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Far Cry 6 Secret Ending Explained

4 years 11 months ago

The Far Cry 6 secret ending offers an early, grim conclusion to the events of the game. Far Cry 6's relatively lengthy story follows guerilla soldier Dani Rojas in their attempt to bring down oppressive dictator Anton Castillo and save the Cuba-inspired country of Yara. It's a tale full of the bombastic action and open-world shenanigans found in most Far Cry games, but a majority of the events can be avoided if players choose to follow the secret ending.

The Far Cry series has become well known for providing secret, early endings that can be unlocked through unconventional methods. In Far Cry 4, players can choose to avoid fighting Pagan Min in Kyrat’s civil war by simply waiting for him to return to the room he's trapped protagonist Ajay in. When he comes back, he decides to let Ajay scatter his mother's ashes exactly where she wanted in a moment of unexpected camaraderie. Far Cry 5 goes a similar route by allowing players the chance to ignore the prompt to arrest Joseph Seed at the beginning of the game, which sees the lawmen give up on trying to take the Montana cult down and go home.


These alternate endings go against the grain of Far Cry’s intended violent and heroic acts by asking players to abandon their missions entirely, and Far Cry 6 continues that series pattern. Just like the previous ones, its secret ending involves choosing between two options and is considered the "bad" ending for Dani’s story, but players who choose this path will unlock an achievement to commemorate their unconventional decision. Here's how Far Cry 6's secret ending plays out.

[Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Far Cry 6.]

The chance to unlock Far Cry 6’s secret ending comes after completing the "Libertad Rises" mission, which sees Dani and the Libertad rebellion take down Anton Castillo’s warships. The cutscene that follows shows Clara fulfilling her promise to help Dani escape to Miami in exchange for their help, providing a boat they could use to sail off into the sunset. When players are given control of Dani, they're prompted to talk to Juan, but they can instead take control of the boat and drive south. After driving for a certain amount of time, a scene will commence where Dani says, "I’m sorry, Clara. Not my fight," and the screen fades to black.

After Dani’s escape, another cutscene informs players three months have passed since leaving behind Clara and the Libertad rebels. Dani is shown relaxing on a beach in Miami, far away from the guerilla warfare of Far Cry 6's campaign. Not all is well for the people of Yara, as a radio newscaster's voice declares Anton Castillo has defeated the Libertad rebellion, murdered Clara, and forced the country into a severe lockdown.

Credits roll on the scene, and players are presented with the "Hidden in Plain Sight" achievement for having found the Far Cry 6 secret ending. It's an incredibly dour conclusion, presenting a bleak vision of how Yara's fate would have been if Dani had stepped on that boat.

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OnePlus Co-Founder Might Release A New Android Phone In 2022

4 years 11 months ago

2022 could be an exciting year for Android fans, as a new rumor suggests OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei is creating a 'Nothing' smartphone. Any longtime OnePlus followers will know the company has taken a few big shifts in recent years. While OnePlus started out as an enthusiast brand focused on big specs and low prices, it's in a very different place today. Carl Pei left the company in October 2020, OnePlus is preparing to merge its OxygenOS platform with Oppo's ColorOS, and its product lineup is now very reminiscent of any other major smartphone brand.

Shortly after departing OnePlus last year, Carl Pei announced his own tech company called 'Nothing.' Nothing's first product ended up being a pair of true wireless earbuds — called the Nothing Ear (1). The earbuds didn't receive perfect reviews, but they were mostly praised for delivering good audio, a stunning design, and a competitive price. Now, Nothing is getting ready to set its sights on something much bigger.


According to a new report from 91Mobiles, Nothing is preparing to launch its first Android-powered smartphone in early 2022. The report doesn't go into great detail about the device, simply stating that the site has "exclusively learned from noted tipster Mukul Sharma that Nothing will launch its first phone." It's also teased that Nothing will release the Nothing Power (1) battery bank "in the next few weeks," but all attention is obviously on the rumored smartphone.

Although this report doesn't share any concrete details about the Nothing phone, it's not hard to imagine what it could entail. If the Ear (1) earbuds are any indication of Nothing's hardware ambitions, a phone from the company could be really beautiful. Nothing's earbuds are lightweight, comfy to wear, and their transparent design with neatly packed internals is beyond impressive. If Nothing's phone manages to offer that same mix of practicality with a unique aesthetic, it could have a strong design lead over much of the competition. It's also safe to assume the Android experience of the Nothing phone would be reminiscent of the old OxygenOS — that's to say, a stock-like interface, robust customization options, and select few feature add-ons to keep it lightweight.

It's certainly fun to speculate about Carl Pei returning to the smartphone space, but how much weight does this rumor actually carry? There's actually a bit to it. Don't forget that Nothing acquired Essential back in February — a purchase that included all of the latter company's trademarks, logos, and other branding material. While Essential was short-lived, the Essential PH1 was a pretty solid Android handset. The company also teased its Project GEM successor in late 2019, though it was ultimately scrapped following Essential's quick demise. Nothing also announced earlier this week a $50 million partnership with Qualcomm. In a press release, Nothing says the funds will be used for "research and development in preparation for the brand’s entry into new product categories as part of its ecosystem."

It's entirely possible this report is inaccurate and a Nothing smartphone doesn't exist. However, all signs are currently pointing to the opposite being true. If the rumored Nothing phone is real, 91Mobiles says to expect "teasers and reports" coming in the next few weeks.


Source: 91Mobiles, Nothing




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Southern Charm: Madison LeCroy & Brett's Relationship Timeline

4 years 11 months ago

Madison LeCroy from Southern Charm and her now-fiance Brett went from being strangers to getting engaged in a matter of months. Before Madison met her future husband, she had quite the rollercoaster of a dating life. Her relationships were at the center of some serious celebrity drama this year. Late December, Madison began dating Jay Cutler, who is a former NFL player. She got involved with him shortly after her ex Austen Kroll was rumored to be romancing Jay's ex-wife, Kristin Cavallari.

After Jay and Kristin shared a photo that made people assume they were back together, Madison and Jay ended faster than they began. Shortly after they fizzled out, Madison was accused of having an affair with ex-MLB player Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez sometime last year. Madison says those rumors are false and claims that she and A-Rod never met up in person. However, some of her costars didn't believe her. Nonetheless, Madison is over her time as a single woman. The Southern Charm star is ready to become a wife.

Related: Southern Charm: Madison LeCroy Reveals She Is Engaged To Boyfriend Brett

In April, following her A-Rod controversy, Madison confirmed that she had a new man. After a fan said the former baseball player might not want to date her even though he's now single, she shared her new romance on social media. Madison quickly replied that she was already taken. However, she took a couple of months to reveal what he looked like and what his first name is.

In June 2021, the mother of one went Instagram official with Brett by sharing a series of snaps of the pair having fun in Lake Tahoe. Madison also spoke with Us Weekly about her new relationship later that month. The reality star revealed that the two met in Arizona at a bar and locked eyes right away, "from across the room." Brett eventually approached Madison, who went to Utah with him, and the two chatted for a while. " She told him, "You can take me out, but you’ll have to take me out in Charleston, South Carolina." Brett replied, ‘I’m fine with that. When are you available?’". Madison revealed that she instantly fell for Brett, and the couple has been together non-stop ever since.

On Thursday, Madison announced during an Amazon Live that she and Brett got engaged after six months of dating. Brett popped the question last Friday and even involved Madison's eight-year-old son Hudson in the proposal. The three of them went out for a fancy dinner in a limo, and Brett then decided to propose to her in her living room, while Hudson clapped in the background. Madison, who has shaded ex Austen, was so surprised that she began to cry. However, they were definitely tears of joy.

The Southern Charm star and her new fiance have had a. whirlwind romance and they do seem to be madly in love. Now that season 8 of the Bravo series has begun filming, fans are excited to see how their relationship will be showcased on the series.

Next: Southern Charm: Madison LeCroy Is Happy Austen Kroll Joined Winter House

Source: Us Weekly



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Titans' New Beast Boy Transformation Recreates A Classic Batman Villain

4 years 11 months ago

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Titans season 3, episode 12, "Prodigal."

HBO's Titans season 3 finally sees Beast Boy (Ryan Potter) getting a new animal transformation, and he ends up recreating a classic Batman villain in the process. While Gar Logan is still struggling to control his transformations (beyond turning into a tiger), a traumatic scene triggers a new transformation in season 3, episode 12 when Beast Boy and Raven are trying to help Nightwing. Furthermore, because the Titans have been operating in Gotham for the majority of the season, Gar's transformation makes perfect sense.

With Bruce Wayne having left Gotham in the wake of Jason Todd's death and the Dark Knight's own murder of the Joker (the former Robin's killer), Dick Grayson brought the Titans to Gotham to serve as its new protectors. However, the Scarecrow had Jason resurrected, ushering Todd's transformation into the darker and corrupted Red Hood as they began their plans for a Gotham takeover. During that time, Beast Boy's limited ability to transform into animals has been something he's been struggling with while helping the Titans, seeing as how he's only ever been able to turn into a tiger on command.

Related: The REAL Reason Titans' Jason Todd Turned Into Red Hood Explained

However, Titans season 3, episode 12 sees Beast Boy and Raven finding Nightwing in the aftermath of his most recent battle with Red Hood. Having decided to go alone, Dick Grayson ended up being killed by the Red Hood. Todd also had the support of Gotham's citizens, seeing as how he and Scarcrow had tainted the city's water supply with fear chemicals while also controlling the public narrative to make Red Hood appear to be the hero and the Titans criminals. Finding Nightwing dead, the traumatic scene triggered a transformation within Beast Boy that saw him turning into a bat. However, the halfway point of the process saw him looking very much like Dr. Kirk Langstrom's Man-Bat, a classic Batman villain who turned himself into a monstrous were-bat.

One of the Dark Knight's more tragic villains, Kirk Langstrom was trying to create a cure for deafness using bat DNA, hoping to unlock their ability to echolocate. However, the experimental tests he ran on himself resulted in his transformations into the Man-Bat. As such, it's rather fitting that Beast Boy would resemble Langstrom (even if it was just for a moment) as he turned into a full-on bat in Gotham City.

Joining the cloud of bats that had formed in response to Gar's transformation, Beast Boy was seemingly able to direct the nocturnal creatures in his new form. Guiding the bats to pick up Grayson's body and take him to the Lazarus Pit he and Raven had found, they hoped that it would resurrect Nightwing just as it had the Red Hood. While Beast Boy eventually transformed back into his normal human form, it will be interesting to see if becoming a bat will be a new animal form he can now tap into as Titans continues, or if it was a one-time transformation in response to the grief of seeing Nightwing dead in this particular episode. Either way, Beast Boy's recreation of one of Batman's classic foes is a pretty fun Easter egg all the same.

More: Titans Has A Superpower Problem

Titans releases new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.



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Spider-Man 3's Hobgoblin Mask Easter Egg & Future Setup Explained

4 years 11 months ago

The Sam Raimi Spider-Man films were filled with Easter eggs, including a reference to The Hobgoblin in Spider-Man 3 which allowed for his potential introduction in a future installment. Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy is celebrated for its seamless combination of comic accuracy and heartfelt, realistically-written characters, but one occasionally overlooked aspect of the films is that it’s firmly set in a populated Marvel universe, with references to Spider-Man stories and characters in the films and even some shoutouts to other Marvel characters in the Raimi continuity’s non-movie material. One such reference was to The Hobgoblin, one of Spider-Man’s most prominent adversaries for years in the comics. A Raimi iteration of The Hobgoblin’s mask can be found in act 1 of Spider-Man 3.

The Hobgoblin, aka Roderick Kingsley, was a major Spider-Man villain for years in Marvel’s comics. Upon discovering one of the seemingly deceased Norman Osborn’s hidden stashes of the Green Goblin's (played by Willem Dafoe) gear, Kingsley, a corrupt corporate executive, modified Osborn’s formula to eliminate its insanity side effect and increase its physical enhancements. With a modified costume, Kingsley became The Hobgoblin. Although he was stronger than Norman, Kingsley’s lack of insanity made him an overall less dangerous adversary than the unpredictable Norman. Like the Green Goblin, the comics made the Hobgoblin’s true identity a running mystery, with several red herrings and fake reveals, explained by Kingsley brainwashing people like Ned Leeds into becoming body doubles. The Hobgoblin’s true identity was definitively revealed in 1997’s Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives.

Related: Spider-Man 3 Theory: Ned's Hobgoblin Is Raimi's Green Goblin Successor

Roderick’s Hobgoblin outfit was a modified version of Norman’s Green Goblin costume. Kingsley changed the color palette, including giving the mask a gold hue, and added an orange cloak, but retained the chainmail armor and legendary aesthetic that original Green Goblin Norman Osborn used first. In Spider-Man 3, Harry Osborn similarly creates a new outfit and uses improved technology. Calling himself the New Goblin (though the name is never said in the film), Harry takes Norman’s Goblin formula, granting him superhuman physical abilities but damaging his psyche in the process. Early in the film, Harry’s new technology is shown, along with a distinctive mask in between Norman’s Green Goblin mask and Harry’s New Goblin mask. This third mask resembles Norman’s, but is far more angular and aggressive, with notably sharper teeth. The mask is also a metallic gold color, indicating that it’s the Raimi universe’s Hobgoblin mask.

With both Norman and Harry dead by the end of the Spider-Man trilogy (though Norman could have easily been resurrected just as he was in the comics), a future installment in Raimi’s continuity could have had a new version of Roderick Kingsley's Hobgoblin. As a business tycoon, Kingsley could have acquired Norman Osborn’s assets or simply bought his Tudor City penthouse and discovered the Goblin lair. Like his comic counterpart, Kingsley would take the gear, somehow modify the formula, and become New York’s latest threat, motivated by greed and thirst for power, unlike Norman’s unbridled sadism and obsessions and Harry’s need for revenge.

This wouldn’t be the first time that the Raimi Spider-Man series referenced a character from the Spider-Man comics. The 2002 film subtly mentioned Eddie Brock and Curt Connors, both of whom went on to appear in sequels. The Marvel superhero and sorcerer Doctor Strange is mentioned by name in Spider-Man 2, an unintentionally fitting joke, considering the Raimi universe’s upcoming MCU appearance, thanks to Strange. The Raimi Spider-Man video games, which can easily be considered canon to the Raimi timeline, reference Latveria (Doctor Doom’s home country), Captain America, and The Punisher, and include an appearance by The Kingpin, Daredevil’s nemesis.

Had Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man continuity continued, it would not be surprising to see his take on Roderick Kingsley appear and menace Spider-Man as the Hobgoblin. Considering Raimi’s appreciation and understanding of the comic source material, it’d make sense to have Kingsley succeed Norman and Harry, and perhaps end up fighting the resurrected Norman as he did in the comics. Either way, Spider-Man 3’s Hobgoblin mask Easter egg was setting up a future with at least one more Goblin-themed supervillain.

Next: Spider-Man 3 Theory: Tobey Maguire's MCU Daughter Is Spider-Girl



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Steam Games With Crypto, NFTs Being Removed From the Platform

4 years 11 months ago

Steam is banning games that are built on blockchain technology or that allow the exchange of cryptocurrency and NFTs, establishing another hurdle for the world of blockchain games. Playable NFT video games are growing in popularity and a few have stuck out in the crowd, gaining considerable financial and commercial support. One company in particular, Mythical Games, announced a $75 million partnership in June, which will help it produce several NFT video games. One of its more popular titles, Blankos Block Party, is an open-world free-to-play game that is built on blockchain technology and uses vinyl figurine NFTs as playable characters. Players purchase new Blankos with cryptocurrency and can sell their collection on the marketplace for actual money.

NFTs or non-fungible tokens have previously garnered negative press. Much of the criticism stems from the environmental impact that NFTs can have, based on its Proof of Work crypto mining. What has attracted many people to NFTs despite this is the fact that there is proof of ownership tied to the NFT. Thus, unlike other virtual items, like many in-game skins or outfits, NFTs hold a particular value and can be collected or sold on an evolving marketplace, much like physical collectibles like trading cards. In spite of evidence that NFT video games are bad for the environment, many have chosen to get involved in the controversial new economy. Their efforts to do so in the video game market have now been hindered considerably by Steam.

Related: Blankos Block Party Uses NFTs But Not Bitcoin Mining

As revealed by the Age of Rust Twitter account (via NME), Steam has officially removed games on its platform that use blockchain technology or allow the exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs. The game’s developer explained that despite having been upfront with Steam regarding the fact that Age of Rust is a blockchain game, the title is still being removed, as the publisher has decided to do away with all such games on its platform. Steam recently made changes to its Rules and Guidelines, indicating that it will no longer sell any applications built on blockchain technology. According to the Age of Rust Twitter, “Steam’s point of view is that items have value and they don’t allow items that can have real-world value on their platform.”

This is a considerable setback for blockchain games or any developer looking to create titles incorporating NFTs or cryptocurrencies. Age of Rust’s developer is looking for alternative modes of publishing and will continue to look for a place in the market. However, it’s unclear what effect Steam’s decision will have on other blockchain games that were housed on its platform.

It’s certainly possible that these games will follow the path of big NFT games like Axie Infinity, which is distributed to players directly through its website. Steam does offer many tools to help cultivate developers and market products, so without that level of backing, it’s likely many blockchain games or games using NFTs and cryptocurrencies will struggle to find footing in the market.

Next: Can Blankos Block Party Convince People It's Not A Scam?

Source: Age of Rust/Twitter, NME



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Eternals Early Box Office Predictions Highest Of MCU Phase 4 So Far

4 years 11 months ago

Early Eternals box office projections indicate its opening weekend will be higher than Black Widow and Shang-Chi. While the box office still has a long way to go before it gets back to 2019 levels, theaters are very much on the road to recovery amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year saw a number of high-profile titles leave an impression at the box office, with Shang-Chi even breaking the pre-pandemic record for highest Labor Day debut. Venom: Let There Be Carnage was another strong showing, posting $90.1 million domestically in its first three days.

One of the next major projects on the horizon is Marvel's Eternals, which is set to open in November. The film introduces a bevy of new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many of whom are largely unknown to casual audiences. However, Marvel has demonstrated a knack for turning obscure properties into household names before, so the belief is they'll have similar success with Eternals. If the box office estimates are anything to go by, the MCU will be rewriting the record books again.


Per Box Office Pro, Eternals is projected to earn between $82-102 million domestically in its opening weekend. Even the low end of those figures would be the highest opening in Phase 4 to date. Shang-Chi posted $75.3 million in its first three days ($94.6 million for the four-day Labor Day weekend), and Black Widow earned $80.3 million in its debut.

There's still a few weeks before Eternals premieres, so these estimates could fluctuate. Still, this is a good sign for the film's commercial prospects, indicating audiences are well aware of its impending release and are looking forward to it. In fact, Eternals was voted the fall's most-anticipated movie in a Fandango poll, beating out the likes of No Time to Die, Dune, and others. That shows the strength of the Marvel brand, and illustrates even when some viewers are still wary about returning to the theater, the allure of seeing the latest MCU entry on the big screen is enough of a draw. It will be interesting to see how Eternals' projections change as reviews come in and word-of-mouth spreads.

In the pandemic era, no movie has opened with $100+ million domestically, and the high end of the Eternals estimates would have it hitting that mark. That would be an impressive feat, especially considering Eternals' long runtime, which pegs it as the second-longest MCU movie after only Avengers: Endgame. This factor limits the number of daily screenings theaters can show, which could impact Eternals' box office prospects. Regardless, it looks like all things considered, the film should be another winner for Marvel.


Source: Box Office Pro




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FTC Warns Hundreds Of Brands To Avoid Misleading Ads & Fake Reviews

4 years 11 months ago

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent out a notice to over 700 companies — a list that includes the likes of Apple, Google, Amazon, and Tesla — warning them about the menace of fake reviews and misleading ad practices using social media, and has asked them to abide by the rules or face penalties. Over the years, fake online reviews have become a menace, and many brands have actually been caught paying for favorable or false reviews on e-commerce platforms.

An Amazon data breach earlier this year revealed that a number of vendors negotiate terms with buyers who are paid to purchase their products and then post sham five-star reviews to boost the star ratings. But it’s not just e-commerce platforms where such practices thrive. In the ballooning world of social media marketing, influencers are often paid to praise a particular product or brand. But the problem arises when these influencers don’t actually disclose whether they are endorsing a particular product after inking a deal, and are just commending it from their personal experience. Pyramid schemes and crypto frauds find a lot of mention on the internet where people with influence — deliberately or unwillingly — often end up promoting a scam.


To combat the rising problem of misleading marketing and shady advertising tactics employed by brands, the US FTC has issued a notice to hundreds of companies to keep their ledgers clean and make proper disclosures if they are engaged in influencer-driven marketing. FTC clarifies that sending a notice to these companies doesn’t mean the agency is charging or alleging them of any wrongdoings. It just serves as a warning signal that it will take strict action against any brand that violates its fair marketing and advertisement policies. However, the US FTC makes it clear that for every violation, a company will be charged a civic penalty of up to $45,792.

The regulatory body — which has lately been at the helm of a heated antitrust campaign against Big Tech — outlined five types of red flags that will incur punitive action. They include wrongfully presenting an endorser as an actual user, making false claims about their products in ads, hiding financial connections with an endorser, peddling an endorser’s views as genuine user experience, and falsely claiming another individual’s endorsement. Back in June of this year, multiple Chinese electronic gadget brands were booted off Amazon for giving customers incentives to post favorable reviews. The most recent example of legal action covering alleged misleading advertisements is Apple. The company recently settled a class-action lawsuit for telling users that ‘remanufactured’ devices under AppleCare coverage are “equivalent to new in performance and reliability,” but actual user experience tells otherwise.

FTC’s latest notice will definitely put big names on edge thanks to the accountability dilemma. For platforms such as Amazon or Apple's App Store, the onus might fall on their respective owners if fake reviews end up hurting customers, even if they were paid for by third-party vendors. Amazon has historically struggled with the problem, and even though it has designed tools that identify suspicious behavior and remove thousands of fake reviews each year, the issue persists. But there is more to the picture than appears on the surface. For example, Amazon recently asked Apple to take down an app that allowed users to check the legitimacy of reviews. With each passing quarter, companies like Instagram and TikTok are adding new marketing tools for influencers, and it is going to be increasingly difficult for regulators to identify misleading endorsements on social media and hold companies accountable.


Source: US FTC




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Young Sheldon Shows The Issue With Penny & Leonard’s TBBT Ending

4 years 11 months ago

The latest episode of Young Sheldon season 5 shows the issue with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard Hofstadter's (Johnny Galecki) ending in The Big Bang Theory. After their inappropriate flirting, George Cooper (Lance Barber) and Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman) continue to try to keep the details of their night out a secret. But after Meemaw (Annie Potts) sensed that there was something sketchy happening between the pair, she started snooping around — which, unfortunately, brings her son-in-law and his neighbor closer together.

In the Young Sheldon season 5 episode titled "Snoopin' Around and the Wonder Twins of Atheism," Meemaw coincidentally bumped into Brenda at the grocery store. She began asking about what really went down the night that George had a mini heart attack. But instead of answering her queries, Brenda panicked and bolted out of the conversation. This alarmed Meemaw, who then subtly asked her son-in-law about the same thing. Suspiciously, George was equally evasive, which made things worse. This resulted in an emergency meeting involving George and Brenda at the latter's chicken house. What was supposed to be a discreet and brief conversation, however, turned into a lengthy chat.


Among the few other things the pair discussed was the subject of the Cooper patriarch’s workmate choosing his wife as his best friend. Both George and Brenda were perplexed about the notion, but in the end, concluded that the reason why George's coworker has such a relaxed and consistently happy marriage is because there are no kids. This indirectly highlights the potential issues in Leonard and Penny's The Big Bang Theory ending: As heartwarming as it was to see the couple happy with the news that they're expecting their first child, Penny had been previously adamant about wanting to be child-free. In fact, this was their core conflict in the show's final season as Leonard wanted children. Despite several back-and-forths regarding the matter, they never really found a resolution. Instead, she was just revealed to be pregnant in the finale.

Although it's possible the TBBT lead just changed her stance about the issue off-screen — since Penny looked happy about it — nothing in the series demonstrated that Penny was ready to become a parent. As Brenda and George recently implied in Young Sheldon, having kids significantly changes couples' dynamics for the worse. This issue could be much more detrimental for the Hofstadters' future since they originally had contradicting thoughts on the matter. Instead of The Big Bang Theory properly developing this arc, the finale offered an easy (and frankly, lazy) solution to the problem.

Once the excitement of learning that she's pregnant wears off, Penny could realize that she still doesn't want kids or isn't ready to settle down and become a parent — but since it's far too late for that, she would be stuck in her situation while Leonard gets what he always wanted. This could result in her being resentful toward her husband. Had the series showed more conversations between Penny and Leonard sorting through their differences, perhaps, it wouldn't be this concerning. Overall, The Big Bang  Theory's finale was nostalgic and heartwarming. However, the focus on Sheldon and his bid for the Nobel Prize in Physics was too much. It essentially relegated the rest of the main cast as supporting characters. That includes Penny and Leonard, who were given a less than satisfying, and questionable, send-off.

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Prophetic 2007 Tom Cruise Movie Clip Circulates After Afghanistan Exit

4 years 11 months ago

A clip from the 2007 movie Lions for Lambs is circulating the internet due to its eerily accurate predictions about events surrounding America's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lions for Lambs features an all-star cast with names like Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Andrew Garfield. Although the movie's cast is impressive, it still struggled at the box office when it was released and also faced a barrage of bad reviews by critics.

Lions for Lambs centers around the war in Afghanistan, analyzing the government and personal responses to a Taliban attack that leaves two American soldiers stranded in enemy territory. Cruise plays a senator from Illinois who tries to use his plan for the situation to increase support for an upcoming presidential bid. He invites a liberal reporter to interview him about his ideas in hopes that he can win her and her devoted readers over.


In one of the movie’s more memorable scenes, the journalist suggests that the United States should simply remove its troops from Afghanistan. The response he gives is a surprisingly accurate foresight detailing the insurrection and lasting effects that would occur if the US withdrew from the nation. Television actor and director Kevin Sorbo pointed out the uncanny resemblance to recent international events by reposting the clip on his social media. Watch below to see why Sorbo found the scene to be so relevant in regards to current events.

[embed]https://twitter.com/ksorbs/status/1447367061949276160[/embed]

In the clip, Cruise's character explains that abandoning Afghanistan will result in Taliban rule and further repercussions. He goes on to state that the Taliban would retaliate against those loyal to the US and grow emboldened by their victory, escalating further conflict with the nation and its allies in the future. Movies like American Sniper and Lone Survivor have depicted actual events from the war but few have mentioned what the end of the conflict in Afghanistan would look like.

In August, many of the events foreshadowed in Lions for Lambs came true. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan when the US left the country, insurgents televised parades flaunting abandoned US military equipment, and several deadly attacks were carried out on civilians. Even The Simpsons, a show notorious for foretelling events, would be hard-pressed to depict the future this accurately.

Reality in the Middle East has reflected many of the statements in the video but there are a few differences to note. ISIS-K has claimed responsibility for the attacks that killed civilians, not the Taliban. While both are Islamic extremist groups, they are actually enemies. The US has also not yet entered further conflict in the region as the clip suggested. Only time will tell if Tom Cruise's Lions for Lambs scene will continue to be fulfilled.


Source: Kevin Sorbo




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Marvel Reveals The Shocking Truth Behind Its Most Powerful Character

4 years 11 months ago

Warning! Spoilers for Immortal Hulk #50 by Marvel Comics below.

In this week's Immortal Hulk finale, Marvel Comics revealed the truth behind the One-Above-All, which completely changes the most powerful character in the Multiverse. In the comic, the cosmic being responsible for creating everyone and everything in the Marvel Universe was revealed to also be the One Below All. The revelation means One-Above-All, who is basically God, is also the Devil in disguise.

In the recently wrapped up Immortal Hulk series, the Jade Giant's ultimate enemy was the One Below All, a being living in the Below Place who wanted to destroy the Marvel Universe and end the process of the cosmos being reborn. The being is responsible for giving the Hulk his incredible strength, as when the Gamma Bomb went off and changed Bruce Banner, it opened the Green Door, allowing the One Below All to give him his powers. Now, Marvel Comics has told the truth behind the Hulk villain, which connects the being to the Multiverse version of God.


In Immortal Hulk #50 by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, Ruy Jose, Belardino Brabo, Paul Mounts, VC's Cory Petit, and Alex Ross, the Hulk finally encounters his maker in the Below Place. After fighting the villain, the Hulk demands to see its real face. The One Below All agrees, and suddenly the sky fills with brightness as the One-Above-All appears. It turns out, the One-Above-All and the One Below All are the same entity, with one serving as the Multiverse's agent of good and the other as an agent of destruction and chaos.

The revelation that the One Below All and the One-Above-All is the same being are an unexpected twist. The One Below All is basically the One-Above-All's own Hulk, as it's a balancing force in the Marvel Universe. Where the One-Above-All creates and nurtures, the One Below All is its counterweight, that destroys the universe in the name of cosmic balance. The conflicting personalities are very much like Bruce Banner and the Hulk but on the most substantial cosmic level possible.

The One-Above-All has primarily been used as a way to show that something is responsible for creating the Marvel Multiverse at large. Meanwhile, the One Below All represents the being's counterweight, which ensures the Multiverse is balanced. Both beings exist as a necessary part of creating (and ending) life across the Marvel Multiverse. Still, the fact that the One-Above-All and the One Below All are essentially the good and evil versions of Marvel's God is a shocking revelation that should considerably impact the Multiverse going forward.

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Love Island USA: Connor Trott Shows Off New Girlfriend Sage Sunner

4 years 11 months ago

Connor Trott has taken to Instagram to show off his new girlfriend, Sage Sunner, which follows the breakup with his Love Island USA season 2 co-star Mackenzie Dipman. Both Connor and Mackenzie were introduced to Love Island fans as day-one islanders as they walked into the Las Vegas villa of season 2. Mack and Connor coupled up right away on that first day just based on first impressions of each other.

As the days went by, Connor and Mackenzie actually started to develop feelings for each other and take their relationship seriously. A lot of viewers questioned whether their relationship had what it took to survive outside the villa, which prompted fans to vote for Connor and Mack to be tested time and time again on the show. After Mackenzie had her head turned for Jalen Noble at Casa Amor, it was only a matter of time for her and Connor to be dumped from the villa. With that said, they reunited post-show and dated for many months, only breaking up in early 2021.


Now, Connor is showing off his brand-new girlfriend, Sage Sunner. As seen in the many Instagram posts included below, Connor and Sage have been all over each other as of late. On her Instagram profile, Sage describes herself as a Pittsburgh-based model. She appears to be signed to Docherty Model & Talent Agency. She also identifies herself as the mother of two adorable chihuahuas called Russ and Rambo. This is Connor's first public relationship since breaking up with Mackenzie earlier in 2021. Even before their breakup, Mack and Connor talked openly about the challenges that came with their long-distance relationship.

There's no denying that Love Island USA fans will be happy to see Connor moving on with his dating life after things didn't work out with Mackenzie in the long run. It appears that Mack has yet to move on with a new partner, or at least that information hasn't been shared with the public yet. She seems to be focusing on herself and her career as of late, but it's possible that there's already someone new in her life that Mack just chose not to publicize yet. Nonetheless, these are young individuals on their paths to find real love. Things didn't work out on reality TV for them, but it's great to see them happy with where they are now.

CBS had another successful run of Love Island USA in 2021. In fact, this American edition keeps picking up steam since breaking out into the mainstream last year. Hopefully, the inevitable Love Island USA season 4 will be even more exciting for viewers.


Sources: Connor Trott/Instagram, Sage Sunner/Instagram




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Which The Manor Character Are You, Based On Your Zodiac Sign?

4 years 11 months ago

The characters in Amazon Prime's new horror film The Manor encapsulate all different types of people. When Judith moves into the titular manor after her stroke, she becomes part of a system that doesn't have concern for the old or people with declining health. While she is lucky that her grandson Josh visits her, she's concerned that she'll be forgotten. Meanwhile, in such a large house, Judith encounters a variety of different people.


Nurses at the manor, as well as the other residents, have different personality types. Some of those personalities are more forceful than others. And some are even more nefarious. There are enough types that it's worth examining the various character in The Manor through the lens of the astrological zodiac signs.

One of the more gregarious characters in The Manor, Roland is a classic Aries. Aries signs are known for having no filter. They say what they mean and mean what they say. Roland specifically takes this attitude to another level. His charismatic energy becomes aggressive from time to time.

Roland inserts himself in Judith’s path. He makes sure she is involved in his friend group so he can take advantage of her ignorance. His energy is forthright and at times sexual, making him the quintessential Aries.

Liesel is a kind and understanding nurse at The Manor. She wants to take care of people, just like any Taurus sign would. She enjoys nature and takes Judith out on walks on the grounds. She shows this caring side even in the face of evil lurking in the house.


Judith tells Liesel that she is being accosted by a figure at night. Typical of a Taurus, Liesel is comfortable with how things are. She isn’t prepared to encounter what Judith is suggesting. But when she understands what is happening in The Manor, she proves her loyalty to Judith.

Ms. Benson is the administrator at The Manor. As such, she must be charismatic and intelligent. Geminis can play their roles well. While Ms. Benson acts unaware of the strangeness of The Manor, she knows exactly what is going on. Roland never confirms how Ms. Benson is closely related to him, but it is heavily implied that she is his granddaughter.

Ms. Benson knows that Roland and his friends are sapping the youth from other residents and aids him, using her position to do it. To do this successfully, Ms. Benson has to put up a front, something Geminis are good at.

From the first scene of The Manor, Josh proves to be sensitive. He cares for his grandmother, even more than his mother at times. Cancers are likely to take on other people’s problems. Josh is immediately concerned about Judith’s predicament. He sticks with her even though her claims sound outrageous.

Josh disengages from Judith only briefly, starting to believe that she is afflicted with dementia. But his concern for her is so strong that he investigates and never leaves her side again.

Trish has a big personality. She lights up a room, though it is not inherently evident why this is the case. Leos enjoy indulgences and the finer things in life, and Trish expands on this concept. Her room with Ruth is full of things that do not seem practical.

She also refuses to let go of her youth. Taking up where witches before her left off, Trish finds a way to never let go of her youth again. She exudes happiness and charisma because of this and is fun to be around.

Judith’s daughter Barbara is not the pinnacle of the story, but her personality is striking nonetheless. She never sides with Judith, finding relief in sending her away to The Manor after Judith’s stroke. A typical Virgo trait is always thinking they’re right. Barbara is certain that sending Judith to The Manor was the right thing, absolving her of any responsibility.

This is especially confirmed when the doctor tells Barbara that Judith is suffering bouts of dementia. Barbara doesn’t accept that her mother is lucid and has an air of judgment like many Virgos are capable of displaying.

Ruth is the one in the coven that has the least agency. She is fun-loving but goes with the flow. Libras often follow the path of least resistance and avoid conflict. The only time she speaks out is when she tries to convince Judith to join their circle to become young again.

Ruth enjoys the camaraderie of the group, even though they are ultimately killing residents that they have lived and dined with. It is easy for her to ignore since she is not alone and gets to be young.

Scorpios are complex more than anything else. Elizabeth is a nurse at The Manor who seems to have the most to hide. As soon as Judith arrives, Elizabeth makes sure to exert her authority by taking away Judith's phone. This is disconcerting, which Scorpios have no problem with being.


Elizabeth puts up walls to stop people from getting to know what is going on. This is in part to protect Ruth’s secret at the home. She knows spells are being cast, but like many Scorpios, she is unbothered.

Annette’s story is unfortunately short-lived. She finds herself in a real-life horror movie, closely resembling the likes of The Wicker Man. But that doesn’t stop her from caring about those around her. Sagittarius signs are emotional and principled.

She is often frightened because she knows she is going to die. Even though she doesn’t know Judith well, she uses her last acts to warn her about witchcraft at The Manor.

Dr. Geoghegan uses responsibility as a defense against questions. He is smart and part of the system that The Manor uses to protect its residents who do not have the best intentions. He has fake brain scans of the patients to convince residents’ families that they are declining in health. It is not evident how far his knowledge of witches extends.

Capricorns rarely display any form of emotion. Dr. Geoghegan has no empathy or bedside manner. He delivers bad news to patients and does not feel bad about it.

Imogen’s fate is not confirmed, but it can be assumed that she did not survive the events of the film. Her main use was to be a clue for Josh to find. After he sees her fear, he realizes that Judith is right in suspecting something wrong is going on at The Manor. These striking horror elements are one reason why The Manor is a good horror movie to stream before Halloween.

Aquarians often feel as though they are outcasts. There are few things more ostracizing than the feeling of being gaslit. The residents are told that they are sick. In reality, their life is being taken from them purposefully.

Pisces signs often feel the dichotomy of age. They can feel wise but also cling to their youth. Judith states that she doesn’t feel old, though she has turned 70. Her youthful outlook is something that comes easily to her. But also like a Pisces, she is insecure.

The Manor manipulates her into thinking that there is something wrong with her health. Judith is artistic and wants to hold on to the life she has left. Her outlook on life is what leads her to accept the witches’ offer at the end of the film.

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Halle Berry Is An MMA Champion With Demons In Netflix’s Bruised Trailer

4 years 11 months ago

A new trailer for the sports drama Bruised, starring Halle Berry as a former MMA fighter seeking her chance at redemption, has been released ahead of the film’s Netflix release in November. Bruised stars Berry as Jackie Justice, a disgraced former champion who enters the gritty world of underground fighting by circumstance and finds herself with a chance to reclaim her former glory in the octagon. Jackie’s story is complicated when she is reunited with the infant son she gave up years prior and is forced to face her demons as she seeks her comeback.

In a new trailer released by Netflix, Berry showcases her renowned acting talent as a tormented and strong sportswoman. The trailer also gives audiences their first look at the film’s tone and supporting characters, with Black Snake Moan’s Adriane Lenox and Dune’s Stephen McKinley Henderson among the cast. See the official trailer below:

Click to watch the video


As well as being somewhat of a dramatic comeback venture for Berry, who in recent years has taken blockbuster supporting roles in the John Wick and Kingsman franchises, the film is also her directorial debut. Berry became the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for Monster’s Ball, and the milestone cemented her in Hollywood. Now she seeks a new challenge, on both sides of the camera, with the potential of more accolades for her story of an inspirational down-but-not-out sportswoman. Bruised debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2020 and releases officially for audiences on November 24.

 Reactions

Source: Netflix


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Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Remake's Exp. Share Could Ruin The Games

4 years 11 months ago

The return of the permanent Exp. Share in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has become a major concern for many fans. Generation 6 made the Exp. Share item provide experience points to every party member, as opposed to only the one holding it, offering a much easier time for Pokémon series newcomers. The change to a universal Exp. Share has become a point of contention in the community, and it could negatively affect the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes' game balance and difficulty.

In just over a month, fans will finally get to play these long-awaited Gen 4 remakes. Many were initially disappointed that the Brilliant and Shining versions may be too similar to the original Diamond and Pearl, unlike Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which more fully reimagined their original games. But as new trailers and previews have been revealed, the remakes have looked increasingly more impressive. However, in spite of growing optimism, the biggest takeaway from recent early press previews has been the potential detrimental effect of the new Exp. Share system.


The confirmation of a universal Exp. Share in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl isn't surprising or even unwelcome; party-wide experience gain, in itself, has been a mostly well-received mechanic. The problem is that, once again, Exp. Share cannot be disabled in BDSP. When the Exp. Share was first changed from a held item to a key item in Pokémon X and Y, players had the option to turn it off, allowing them to benefit from the new mechanic while also controlling the amount of experience points gained. This option was removed in Pokémon Sword and Shield and remains absent, which takes away players' ability to adjust the games' difficulty as they prefer.

The universal Exp. Share, much like Pokémon's overhaul of HMs, is one of the better quality-of-life features introduced in recent games. Grinding typically becomes a necessity in many RPGs because players eventually reach a point where they've run out of content and are still in need of experience to finish the game. Party-wide Exp. Share eliminates the need to rely too heavily on boring grinding, since all of the player's Pokémon are consistently gaining experience throughout the game, usually preventing them from being too underleveled. As convenient and beneficial as the mechanic is, it's also a double-edged sword.

One of series fans' biggest complaints is that recent Pokémon games are getting too easy. Part of this is the natural side effect of a two-decades-old series that functions on a rock-paper-scissors battle system, since most experienced players have already mastered the games' core mechanics. That said, newer Pokémon games haven't added much to offer resistance for players seeking a challenge. Gym Leaders are little more than just another Trainer battle, and rival battles no longer serve as difficult bottlenecks, so many players resort to self-imposed rules to make Pokémon games harder. Universal Exp. Share makes the games even easier - and makes some of those self-imposed rules nearly impossible.

Since the Exp. Share was reworked in Pokémon X and Y, the games' level curves haven't adequately changed to compensate for the increased rate of experience gain. This is especially noticeable around the midpoint of each game, as players begin to acquire fully evolved Pokémon earlier than they would otherwise, and their party becomes rapidly overleveled. Overleveling eliminates most of the challenge and makes getting through the rest of the games fairly simple, and the inability to turn off Exp. Share means it can be quite difficult to actively prevent Pokémon from overleveling. Given Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's apparent lack of changes to the originals, this could become a big problem.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are beloved for many things, but partially for their difficulty. Most of the games' battles are fairly straightforward, but a few are quite tough, most notably Champion Cynthia. Cynthia is often regarded as the most challenging Champion in Pokémon, due to her diverse team of powerful Sinnoh Pokémon like Togekiss, Lucario and Garchomp. Many players have found themselves overwhelmed and outmatched by Cynthia the first time they challenge her. The battle could be a true test of strength and strategy and was rewarding to overcome, but the permanent Exp. Share in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl may mean that's no longer the case.

Of course, it's impossible to know for sure until the games are actually out. Developer ILCA could have properly balanced the game, increasing boss levels to account for the new Exp. Share system, but for now, it will likely remain many fans' biggest concern. Fans have waited a long time for the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes, and a poorly balanced level curve could absolutely ruin the experience for players with nostalgia for the original, Pokémon franchise-altering games. A simple option to toggle the universal Exp. Share on and off would go a long way.

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How to Catch Snails in New World (& What They're For)

4 years 11 months ago

During the "Baited" quest in New World, players are tasked with catching two aquatic creatures for crafting bait — a Snail and a Clam. The quest starts after players speak with Dena Ruby, an NPC near the Stolen Shores. Snails, in particular, can be found in freshwater, meaning New World players should fish in lakes and rivers. Although it is entirely possible to catch a Snail with a basic fishing pole and no lure, using a higher-tier rod along with special bait will undoubtedly increase the chances of catching a Snail.

While players may wish to cast their line out into the deeper areas of a lake or river to catch a Snail, keep in mind that characters in New World currently cannot swim if submerged. As mentioned above, Snails can be found within about any freshwater area; however, some places may yield better results than others. Continue reading to learn how to catch Snails in New World.


To catch a Snail in New World, players should use the proper bait to increase their chances of capturing one. Two excellent choices are Woodlouse Bait and Firefly Bait. These lures can be obtained by harvesting Bushes, Bulrush Plants, and Briar Plants in New World. While the baits do not guarantee a successful Snail catch, they will significantly boost the chances of fishing one out, particularly Firefly Bait.

After procuring bait and equipping a decent fishing rod, players should be able to easily catch Snails in New World freshwater areas. A recommended freshwater spot would be a small lake near Faith's Bounty within Everall. Cast in the line and wait patiently for a bite. It's essential to carefully take time while reeling in a catch, as tugging too quickly will lose the fish. Players may have to fish several times before capturing a Snail. After some patience and perseverance, players should be able to catch a Snail within a couple of minutes.

Return to Dena after catching a Snail and Clam to earn the quests reward. Completing the "Baited" quest will net players with XP, Coins, Territory Standing, and a small amount of Azoth. Additionally, players will receive Battered Fisherman's Gloves. Using the Snails they've collected, players can salvage the creatures into bait. This action will also produce a by-product known as Snail Slime, a material that can be used in Alchemy crafting in New World.

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Valve bans blockchain games and NFTs on Steam

4 years 11 months ago

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge3/4
— Age of Rust (@SpacePirate_io) October 14, 2021
WHAT’S AN NFT?

Games that use blockchain technology or let users exchange NFTs or cryptocurrencies won’t be allowed on Steam, according to a rule added to Valve’s “What you shouldn’t publish on Steam” list. The change was pointed out by SpacePirate, a developer working on an NFT-based game, who said that the change was because the company doesn’t allow game items that could have real-world value. But Steam could also be avoiding controversy with the move.

Looking at a Wayback Machine capture of the rule page from late August, there are only 12 rules and no mention of cryptocurrencies or NFTs. The new rule is also missing from other documents — it currently doesn’t show up on the Joining the Steamworks Distribution Program page

Steam's point of view is that items have value and they don't allow items that can have real-world value on their platform. While I respect their choice, I fundamentally believe that NFTs and blockchain games are the future. It's why I started this journey with all of you.


Steam has a history of making controversial moderation decisions, especially when it comes to games with sexual content. In this case, though, it doesn’t seem like people are pressing F to pay respects to NFT games — a majority of the replies and quote tweets to SpacePirate’s tweets are praising Valve for the move (or mocking those that are upset about it).

 around NFT / crypto games.

NFTs allow you to buy and sell ownership of unique digital items and keep track of who owns them using the blockchain. NFT stands for “non-fungible token,” and it can technically contain anything digital, including drawings, animated GIFs, songs, or items in video games. An NFT can either be one-of-a-kind, like a real-life painting, or one copy of many, like trading cards, but the blockchain keeps track of who has ownership of the file.

NFTs have been making headlines lately, some selling for millions of dollars, with high-profile memes like Nyan Cat and the “deal with it” sunglasses being put up for auction. There’s also a lot of discussion about the massive electricity use and environmental impacts of NFTs.

It’s perhaps understandable why Steam would want to avoid having NFTs on its platform. Besides the justification cited by SpacePirate that they could have real-world value (which seems a bit weak, given the massive commercial communities around things like CS:GO skins and Team Fortress 2 hats), NFT and crypto-based games don’t have the best reputations. There’s the infamous Evolved Apes saga where a developer sold NFTs with the promise that they’d be included in a fighting game but then seemingly took the money and ran. There are some potentially interesting game concepts that use NFTs, but it’s hard to say how many of them would’ve been a good fit for Steam even if they were allowed.

While Steam is one of the most well-known PC game stores, it’s not the only one. Developers may not have much more luck with some of its bigger competitors, though — Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney has said that the company isn’t interested in touching NFTs, though it’s unclear whether that just applies to the games Epic makes or its store as well. I reached out to Sweeney to ask but didn’t immediately receive a reply. It’s likely, though, that any platform or store that moderates content will have to make a decision about whether it wants to allow apps or games to sell NFTs — one of the biggest question marks right now may be Apple and how it handles apps like OpenSea and Coinbase should they decide to start letting users buy the digital tokens.

 

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Google Search on mobile just got its biggest change in years

4 years 11 months ago

 


If you've used Search on a mobile device recently, it will function quite differently starting today, at least in the US.

  • Google Search on mobile now has an infinite scroll layout.
  • Instead of getting to the bottom of a page and moving on to the next, you’ll just keep scrolling.
  • The new feature is live now in the United States and will likely come to other areas soon.

Usually, when you’re searching for something online, you don’t venture beyond the first page of results. If you can’t find what you want on page one, it’s likely your search string isn’t specific enough. Still, there are times you’ll venture on to page two (or, gasp, page three) as you hunt for the info you need.

Starting today, though, this kind of behavior on the mobile version of Google Search won’t happen. Now, when you conduct a search, your results will show as an infinitely scrolling page. You won’t need to ever go to the second page, because the results will just continue to load until there are none left.

Check out the video below to see how it looks.

Google announced this huge change to how its search results populate today. It is rolling out today within the United States for English searches. Google doesn’t mention it, but it is highly likely it will come to other English-speaking countries soon and then gradually roll out in other languages.

If for whatever reason you don’t like this change, you’re only other option on mobile would be to use another search engine. We recommend sticking with Google Search, but if you feel so inclined, there are other options.

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Chrome OS will soon let you set your wallpaper from Google Photos

4 years 11 months ago

 

Image Credit:9to5google

Chrome OS will soon have a way to set your wallpaper to one of your favorite images or albums from Google Photos.

Across Pixel phones, Chromecasts, and Nest smart displays, Google has made it all too easy to set your wallpaper to your favorite shot from Google Photos or run a slideshow from an album. Meanwhile, to use something from Google Photos as a wallpaper on Chrome OS today, you need to download the image and manually set it as your background. There also isn’t an option to rotate through a local folder of images.

According to a newly posted code change, Chrome OS’s Wallpapers app is set to get a full integration with Google Photos. Once complete, Google Photos will appear among the “collections” available in the Wallpapers app, alongside options like “Dessert time,” “Cityscapes,” and “Local images.”

This CL adds the feature flag to gate Google Photos integration in the wallpaper app. It uses the flag to reserve a new tile in the existing that will serve as the entry point for the new integration. Note that the new tile will be in a perpetual loading for the time being.

Notably, the Google Photos option is only being made available for the upcoming redesign of the Chrome OS Wallpapers app. In that redesign, which first appeared in January, the current list-based design is switched out for a grid layout with each category appearing in a tile. To get that redesign — currently only available on non-stable versions of Chrome OS — you need to use a flag in chrome://flags.

Enable new wallpaper experience

Enables the wallpaper picker in ChromeOS Settings — Chrome OS

#wallpaper-webui


Once the the integration goes live, “Google Photos” will be available in the second slot. It’s not yet clear what options will be available for using your Google Photos, such as picking a specific album to cycle through or if automatic cycling will be offered at all. Things will become more clear as the feature is gradually developed.

For comparison, Chrome OS already has some Google Photos capabilities in its screensaver option which can cycle through an album of your choosing. It would be a surprise if the Wallpapers app wasn’t at least that capable. Considering the integration is only just beginning development, we likely won’t see the option to use Google Photos go live until at least Chrome OS version 97 or 98, set to release in January and February 2022, respectively.

Source: 9to5google

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DocuSign phishing campaign targets low-ranking employees

4 years 11 months ago

 


Phishing actors are following a new trend of targeting non-executive employees but who still have access to valuable areas within an organization.

As reported by Avanan researchers, half of all phishing emails they analyzed in recent months impersonated non-executives, and 77% of them targeted employees on the same level.

Previously, phishing actors would impersonate CEOs and CFOs to trick company employees in targeted phishing attacks.

This made sense because sending instructions and making urgent requests as a high-ranking employee increases the chances of compliance by the recipient of these messages.

However, as the CEOs got more vigilant and security teams in large firms added more safeguards around those “critical” accounts, phishing actors turned to lower ranking employees that can still serve as excellent entry points into corporate networks.

"Security admins might be spending a lot of time providing extra attention to the C-Suite and hackers have adjusted. At the same time, non-executives still hold sensitive information and have access to financial data. Hackers realized, there is no need to go all the way up the food chain." - Avanan

An example of this practice is given below, where an employee who has access to internal financial systems receives an urgent request to update the impersonated sender's direct deposit file info.


Phishing passwords with DocuSign

As Avanan details in its report, a typical trick deployed in these campaigns is the involvement of DocuSign, an otherwise legit cloud-based document signing platform.

The actors offer DocuSign as an alternate signing method in the emails they send, and ask the recipients to enter their credentials to view the document and sign it.


While these emails are crafted to look like legitimate DocuSign messages, they are not being sent from the platform. On real DocuSign emails, users are never asked to enter passwords, but rather an authentication code is emailed to the recipient.

In the haste of daily work, it is likely that some employees will be tricked by this message and treat it as a real DocuSign request, entering their email credentials and handing them over to the phishing actors

When an email lands in your inbox, it is crucial to take the time and evaluate it for any signs of trickery. Unsolicited attachments, spelling errors, and the request to enter your credentials should be treated as big red flags.

Docusign-themed phishing attacks are nothing new and have been used by numerous threat actors to steal login credentials and distribute malware. In August 2019, a campaign using DocuSign landing pages took it a step further by trying to trick people into entering their full credentials for a wide selection of email providers.

Source: bleepingcomputer

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