4kgZb⁠ Ben and Friends Podcasting Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/DmPZ2NHhFx⁠ Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/FinalFantasyLorecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scerbo's dealing with guilt about taking his Switch 2 back from his kid, Chou's all in on Peak, while Alex is sneaking in Mario Kart World after a long week at the beach!This week, the gang dives deep into the “Stop Killing Games” movement, what happens when online games vanish, who's responsible, and we try to actually come up with some decent solutions! From lost IPs to private server resurrections, we get into it.

Emerging Trends in Privacy, Security, and AIDecentralized, Offline Messaging with BitchatJack Dorsey's Bitchat is a privacy-first messaging app that bypasses internet and servers, using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networking to transmit encrypted, ephemeral messages between nearby devices. It doesn't require phone numbers, accounts, or cloud storage, and messages disappear by default. Bridge devices help extend communication range, making Bitchat ideal for secure, off-grid use.Google Gemini AI and Privacy RisksGemini AI now accesses third-party app data on Android to offer personalized help, such as reading messages or travel plans. This is enabled by default, raising privacy concerns due to the opt-out model. Users can disable this by adjusting settings in the Gemini app and Android assistant preferences, protecting themselves from unwanted data sharing.Stalkerware and the Catwatchful Data BreachStalkerware secretly monitors victims' phones. The Catwatchful breach exposed the inner workings of such an app, leaking over 620,000 files from thousands of Android devices. Sensitive data—including messages, calls, locations, and recordings—was compromised. The incident emphasized the dangers of covert surveillance and the importance of frequent device audits.AT&T's Account Lock Against SIM SwappingTo counter SIM swapping—a fraud tactic for hijacking phone numbers—AT&T introduced Account Lock. Enabled via the myAT&T app, it blocks unauthorized changes to accounts, like SIM swaps or billing info updates. Only primary and secondary account holders can manage the feature, and alerts are sent when changes are attempted.Free IP Address SSL from Let's EncryptLet's Encrypt now offers free TLS/SSL certificates for IP addresses, a feature that previously required paid services. This allows users with static IPs to secure websites via HTTPS without needing a domain name, broadening access to internet security for individuals and small organizations.Debate Over Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)AGI, defined as machine intelligence equal to or exceeding human capability across tasks, remains an ill-defined concept. The lack of consensus complicates investment, regulation, and measurement in the AI field, making it difficult to assess progress or set meaningful policy benchmarks.Microsoft's AI-Based Layoff Support Draws CriticismAfter laying off nearly 1,000 employees, Microsoft suggested affected staff use AI tools like Copilot for emotional support. This move was widely criticized as insensitive and profit-driven, spotlighting the growing unease with replacing human empathy with AI in sensitive situations.

Send us a text✨ Take the Heroes and Villains of Ancient Ulster Class: https://irishpaganschool.com/p/ulsterheroes1Who was the most important druid during the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology? Jon O'Sullivan answers this intriguing question by exploring the life and influence of Cathbad, a pivotal figure in the Ulster Cycle. While often overshadowed by figures like Cú Chulainn or Conchobar mac Nessa, Cathbad played a crucial role in shaping the events that defined this mythological era. Jon delves into how Cathbad's visions, actions, and guidance impacted key figures, from Conchobar's rise to kingship to Cú Chulainn's legendary feats.Discover the power and influence of this often-overlooked druid in ancient Irish mythology.✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Have you ever wondered if souls from other planets are among us, influencing our culture and evolution? In this captivating episode of "Our Paranormal Afterlife: Finding Proof of Life After Death," Simon Bown takes you on an extraordinary journey into the realm of Interplanetary Souls (IPS), as outlined in Dr. Linda Backman's enlightening book, "Soul Design. " Chapter 5 unveils the incredible stories of these unique souls who have chosen to incarnate on Earth, bringing with them advanced skills and profound spiritual purposes that enrich our human experience.Bown shares fascinating insights derived from regression sessions with clients who identify as Interplanetary Souls, revealing the challenges they face, including health issues and emotional struggles that stem from their unfamiliarity with earthly existence. This episode highlights the importance of understanding the journeys of these interplanetary beings and their contributions to human development, while also addressing the physical and emotional obstacles they must overcome. You will hear compelling quotes from clients like Alison, who candidly reflects on her severe health challenges and the spiritual lessons they impart. Additionally, Kyle shares his intriguing past life experiences in a desert city, illustrating the significant role Interplanetary Souls play in shaping humanity's evolution.Join us as we explore the depths of consciousness after death and the evidence of the afterlife through the lens of IPS. This episode is not just about supernatural experiences; it's a profound discussion on spirituality and health, offering alternative health perspectives that challenge conventional views. Simon Bown's engaging narrative will leave you pondering the mysteries of life beyond death and the fascinating paranormal experiences that accompany it.As we delve into the world of afterlife research, you will gain insights into consciousness and the nature of existence, prompting you to reconsider your own beliefs about life after death. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, our exploration of IPS will provide you with thought-provoking perspectives on the journey into the paranormal. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in near-death experiences, mediumship insights, and the ongoing quest for proof of the afterlife.Don't miss this opportunity to expand your understanding of the supernatural and engage with the stories of those who walk among us, bringing wisdom from beyond the stars. Tune in to "Our Paranormal Afterlife: Finding Proof of Life After Death" and embark on a journey that promises to challenge your perceptions and inspire your spiritual exploration.BioDr. Linda Backman, licensed psychologist and regression therapist, has been in private practice for 45 years. Since 1993, Dr. Backman has guided innumerable individuals in regression hypnotherapy to access their past and between lives. In this way, she assists people to more fully recognize who we are as a soul throughout our many lifetimes and during the time we are not incarnate. Regression hypnotherapy allows the client to understand their soul mission, soul progress, soul relationships, and much more. Dr. Backman's work, includes guiding soul regressions, speaking and writing as well as training others in soul regression hypnotherapy both in the US and abroad.Dr. Backman holds a profound commitment to deepening and heightening individual and as well as a more universal understanding and awareness of the path of soul development leading to greater wisdom and acceptance amongst all people and cultures of the world.Linda studied and co-taught with Dr. Michael Newton, author of the seminal books on Life Between Lives regression therapy, and co-created and served on the Founding Board of the Society for Spiritual Regression (now The Newton Institute) as Membership Chair and President. In 1997, Dr. Backman and her husband, Dr. Earl Backman, established The Ravenheart Center (www.RavenHeartCenter.com), a Mystery School in Boulder, Colorado, dedicated to guiding individuals to discover their soul path.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHPPYDNQhttps://www.ravenheartcenter.com/ https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/https://www.patreon.com/ourparanormalafterlifeMy book 'Verified Near Death Experiences' https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXKRGDFP

THAT FLAME THROWER SCENE!! Ballerina: From The World Of John Wick Full Reaction Watch Along:   / thereelrejects   Visit https://huel.com/rejects to get 15% off your order Epic Fight Scenes aboard in Ballerina: John Wick Movie Reaction, Recap, Commentary, Breakdown, Analysis, Spoiler Review, & Ending Explained!! Greg Alba, John Humphrey, and Tara Erickson react to the explosive John Wick spin-off movie Ballerina (2025) starring Ana de Armas (Knives Out, No Time To Die, Blonde) as Rooney, a deadly assassin seeking vengeance. The film also features the return of Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed, John Wick) as John Wick, Ian McShane (Deadwood, American Gods) as Winston, Lance Reddick (The Wire, Fringe) as Charon, Anjelica Huston (The Addams Family, The Royal Tenenbaums) reprising her role as the Director, Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Hereditary) as the new crime boss, Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead, Death Stranding) in a mysterious role, and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace, The Affair). We explore the franchise connections to the John Wick Universe, including the entire saga: John Wick, John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and John Wick: Chapter 4. We discuss the most iconic action sequences, the expansion of the High Table mythology, and what Ballerina means for upcoming spin-offs like The Continental and the highly anticipated John Wick: Chapter 5. We also connect it to recent cinematic universes with shared IPs, touching on the unique choreography, world-building, and the emotional stakes of the Ballerina story. Join us as we dive into the adrenaline, the ballet of violence, and the next chapter in the John Wick legacy! Follow Tara Erickson: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaraErickson Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taraerickson/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/thetaraerickson Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textHistorically, Saint and Jim have railed against the idea of reboots, especially as compared to original IPs — especially ones that might never get made in favor of recycled rehash. However, even your curmudgeonly co-hosts must grudgingly admit that, at least on occasion, sometimes the creative types don't get it right until the second try. On this edition of FYF, the guys kick off the first edition of the three-episode Trilogy of Triumph by looking at reboots of movies and TV shows that were arguably better than the originals. From "A Star is Born" to "Dune" and even "Scarface", these reb- wait, "Scarface" was a redux? You're kidding. Wow! The Al Pacino one? Okay, that's interesting. Clearly, this one has some surprises in store. So saddle up and lend us your earholes for a look at some retreads that actually delivered.

Send us a text✨Take the Class Here:  Cú Chulainn - A Life of Stories https://irishpaganschool.com/p/cuchulainn1Is Cú Chulainn a true tragic hero, or is his story more complicated than it seems? In this insightful video, Jon O'Sullivan of the Irish Pagan School delves into the myths and historical contexts surrounding one of Ireland's most famous figures, Cú Chulainn (Setanta Mac Súaltam).Often romanticised as a paragon of heroism, Cú Chulainn's tale reveals darker layers of violence, manipulation, and tragic choices, making him more of a tragic figure than a hero. Jon examines the Ulster Cycle and the cultural upbringing that shaped Cú Chulainn into a complex character who was ultimately a product of his violent society.Discover the deeper truths behind this iconic figure of Irish mythology and how his legacy has been used throughout history. If you're curious about the real story of Cú Chulainn, Jon also offers a full class, "Cú Chulainn: A Life of Stories," available at the Irish Pagan School.✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Wie werden bestehende IPs, also Bücher, Filme oder Serien, zu Rollenspielen adaptiert? Was sind die Tücken des Lizenzgeschäfts, und wo die Herausforderungen im Design? Dazu ist Thomas Michalski, der Verlagsleiter von Ulisses Spiele, bei uns zu Gast.

In episode 118 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Pat Marino, game developer and Director of Hobby Games for The Op about capturing the excitement of the Cuphead video game in a unique tabletop experience that resonated with existing fans and the board game community. They explore what it takes to work with licensed IPs including navigating the approval process, scouting at licensing expos, and creating contract terms and timelines. Pat also breaks down the importance of designing for different player types (completionists, story-driven players, challenge-seekers, etc.), and how offering multiple gameplay options can make a game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone at the table. Featuring:  Pat Marino - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

Jurandir Filho, Thiago Siqueira, Rogério Montanare e Fernanda Schmölz batem um papo sobre os remakes de filmes que não precisavam existir. A indústria do cinema tem um fascínio antigo por remakes (a prática de refazer filmes antigos com uma nova roupagem, novos atores, e, muitas vezes, um polimento visual mais moderno). Desde os primórdios de Hollywood, obras consagradas já ganhavam novas versões poucos anos após seus lançamentos. O que antes era uma forma de revisitar clássicos sob novas perspectivas ou adaptar histórias para novas gerações, se tornou, nas últimas décadas, uma espécie de vício da indústria.Mas por que tantos remakes? A resposta está, como quase sempre, no fator financeiro. Hollywood, e a indústria do entretenimento como um todo, prefere apostar em propriedades intelectuais já conhecidas pelo público — as famosas “IPs”. Se um filme já tem reconhecimento e nostalgia atrelados a ele, os executivos enxergam isso como uma oportunidade mais segura de lucro do que investir em ideias originais. O público já começa a mostrar sinais de cansaço. Afinal, para que refazer algo que já era bom, quando há tantos roteiros novos esperando para ver a luz do projetor?|| ASSINE O SALA VIP DO RAPADURACAST- Um podcast EXCLUSIVO do RapaduraCast toda semana! http://patreon.com/rapaduracast

Investor interest is shifting toward emerging consumer trends, such as trendy IP-driven toys, the booming pet economy, and a rise of guochao gold jewelry and innovative tea brands, which are expected to become the next breakout consumption stories. 投资者的关注点正转向新兴消费趋势，如 IP 驱动的潮流玩具、蓬勃发展的宠物经济，以及国潮黄金珠宝和创新茶饮品牌的崛起，这些领域有望成为下一个突破性的消费热点。 Since the second quarter, shares of several new consumption companies have posted large gains, including Pop Mart, Laopu Gold and China Pet Foods. 自第二季度以来，多家新消费公司的股价大幅上涨，包括泡泡玛特、老铺黄金和中宠股份。 For example, fashionable gold jewelry, once considered traditional, has become a hot pursuit for young consumers who seek self-pleasure — a term used in China to describe individual-driven consumption for personal satisfaction. 例如，曾经被视为传统的时尚黄金珠宝，已成为追求 “自我愉悦” 的年轻消费者的热门之选 ——“自我愉悦” 在中国指的是为个人满足感而驱动的消费行为。 That trend is lifting names like CHJ Jewellery, whose shares have jumped 75.7 percent since April and about 189 percent since last year. 这一趋势推动着诸如潮宏基珠宝等品牌的发展，其股价自 4 月以来上涨了 75.7%，自去年以来涨幅约 189%。 CHJ has expanded aggressively even as broader retail growth slows. In 2025, it pushed into international markets by opening stores in Cambodia's Aeon Mall Phnom Penh, which the company said has laid the groundwork for its global ambitions. 即便整体零售增长放缓，潮宏基仍在积极扩张。2025 年，该公司通过在柬埔寨金边永旺购物中心开店进军国际市场，称这为其全球野心奠定了基础。Chow Tai Seng Jewellery has also reported expansion. On June 19, the company announced the opening of seven new self-operated stores in May, focused on plain gold and inlaid jewelry products. 周大生珠宝也宣布了扩张计划。6 月 19 日，该公司宣布 5 月新开设了七家自营店，主要销售素金和镶嵌珠宝产品。 The pet economy, another key pillar of new consumption, is also attracting institutional attention. Hangzhou Tianyuan Pet Products, a leading player in the segment, sells pet beds, cat trees, toys and electronic gear, reflecting rising consumer expectations for pet companionship as a lifestyle. Tianyuan has rallied 40.6 percent since April, driven by growing demand for pet lifestyle upgrades — from smart devices and clothing to gourmet food. 宠物经济作为新消费的另一大支柱，也在吸引机构关注。该领域龙头企业杭州天元宠物用品销售宠物床、猫爬架、玩具和电子设备，反映出消费者将宠物陪伴视为一种生活方式的期望日益提升。受宠物生活方式升级需求（从智能设备、服装到 gourmet 食品）增长的推动，天元宠物自 4 月以来股价上涨了 40.6%。 According to market research agency Mintel, China's urban pet market reached 279.3 billion yuan ($38.9 billion) in 2023 and is forecast to grow steadily — albeit at a slower pace — through 2029. 根据市场研究机构英敏特的数据，2023 年中国城市宠物市场规模达 2793 亿元（389 亿美元），预计到 2029 年将稳步增长（尽管增速放缓）。 Victoria Li, associate director of lifestyles and trends at Mintel China, said, "With more single-person households, an aging population, and a 'low-desire lifestyle' taking hold, pets are becoming emotional anchors in the lives of younger consumers." 英敏特中国生活方式与趋势副总监李维多利亚表示：“随着单身家庭增多、人口老龄化以及‘低欲望生活方式'的盛行，宠物正成为年轻消费者生活中的情感寄托。” The pet food market alone is expected to reach 76.3 billion yuan by 2029 even as growth moderates into single digits, said Li. 李维多利亚称，即便增长放缓至个位数，仅宠物食品市场规模到 2029 年也有望达到 763 亿元。 In a recent report, Guosen Securities outlined seven macro trends that are reshaping China's consumer investment logic: digital consumption, self-pleasing consumption (such as personal care), emotional-value consumption (including pets and the guzi economy), health-oriented products, the convenience economy (like instant meals and on-demand delivery), value-for-money substitutes, and new identity-driven trends such as guochao and sustainability. 国信证券在最近的一份报告中概述了重塑中国消费投资逻辑的七大宏观趋势：数字消费、自我愉悦消费（如个护）、情感价值消费（包括宠物和 “谷子经济”）、健康导向产品、便利经济（如即食餐和按需配送）、性价比替代品，以及国潮和可持续性等新身份驱动趋势。 BA Capital, a leading consumer-focused private equity firm in China, has backed brands including Pop Mart, Laopu Gold, and Urban Revivo. The firm describes a key demographic tailwind it calls the "Aesthetic Generation" — younger consumers raised amid material abundance who are both willing and able to pay for design, storytelling and immersive brand experiences. 中国领先的消费领域私募股权公司 BA Capital 曾投资泡泡玛特、老铺黄金和 URBAN REVIVO 等品牌。该公司将其称为 “审美一代” 的关键人口结构红利描述为：在物质充裕环境中成长的年轻消费者，既愿意也有能力为设计、品牌故事和沉浸式体验付费。 That sentiment is backed by Mintel. According to Victoria Li at Mintel China, 45 percent of consumers — rising to 51 percent among high-income groups — said that limited-edition collaborations with beloved IPs or collectible toys significantly enhance brand appeal. But the deeper shift, she said, is in the emotional architecture of consumption itself. 这一观点得到英敏特的支持。英敏特中国的李维多利亚指出，45% 的消费者（高收入群体中升至 51%）表示，与热门 IP 的联名限量款或收藏玩具会显著提升品牌吸引力。但她表示，更深层的转变在于消费本身的情感架构。 "For Gen Z, trendy toys are no longer toys — they're cultural shorthand for identity, values and taste," Li said. "In today's market, emotional resonance, symbolic meaning and scarcity can outweigh the material product itself." “对 Z 世代而言，潮流玩具不再只是玩具 —— 它们是身份、价值观和品味的文化缩写，” 李维多利亚说，“在当今市场，情感共鸣、象征意义和稀缺性可能比物质产品本身更重要。” 重点词汇 IP-driven toys /ˌaɪ ˈpiː ˈdrɪvən tɔɪz/ IP 驱动玩具 pet economy /pet ɪˈkɑːnəmi/ 宠物经济 guochao gold jewelry /ˈɡwɔː tʃaʊ ɡoʊld ˈdʒuːəlri/ 国潮黄金珠宝 self-pleasing consumption /self ˈpliːzɪŋ kənˈsʌmpʃn/ 自我愉悦消费

Universal is doubling down on pop-culture firepower with the enormously popular gaming IPs of Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy's confirmed for this year's Halloween Horror Nights. They're also charging superfans $350 for “Premium Scream Night,” a ticketed dress rehearsal.  With massive IPs and superfans willing to pay premium prices just to attend a dress rehearsal, how can smaller attractions compete? Thirteenth Floor and Winchester Mystery House might have an answer with "Festival Fright Nights." The event will transform the labyrinthine Winchester Mystery House into a Halloween event with three haunted houses and entertainment. The key is the immersive storyline, which sets the event in 1924 and utilizes the mansion's backdrop and history, showing that smaller venues can out-maneuver giant budgets by weaponizing authenticity and location. Philip and Scott unpack what these parallel strategies signal about Halloween's next arms race—premium previews, IP one-upmanship, and how regional haunts can lean into their unique assets instead of chasing billion-dollar licenses. Catch the gloves-off follow-up in Green Tagged Unhinged on Patreon. 

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In this episode of the Fortress of Comic News, hosts Chris and Mike welcome guest Marguerite Bennett to discuss her work in comics, including DC Bombshells and her current projects. The conversation reflects on the evolution of comic trends, particularly in relation to Magic: The Gathering and the changing market dynamics. They also delve into recent announcements from DC Studios, including Tom King's involvement in a new Mr. Miracle animated series, and share their thoughts on the latest season of The Last of Us. The hosts provide movie and TV recommendations, discuss exciting updates about the He-Man movie, and review the trailer for the upcoming Toxic Avenger film. The episode concludes with a discussion on new comic releases, including a Red Hood series and a fresh take on Arthurian legends with Children of the Round Table. In this episode, the hosts delve into the latest comic book news, discussing new IPs, the upcoming Batman number one with its numerous variants, and various new series announcements from Image Comics and Dark Horse. They also explore the return of classic characters like The Phantom from Mad Cave Studios and share their thoughts on recent comic book reviews, highlighting both the excitement and critiques surrounding the latest releases.In this engaging conversation, hosts Chris and Mike welcome creators Marguerite Bennett and Bev Johnson to discuss their new all-ages comic book, 'Flash Gordon: The Girl from Infinity.' They explore the creative process behind the book, the challenges of writing for a younger audience, and the importance of balancing respect for the original Flash Gordon legacy with modern storytelling. The discussion also delves into the artistic inspirations that shaped the book's vibrant visuals, the emotional depth of character design, and the potential for future stories in the Flash Gordon universe. Ultimately, the creators emphasize the joy of reading and the magic of storytelling for children.https://papercutz.com/graphic-novels/flash-gordon-the-girl-from-infinity/?srsltid=AfmBOoqJibDJrGC4ZMddjkj0kN2RvCccFIqOsV48sl_byBf5wL87sJctMarguerite Bennett's Socials X - @EvilMarguerite Instagram - @ EvilMarguerite Bev Johnson's Socials X - @BeverlyLove Instagram - @BeverlyLove BlueSky - @bevsi.bsky.socialComics we discuss in this episode:Ghost Rider vs. Galactus #1The New Avengers #1Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #5I Hate Fairyland #41Batman: Dark Patterns #7Superman Unlimited #2One World Under Doom #5Geiger #15Aquaman #6Absolute Batman #9Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2Godzilla vs. Avengers #1Umbrella Academy: Plan B #1Foolkiller #6The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man #2Umbrella Academy Vol. 2: DallasUmbrella Academy Vol. 3: Hotel OblivionGet your Fortress Comics merchandise with the link belowhttps://www.teepublic.com/user/fortress-comicsFortressofComicNews.comhttps://chriscomicscorner.substack.com/YouTube.com/FortressComicsFind Chris: https://bio.site/chrisrundtMike twitter @fortressrickerMike's Comic Bone Graft:https://globalcomix.com/c/bentbox-shorts/chapters/en/4/1Patreon.com/FortressComicshttps://www.tiktok.com/@chriscomicscornerThanks for Listening!#marvel #marvelcomics #mcu #dccomics #comicbooks #comicnews #podcast #indiecomics #batman

Send us a text✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/freeIs the Dearg Dú Ireland's very own vampire legend? In this video, Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores the terrifying folklore surrounding the Dearg Dú, a revenant said to rise from the grave to seek revenge and drain the life force of her victims. Originating in County Waterford, this undead woman's tragic backstory of love, betrayal, and vengeance makes her one of the most horrifying figures in Irish mythology. Learn the lore behind the Dearg Dú, her connections to other supernatural beings like the leannán sí and the Scottish Baobhan Sith, and how modern vampire myths like Dracula may share roots with these ancient Irish stories.✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

In this episode of Cross Button VR, host Reece welcomes AndresPlays (https://linktr.ee/andresplays93) a games writer and content creator, to discuss their shared passion for virtual reality. They explore Andres journey into VR, the emotional impact of immersive experiences, and the excitement of discovering new genres. The conversation also touches on favorite VR games, the importance of original IPs, and the challenges of performance in VR gaming. As they wrap up, they reflect on the future of VR and the need for more innovative titles-Meta Quest Affiliate: 10% off all Quest Games Here - https://tinyurl.com/39mxmkcvAll links, including Discord: https://linktr.ee/crossbuttonvrChapters00:00 Introduction to VR and Podcasting Journey03:02 AndresPlays: Background and Entry into VR05:58 The Magic of VR Experiences09:02 Passion for VR: What Keeps It Alive?12:04 Exploring New Genres in VR15:07 Favorite VR Games and Experiences18:00 Future of VR: Hopes and Expectations21:03 The Importance of Original IPs in VR23:58 Quality and Performance in VR Games27:00 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations29:59 Exploring Gaming Preferences and Time Management36:37 Critique of VR Game Reviews and Industry Trends51:38 Community Reactions and the Future of VR Gaming01:02:30 Exploring Immersive Learning in VR01:03:57 Upcoming PSVR2 Titles and Developer Support01:07:53 Charming Experiences: Escaping Wonderland and More01:11:01 Meta's Strategic Changes and Impact on VR01:18:09 The Future of Beat Saber and PSVR201:25:43 Recent Game Experiences: Maestro and Hitman VR

VOV1 - Nâng cao chất lượng dịch vụ công trực tuyến trong bối cảnh mới sẽ là nhu cầu tất yếu trong cải cách hành chính. Đây là nội dung tại Tọa đàm do Viện Nghiên cứu Chính sách và Phát triển Truyền thông (IPS) phối hợp với Chương trình phát triển Liên Hợp Quốc (UNDP) tại Việt Nam tổ chức:

In this episode, we sit down with Wes Keltner, founder & CEO of Gun Interactive, to unpack how his Lexington-grown studio turned cult-classic horror IPs like Friday the 13th and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre into viral, multiplayer blockbusters. Wes walks us through his “make fear fun” philosophy, his jouney from Second Life storefronts to server-melting game launches, and how a network of Kentucky investors helped build a global horror-gaming powerhouse from Lexington.Expect to learn why asymmetrical multiplayer makes horror so addictive, how Gun mixes Hollywood partnerships with Kickstarter-style funding to de-risk launches, what it takes to scale servers when 7x more players show up than expected, and how community-driven design keeps fans glued between updates.Middle Tech is proudly supported by:KY Innovation → kyinnovation.com

Send us a text✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/freeIs the Headless Horseman part of Irish mythology? Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores this question by delving into Irish folklore about the Dullahan, a fearsome, headless rider often connected with death omens like the cóiste bodhar, or the Silent Death Coach. Discover the origins of the Dullahan, its role in ancient Irish tales, and how this terrifying figure differs from other similar myths, including Sleepy Hollow's Headless Horseman. Learn what happens when a Dullahan speaks your name and the significance of crossing a river in escaping its wrath. Jon also shares personal supernatural experiences with death messengers and provides historical references from the Duchas folklore collection.Whether you're curious about mythological creatures or keen to deepen your knowledge of Irish folklore, this video offers a fascinating dive into the dark lore of the Dullahan. For more information and free resources, visit the Irish Pagan School website.✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Send us a text✨SAMHRADH – SUMMER SOLSTICE IN IRELAND - https://irishpagan.school/summer-solstice-ireland/In this video, Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School discusses the significance of the summer solstice in Irish Paganism. He explains what the summer solstice is and its importance in Irish culture, both historically and in modern practices. Jon highlights the connections between ancient traditions and contemporary celebrations, such as midsummer festivals and bonfires. He also emphasizes the value of engaging with ancestral practices to enrich one's spiritual journey. ✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

EP 247. ... and in this update, Microsoft has updated Windows Hello to require both infrared and color cameras for facial authentication, improving security by addressing a spoofing vulnerability, though it now requires visible lighting. This increases biometric reliability and inconvenience to users in low-light settings. Consider exploring alternative operating systems like Linux for flexible authentication options. Aim Labs identified and helped patch 'EchoLeak,' a zero-click vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Copilot that risked data exfiltration via malicious emails, highlighting the need for stonking great AI guardrails.Denmark is shifting from Microsoft Office and Windows to LibreOffice and Linux to enhance digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign technology, driven by security, economic, and geopolitical priorities.Chinese AI companies are bypassing U.S. chip export controls by processing data in third countries like Malaysia, using suitcases of hard drives to transport AI-training data.Mattel has teamed up with OpenAI to develop AI-enhanced toys, promising safe, engaging, and age-appropriate experiences, with the first product set to launch later this year.Apple's new passkey import/export feature, built on FIDO Alliance standards, enables secure credential transfers across platforms, boosting interoperability while maintaining biometric security.This advances user convenience and cross-ecosystem flexibility. Now you can adopt passkeys to streamline secure authentication across your devices and platforms. A data broker owned by major U.S. airlines sold passenger flight data to DHS, prompting privacy concerns as agencies track travel without disclosing data sources.WhatsApp will begin displaying ads in its Updates section, using limited user data like location for targeting, while preserving end-to-end encryption for chats and messages.INTERPOL's Operation Secure dismantled over 20,000 malicious IPs linked to 69 malware variants, arresting 32 suspects and seizing significant data to curb phishing and fraud.Find the full transcript for this podcast here.

Looking for daily inspiration?  Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning.   Tired of outdated systems holding your attraction back? Gatemaster believes technology is part of the experience, transforming every touchpoint into an opportunity. Imagine seamless online booking, effortless mobile ordering, and data-driven insights at your fingertips. Ready to revolutionize your guest journey and maximize revenue? Power your attraction with Gatemaster. Discover the future at Gatemaster.com. When a new theme park opens, it's more than a ribbon-cutting—it's a generational milestone. With the debut of Universal's Epic Universe, the attractions industry sees its most significant park opening in the United States in over two decades. In this episode, Matt and Josh talk about the immersive design, emotional resonance, operational innovations, and friction points of Epic Universe—reflecting on their respective visits and unpacking the guest experience from both a fan and professional perspective. A Landmark for the Industry “This is the newest major theme park to open, not just in Central Florida but the largest new theme park to open in the country in the last quarter century.” Matt and Josh reflect on how Epic Universe represents a once-in-a-generation event. The sheer scale, technology, and artistic vision mark a pivotal point for theme park development. From Celestial Park's community-like aesthetic to the themed portals, the park feels intentional and deeply considered. The duo also draws parallels between industry advancements and their personal excitement as fans, recognizing that few other sectors experience a $7 billion innovation that also thrills millions of people. Immersion and Emotional Connection “The second I walked through the portal into Nintendo, I felt like I was spit out through the green pipe and I was right in my childhood.” Josh and Matt compare their emotional connections with the IPs represented in Epic Universe's lands. Josh describes how Super Nintendo World transported him back to childhood, while Matt—less attached to the brand—found the land visually stunning even though it was less personally engaging. Both agree that attractions like Stardust Racers and Monsters Unchained push boundaries in guest immersion. Matt praises how Dark Universe's street character Eigor connects thematically to the ride experience, blurring the line between streetmosphere and narrative continuity. Operational Wins and Friction Points “It was the most seamless locker experience I've ever had... until it wasn't.” While Epic Universe delivers next-gen technology like facial recognition lockers and mobile food ordering, not every implementation is flawless. Josh describes a frustrating locker bay issue that caused a substantial delay. Similarly, Matt notes mobile ordering hiccups and virtual queue limitations, particularly for the Ministry of Magic ride. However, both highlight excellent guest service, including a team member in the Isle of Berk who delivered proactive communication and compassion amid uncertain show schedules. The Re-experience Factor “It's a park that is absolutely re-experiencable... you get that repeat visitation feeling.” Matt and Josh both emphasize Epic Universe's lasting impact. It's not just a one-time visit—it's a park that demands exploration over time. With hidden details, evolving guest flow strategies, and high emotional engagement, Epic Universe offers a compelling case study in how to merge immersive storytelling with thoughtful operations. Matt and Josh applaud the Universal team for crafting a park that has already made history.   Have you visited Epic Universe?  Let us know your thoughts!   This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team:   Audio and Video editing by Abby Giganan   To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com AttractionPros@gmail.com AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)  

Interpol's Operation Secure dismantles a major cybercrime network, and Singapore takes down scam centers. GitLab patches multiple vulnerabilities in its DevSecOps platform. Researchers unveil a covert method for exfiltrating data using smartwatches. EchoLeak allows for data exfiltration from Microsoft Copilot. Journalists are confirmed targets of Paragon's Graphite spyware. France calls for comments on tracking pixels. Fog ransomware operators deploy an unusual mix of tools. Skeleton Spider targets recruiters by posing as job seekers on LinkedIn and Indeed. Erie Insurance suffers ongoing outages following a cyberattack. Our N2K Lead Analyst Ethan Cook shares insights on Trump's antitrust policies. DNS neglect leads to AI subdomain exploits. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today, we share a selection from today's Caveat podcast where Dave Bittner and Ben Yelin are joined by N2K's Lead Analyst, Ethan Cook, to take a Policy Deep Dive into “The art of the breakup: Trump's antitrust surge.” You can listen to the full episode here and find new episodes of Caveat in your favorite podcast app each Thursday.   Selected Reading Interpol takes down 20,000 malicious IPs and domains (Cybernews) Singapore leads multinational operation to shutter scam centers tied to $225 million in thefts (The Record) GitLab patches high severity account takeover, missing auth issues (Bleeping Computer) SmartAttack uses smartwatches to steal data from air-gapped systems (Bleeping Computer) Critical vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Copilot AI called EchoLeak enabled data exfiltration (Beyond Machines) Researchers confirm two journalists were hacked with Paragon spyware (TechCrunch) Tracking pixels: CNIL launches public consultation on its draft recommendation (CNIL) Fog ransomware attack uses unusual mix of legitimate and open-source tools (Bleeping Computer) FIN6 cybercriminals pose as job seekers on LinkedIn to hack recruiters (The Record) Erie Insurance confirms cyberattack behind business disruptions (Bleeping Computer) Why Was Nvidia Hosting Blogs About 'Brazilian Facesitting Fart Games'? (404 Media)  Secure your public DNS presence from subdomain takeovers and dangling DNS exploits (Silent Push) Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The IPS evening deprogram, broadcast live on June 9th, 2025, aims to cultivate "informed disbelievers as an alternative to low information belief". The host emphasizes that their goal is not to program anyone, but quite the opposite.The episode covers a range of topics, including:An Incident at the Office: The host recounts an event from the previous night where someone broke a bottom, north-facing window at their office, possibly by knocking over a cement ashtray fixture. While it could have been an accident and no one broke in, the host notes the timing and considers it potentially a message, suggesting the possibility of tampering with their computer or social media accounts. They haven't ruled out anything, including it being a "nothing burger".Critique of Official History and Media: The core philosophy of the deprogram is that a significant amount of news is influenced by "influence operations, psychological operations, and outright fakery simulations and lies". The host asserts that broadcast media is erroneously treated as an objective source, and that news being faked is a method of controlling history by writing it in advance.Predictive Programming and Numerical Patterns: The discussion frequently highlights how current events, like 9/11 and the 3/11/2020 pandemic declaration, were preceded by "predictive programming" and "psychological operations". The host details numerous numerical and symbolic alignments:Trump and Associated Symbolism: Donald Trump is frequently mentioned in relation to the current events and predictive programming:Nature of Reality and "Idol Magic": The host delves into the idea that reality might be a "simulation" or a "video game" orchestrated by a "higher power" due to the "endless, meaningful alignments and coincidences". They dismiss the idea that "man couldn't do this" but suggest a "structural evil" is built into the system. The concept of "idol magic" is explored, where focused attention on objects like phones gives them "life" or energy, potentially making them "soul parasites".The George Floyd Event as a PSYOP: The host analyzes the George Floyd event as a "PSYOP" with ritualistic and scripted elements, emphasizing numerical alignments like 8:46 AM (first plane hit on 9/11) and its connection to the sunset, symbolizing the "dismembering of the sun king". The names involved (Derek Chauvinist/hangman) and visual elements (golden caskets, Covid poster) are also highlighted as part of a symbolic narrative of "oppressor oppressed" class warfare. The factory in Twin Cities producing "hyper-realistic training dolls" that simulated respiratory distress and the "big floppy rubber doll" in the ambulance footage are presented as evidence of staging.Current "Staged" Events and Deepfakes: The episode discusses ongoing riots in Los Angeles against ICE and Trump, characterizing them as "made for TV riots" and "staged". The host critiques mainstream media's portrayal of these events as "mostly peaceful protests". They warn against assuming things are "live or real" due to the prevalence of AI-generated content and recycled videos from 2020, predicting a "summer of deepfakes".The "Truman Show": The host frequently uses the metaphor of the "Truman Show" to describe the collective reality, where people are programmed by default and unaware of the "misinformation floods". The only way to "exit the Truman Show" is to maintain a skeptical and subtractive view.The host also shares personal anecdotes from his past work in mortuaries, contrasting real-life reactions to death with the "acting" observed in televised "crisis actor" events. The episode concludes by emphasizing the consistent patterns and escalation of events according to an underlying script, urging listeners to remain aware and discerning.

On this episode of Heard Tell, host Andrew talks with our friend and certified film critic Luis Mendez of the Mendez Movie Report on why this year's box officeis way up from last year's historically bad Memorial Day weekend to this year's historically great one. Plus, we talk about why live action remakes are controversial with critics but audiences make up their own minds, Snow White's failure vs Lilo & Stitchs success, the upcoming How To Train Your Dragon, and why the genre isn't going away. Also, we talk about the business that is Disney, why cultural currency is vital to movie franchises and IPs, some film reviews, and more.All that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.--------------------Heard Tell SubStack Free to subscribe, comes right to your inboxhttps://heardtell.substack.com/Questions, comments, concerns, ideas, or epistles? Email us HeardTellShow@gmail.comPlease follow @HeardTellShow like the program, comment with your thoughts, and share with others.Support Heard Tell here: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/4b87f374-cace-44ea-960c-30f9bf37bcff/donationsAll that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.--------------------Heard Tell SubStack Free to subscribe, comes right to your inboxhttps://heardtell.substack.com/Questions, comments, concerns, ideas, or epistles? Email us HeardTellShow@gmail.comPlease follow @HeardTellShow like the program, comment with your thoughts, and share with others.Support Heard Tell here: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/4b87f374-cace-44ea-960c-30f9bf37bcff/donationsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/heard-tell/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Send us a text✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/freeIn this fascinating exploration of Irish mythology, Jon O'Sullivan of the Irish Pagan School delves into the lore of the King of Cats, a prominent figure in Irish folklore and the mysterious cat sídhe of the Otherworld. Discover how this legendary feline ruler and his subjects appear in stories both adversarial and supportive, and what their role is in the ancient Irish tradition. Jon covers different folk tales from Ireland, such as encounters with the King of Cats by unsuspecting humans, stories of talking cats gathering to report news to their ruler, and the supernatural cat sídhe.Is there really a King of Cats, and what role does he play in Irish myth? Watch to find out!For more fascinating insights into Irish folklore and spirituality, visit Irish Pagan School and explore a variety of free resources!✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Since Ubisoft won't release official sales data for Assassin's Creed Shadows, internet sleuths have put together their best guess, and it's not good. We discuss the lackluster sales along with fan reactions to Ciri being the protagonist and a witcher in the upcoming Witcher IV, author Brandon Sanderson showing an example of how Hollywood purposefully butchers TV and movie versions of beloved IPs, Take Two's removal of queer-focused efforts from its annual report, Nintendo's removal of gender from Miis, and Debra Wilson voice acting as someone who actually doesn't look like her for once.

Send us a text✨Take the Class Heroes and Villains of Ancient Connacht - https://irishpaganschool.com/p/connachtheroes1Was Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht truly just a jealous woman, or is there more to her story?In this episode, Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores the often misunderstood character of Queen Medb from the Táin Bó Cuailnge. Exploring her motivations, Jon reveals the complexities of Medb's character beyond the superficial image of envy and jealousy.He explains the dynamics of her marriage to Ailill, the significance of her equality demands, and how the famous bull, Donn Cuailnge, was central to her maintaining status as Queen of Connacht. Uncover the real reasons behind Medb's actions in the Ulster Cycle and how her story has been misrepresented through the ages.Learn more about the fascinating figures of Irish mythology and explore Jon's class on the heroes and villains of ancient Connacht at the Irish Pagan School.✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/free✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

Send us a text✨ FREE LEARNING RESOURCES FOR A YEAR! - https://irishpagan.school/freeAre there Irish creatures in mythology that can cause you to die of fright? In this fascinating video, Jon O'Sullivan from the Irish Pagan School explores the terrifying myth of the Geniti Glinni, spectral beings known as the "spirits of the valley." Discover how these otherworldly entities are said to have the power to physically and psychologically overwhelm even the bravest of warriors.Jon delves into two key sources: the tale of "Fled Bricrenn" (Bricriu's Feast) and the epic "Táin Bó Cuailgne" (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), uncovering the ways these spirits interact with heroes like Cuchulain. Learn how these stories depict creatures that not only cause physical harm but can also invoke such terror that they can literally frighten people to death.If you're intrigued by Irish mythology's darker side, this video is a must-watch. Don't forget to check out more in-depth courses and free resources available at the Irish Pagan School!✨ Irish Pagan Resources Checklist available NOW - https://irishpagan.school/checklist/

IPS DEPROGRAM 6/1/25 News Bending PsyopsThe episode began with the host announcing the launch of a new AI agent called the IPS stenographer in the Discord server. This bot is designed to automatically summarize the latest comments and create infographics every four hours, posting them in a dedicated summary room. Users can also get a synopsis on demand using a specific command. The host mentioned previously doing this manually and used ChatGPT and Grok to help automate the process. They noted that Grok can elaborate on prompts and assisted in activating the bot on Discord.A core theme of the discussion is the analysis of current events and media through the lens of predictive programming and a concept called the "meta script," which is described as the big story that becomes history. The host views media, including movie trailers and news, as different forms of propaganda – entertainment propaganda parallel to information propaganda – that are interconnected and reveal a larger narrative. By looking at these things holistically, they aim to arrive at subtexts and bigger pictures.The conversation delved into numerous examples and recurring symbols observed in media and events:Movie trailers discussed included Sinners, Mickey 17, Captain America: Brave New World, Fantastic Four, Final Destination: Bloodlines, The Home, and Welcome to Derry.Recurring symbols and themes highlighted were the Space Needle (linked to EMP, the Electronic Music Project, movie plots, and the sinking of the West), EMP events, the eye/iris and needle into the eye (appearing in movie posters and montages), three pillars/masts (seen in the International Hotel, Space Needle, and a Mexican Navy ship), space interpreted as inner space or mind control, the sinking of America or the West (symbolized by the Titanic, the boat hitting the bridge, the Space Needle, and One World Trade Tower), and various numbers and dates (such as 6-11, 11-6, 84, 216, and 33).Specific events analyzed through this lens included the Trump shooting in Butler (linked to the Riddler, Ave Maria, and specific numbers), a Mexican Navy ship hitting the Brooklyn Bridge (noting the three masts and the death of a cadet named America), the East Palestine train derailment (compared to the Netflix movie White Noise and recent lawsuits against BlackRock and Vanguard), the JFK assassination (connected to Trump symbolism, dates, Macbeth, and a home movie allegedly showing his "death"), and the Reagan shooting (noting the 33-year delay in James Brady's death being ruled a homicide).The host discussed the concept of the "auto-hoaxer" and observed media attempts to frame it negatively. They also touched on "Psychic Driving", the "political horseshoe theory" as a deliberately implemented model, and interpreting world events through the lens of WWE kayfabe.The host mentioned the upcoming release of PSYOP trading cards.

In the midst of the terrible Trump tax bill moving through Congress, Ralph invites Sarah Anderson who directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies to discuss the massive tax loopholes huge companies like Amazon get that allow them to pay far less in taxes than ordinary working people. Then, Greg LeRoy from Good Jobs First joins us to discuss how state taxpayers are footing the bill for these massive data centers companies like Google are building all over the country. Plus, Ralph has some choice words for passive unions and responds to listener feedback about our guest last week, Nadav Wieman.Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and is a co-editor of the IPS website Inequality.org. Her research covers a wide range of international and domestic economic issues, including inequality, CEO pay, taxes, labor, and Wall Street reform.They're (Congress is) planning to give huge new tax giveaways to large corporations like Amazon and wealthy people like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. And partially paying for those tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing programs that mean so much to so many Americans like Medicaid and food assistance.”Sarah AndersonWe're not going to have a healthy, thriving society and economy as long as we have the extreme levels of inequality that we have today.Sarah AndersonDubbed “the leading national watchdog of state and local economic development subsidies,” “an encyclopedia of information regarding subsidies,” “God's witness to corporate welfare,” and “the OG of ensuring that state and local tax policy actually supports good jobs, sustainability, and equity,”* Greg founded Good Jobs First in 1998 upon winning the Public Interest Pioneer Award. He has trained and consulted for state and local governments, associations of public officials, labor-management committees, unions, community groups, tax and budget watchdogs, environmentalists, and smart growth advocates more than 30 years.Public education and public health are the two biggest losers in every state giving away money to data centers right now.Greg Le RoyWe know of no other form of state spending that is so out of control. Therefore, we recommend that states cancel their data center tax exemptions. Such subsidies are absolutely unnecessary for an extremely profitable industry dominated by some of the most valuable corporations on earth such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and Google.Good Jobs First report: “Cloudy With a Loss of Spending Control”They've (Congress has) known for years that the ordinary worker pays a higher tax rate than these loophole-ridden corporations.Ralph NaderIn my message to Trump, I ask him, "Why is he afraid of Netanyahu? And doesn't he want to come to the rescue of these innocent babies by saying, ‘Mr. Netanyahu, the taxpayers in this country are paying for thousands of trucks stalled at the border of Gaza full of medicine, food, water, electricity, fuel, and other critical necessities? We're going to put a little American flag on each one of these trucks, and don't you dare block them.'”…No answer.Ralph NaderNews 5/23/251. It seems as though the dam in Israeli politics against acknowledging the horrors in Gaza is beginning to break. In an interview with the BBC this week, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that what Israel "is currently doing in Gaza is very close to a war crime. Thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed.” He went on to say, “the war has no objective and has no chance of achieving anything that could save the lives of the hostages.” These quotes come from the Jerusalem Post. And on May 21st, Haaretz reported that opposition party leader Yair Golan warned that Israel could become a “pariah state, like South Africa once was,” based on its actions in Gaza. Speaking a truth that American politicians appear incapable of articulating, he added, a “sane state does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby, and does not set goals for itself like the expulsion of a population.”2. Confirming this prognosis, the Cradle reports “The Israeli military has admitted that more than 80 percent of the people killed in the attacks on Gaza since Israel breached the ceasefire two months ago are…civilians.” This fact was confirmed by the IDF in response to a request from Hebrew magazine Hamakom, wherein “the military's spokesperson stated that 500 of the 2,780 killed in the Gaza Strip as of Tuesday are ‘terrorists.'” Leaving the remaining 2,280 people killed classified as “not suspected terrorists.” The Cradle compares this ratio, approximately 4.5 civilians killed for every combatant, to the Russia-Ukraine war – a ratio of approximate 2.8 to one. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has “claimed that the ratio is just one civilian killed for each combatant killed.” At the same time, AP reports that while Israel has allowed a minimum of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, under immense international pressure, “none of that aid actually reached Palestinians,” according to the United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The renewed offensive coupled with the barring of humanitarian aid has raised the alarm about mass starvation in Gaza.3. Developments on the ground in Gaza have triggered a new wave of international outcry. On May 19th, leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada issued a joint statement, reading in part, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable… The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law…We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.” The Parliament of Spain meanwhile, “passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel,” per Anadolu Ajansı. This potential ban, supported by all parties except the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox, would “ban the exports of any material that could strengthen the Israeli military, including helmets, vests, and fuel with potential military use.” Left-wing parties in Spain are now pushing for an emergency session to impose a binding decree to this effect.4. The United States however seems to be moving backwards. Drop Site news reports Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff made a deal with Hamas ensuring that, “the Trump administration would compel Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and allow humanitarian aid to enter the territory…[and] make a public call for an immediate ceasefire,” in exchange for the release of Edan Alexander. Of course, once Alexander was released Trump reneged completely. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told Drop Site, “He did nothing of this…They didn't violate the deal. They threw it in the trash.” Besides prolonging further the charnel house in Gaza, this duplicity undermines American credibility in the region, particularly with Iran at a time when Trump is seeking a new deal to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.5. Democrats in Congress are inching towards action as well. On May 13th, Senator Peter Welch introduced Senate Resolution 224, calling for “the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to address the needs of civilians in Gaza.” Along with Welch, 45 Democrats and Independents signed on to this resolution, that is the entire Democratic caucus except for John Fetterman. On May 14th, Rashida Tlaib introduced House Resolution 409, commemorating the Nakba and calling on Congress to “reinstate support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.” This was cosponsored by AOC and Reps. Carson, Lee, Omar, Pressley, Ramirez, Simon, and Coleman. And, on May 21st, a group of eight senators – Welch, Sanders, Kaine, Merkley, Murray, Van Hollen, Schatz, and Warnock – sent a letter urging Secretary of State Rubio to reopen the investigation into the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh, per Prem Thakker. The Biden administration ruled the death “unintentional,” but a new documentary by Zeteo News reveals a “Biden cover-up.”6. More action is occurring on college campuses as well, as students go into graduation season. At NYU, a student named Logan Rozos said in his graduation speech, “As I search my heart today in addressing you all…the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” per CNN. NYU announced that they are now withholding his diploma. At George Washington University, the Guardian reports student Cecilia Culver said in her graduation speech, “I am ashamed to know my tuition [fee] is being used to fund…genocide…I call upon the class of 2025 to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment.” GWU issued a statement declaring Culver “has been barred from all GW's campuses and sponsored events elsewhere.” The moral clarity of these students is remarkable, given the increasingly harsh measures these schools have taken to silence those who speak up.7. Moving on, several major stories about the failing DOGE initiative have surfaced in recent days. First, Social Security. Listeners may recall that a DOGE engineer said “40% of phone calls made to [the Social Security Administration] to change direct deposit information come from fraudsters.” Yet, a new report by NextGov.com found that since DOGE mandated the SSA install new anti-fraud checks on claims made over the phone, “only two claims out of over 110,000 were found to likely be fraudulent,” or 0.0018%. What the policy has done however, is slow down payments. According to this piece, retirement claim processing is down 25%. Meanwhile, at the VA, DOGE engineer Sahil Lavingia, “found…a machine that largely functions, though it doesn't make decisions as fast as a startup might.” Lavingia added “honestly, it's kind of fine—because the government works. It's not as inefficient as I was expecting, to be honest. I was hoping for more easy wins.” This from Fast Company. Finally, CBS reports, “leaders of the United States Institute for Peace regained control of their offices Wednesday…after they were ejected from their positions by the Trump administration and [DOGE] in March.” This piece explains that On February 19th, President Trump issued Executive Order 14217 declaring USIP "unnecessary" and terminating its leadership, most of its 300 staff members, its entire board, installing a DOGE functionary at the top and transferring ownership of the building to the federal government. This set off a court battle that ended Monday, when U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the takeover was “unlawful” and therefore “null and void.” These DOGE setbacks might help explain Elon Musk's reported retreat from the political spotlight and political spending.8. On May 21st, Congressman Gerry Connolly passed away, following his battle with esophageal cancer. Connolly's death however is just the latest in a disturbing trend – Ken Klippenstein reports, “Connolly joins five other members of Congress who also died in office over the past 13 months…Rep. Raúl Grijalva…Rep. Sylvester Turner…Rep. Bill Pascrell…Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee…[and] Rep. Donald Payne Jr.” All of these representatives were Democrats and their deaths have chipped away at the close margin between Democrats and Republicans in the House – allowing the Republicans to pass Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” by a single vote. Connolly himself prevailed over AOC in a much-publicized intra-party battle for the Ranking Member seat on the House Oversight committee. It speaks volumes that Connolly was only able to hold onto that seat for a few short months before becoming too sick to stay on. This is of course part and parcel with the recent revelations about Biden's declining mental acuity during his presidency and the efforts to oust David Hogg from the DNC for backing primaries against what he calls “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats.9. Speaking of “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats, Bloomberg Government reports Senator John Fetterman “didn't attend a single committee hearing in 2025 until…May 8, about a week after an explosive New York Magazine story raised questions about his mental health and dedication to his job.” Fetterman, who represents Pennsylvania on the Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security committees skipped the confirmation hearings for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Budget Director Russ Vought, some of the most high-profile and controversial Trump appointments. Fetterman still has yet to attend a single Agriculture committee hearing in 2025.10. Finally, in more Pennsylvania news, the state held its Democratic primaries this week, yielding mixed results. In Pittsburgh, progressives suffered a setback with the ouster of Mayor Ed Gainey – the first Black mayor of the city. Gainey lost to Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor, the son of former Mayor Bob O'Connor, the Hill reports. In Philadelphia however, voters approved three ballot measures – including expanding affordable housing and adding more oversight to the prison system – and reelected for a third term progressive reform District Attorney Larry Krasner, per AP. Krasner has long been a target of conservatives in both parties, but has adroitly maneuvered to maintain his position – and dramatically reduced homicide rates in Philly. The Wall Street Journal reports Philadelphia homicides declined by 34% between 2023 and 2024, part of substantial decline in urban homicides nationwide. Kudos to Krasner.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. 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