Monthly Archives: November 2025

business, technology

Crusader Kings 3 devs on All Under Heaven expansion & improving the base game

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Crusader Kings 3 has continued to receive plenty of interesting content since Paradox Interactive released it in 2020. The newest addition is a major expansion that opens the map to most of Asia, introducing Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian content to its grand strategy gameplay.

Four years in, Paradox remains dedicated to delivering more for fans, who keep wanting fresh experiences with Crusader Kings 3 and its many expansions. I had the opportunity to talk with QA Manager Riad Deneche and Producer Lucia Dzediti about how the game has evolved and how the team works to keep the base game exciting, even as it continues to grow.

“All Under Heaven” has been highly anticipated. Until now, the Asian continent had been on the periphery of Crusader Kings 3 campaigns, with features like The Silk Road economic storyline only giving a glimpse into the region’s history. This new expansion finally answers the constant requests from players to include Asian politics and rulers, delivering a wealth of famous leaders spread across China and the broader Asian continent.

Paradox is proud to finally fulfill this fan request. The development team committed to extensive research to ensure the storylines of Far Eastern leaders were portrayed accurately and respectfully. According to the team, the historical research and its implementation were among the most enjoyable parts of the process.

Importantly, All Under Heaven also offers plenty for those who prefer to focus on Western civilizations. The Silk Road storylines have been expanded, with even more content added to ensure the stories and politics of All Under Heaven can influence Western campaigns as well.

With this expansion, Crusader Kings 3 continues to deepen its gameplay and narrative, ensuring that both new and experienced players have exciting new realms and possibilities to explore.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146687/crusader-kings-3-all-under-heaven-expansion-interview

general

Tessa Thompson Says She ‘Forgot How to Move’ During Studio Smoke Session

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Tessa Thompson recently shared a hilarious story about the time she got too high to function while trying to record music. During an interview on *The Graham Norton Show*, the actress opened up about immersing herself in the musician lifestyle while working on songs for the *Creed II* soundtrack—a process that included a particularly memorable studio smoke session gone wrong.

“I grew up around musicians a lot, and I’ve sort of come from a musical family,” Thompson, known for her roles in *Creed* and *Thor: Love and Thunder*, explained. “But I’m not a trained musician at all. When we were making music, I was like, ‘I really want to immerse myself in the musician’s life,’ so [composer] Ludwig Göransson and I locked ourselves in a studio for two weeks to make this original music.”

The creative process was full of fun until some of the musicians decided to light up, and Thompson felt she had to join in. “Now I’m a musician,” she joked. However, what was supposed to be a bonding moment quickly turned into total paralysis.

“It was like the stoniest I’ve ever been in my entire life,” Thompson recalled with a laugh. “I remember just being there on the couch and them being like, ‘OK, let’s lay down some vocals,’ and me being like, ‘I don’t know how to move.’”

The experience spiraled into a mix of self-doubt and panic before she managed to pull herself together. “Everyone was mad, I was mad at myself,” she said. “I had to go outside and be like, ‘OK, get back in there, you can do it.’ And then I did, and it was fine. But I was like, ‘OK, I’m never going to smoke pot again when I have to perform.’”
https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/markelibert/tessa-thompson-says-she-forgot-how-to-move-during-studio-smoke-session

business, technology

Crusader Kings 3 devs on All Under Heaven expansion & improving the base game

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Since its release in 2020, **Crusader Kings 3** has continued to receive plenty of interesting content from Paradox Interactive. The latest expansion opens up the map to most of Asia, introducing Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian content to this grand strategy game.

Paradox remains dedicated to creating more content for the fans, who keep wanting to explore new possibilities within *Crusader Kings 3* and its expansions. I had the opportunity to speak with QA Manager Riad Deneche and Producer Lucia Dzediti about how the game has evolved and how the team keeps the base game exciting while adding fresh features.

### All Under Heaven: A Long Time Coming

The Asian continent has been on the periphery of *Crusader Kings 3* campaigns since the game’s launch. Until now, features like **The Silk Road** economic storyline were the closest players could get to Asian history and politics.

The new expansion, **All Under Heaven**, finally answers long-standing fan requests by fully integrating Asian politics and leaders into the grand strategy experience. It brings a wealth of famous rulers from China and across Asia to the forefront of gameplay.

Paradox took great pride in tackling this request, dedicating significant effort to research and authentically represent the storylines of Far Eastern leaders. According to the team, the historical research and implementation process was among the most enjoyable aspects of development.

### Expanding the Silk Road and Beyond

Of course, **All Under Heaven** doesn’t leave out players who prefer to focus on Western civilizations. The Silk Road storylines have been expanded, and additional content has been added to ensure that the new stories and politics will influence even Western campaigns.

This thoughtful integration means that whether you prefer playing in the East or West, *Crusader Kings 3*’s world feels more connected and dynamic than ever before.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146687/crusader-kings-3-all-under-heaven-expansion-interview

general

Welcome To The Battle For The Future Of Commerce

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Amazon Fires Warning Shots Across the Bow of AI Agents

Amazon, the giant e-commerce company, has issued a stark warning to Perplexity, the AI-powered answer engine. The company has requested that Perplexity stop allowing users to create and use purchasing agents through its Comet browser to buy products on Amazon’s website. Pause for a moment and consider that: an e-commerce vendor is essentially saying it doesn’t want people buying things from its own site—at least, not in the way those people want to.

Instead, Amazon insists that customers shop in the way it prefers. And at the heart of this dispute lies a struggle over control and power.

### The Legal Showdown Begins

Amazon’s cease-and-desist letter, now public, makes clear the company’s firm stance. Amazon lawyer Moez M. Kaba writes:
“Perplexity must immediately cease using, enabling, or deploying Comet’s artificial intelligence (‘AI’) agents or any other means to covertly intrude into Amazon’s e-commerce websites.”
Amazon considers such “intrusions” violations of federal and state computer fraud and abuse laws.

Welcome to the battle for the future—not just of commerce, but much more.

### What’s Happening?

1. You create an AI agent with Perplexity.
2. You ask it to buy something on Amazon for you.
3. It completes the purchase without identifying itself as an AI agent to Amazon.

From Perplexity’s perspective, this is simply the next step in technology and automation. Amazon, however, sees it differently—and the issue boils down to control over how customers find and buy products.

### Perplexity’s Perspective: Innovation and Convenience

In a blog post titled “Bullying is Not Innovation,” Perplexity argues that Amazon *should* embrace agentic AI. “Easier shopping means more transactions and happier customers,” the post states. However, Perplexity claims Amazon is more interested in serving ads, promoting sponsored results, and influencing customer purchases through upsells and confusing offers.

Perplexity views agentic AI as a transition from tools like wrenches or hammers to genuine assistants or even employees who act on behalf of users.

### Amazon’s Position: Transparency is the Snag

Amazon acknowledges its excitement about AI innovations. The cease-and-desist letter states:
“Amazon shares the industry’s excitement about AI innovations and sees significant potential for agentic AI to improve customer experiences in a range of areas.”

But there’s a critical caveat: transparency.

Perplexity’s AI agents log in using the user’s credentials on personal devices, effectively masquerading as the user rather than identifying themselves as agents. Amazon likens this to a child running an errand for a parent—it insists the child must identify as the parent’s agent.

### Perplexity’s Rebuttal

Perplexity counters by highlighting the nature of user agents:
“User agents are exactly that: agents of the user. They’re distinct from crawlers, scrapers, or bots. A user agent is your AI assistant—it has exactly the same permissions you have, works only at your specific request, and acts solely on your behalf.”

In essence, Perplexity argues its agents *are* the user and do not need to identify separately as agents.

### The Stakes for Both Sides

Perplexity fears that if its agents openly identify themselves as such, Amazon might block them, dynamically change product prices, or impose service fees.

Amazon’s main concern is that agentic commerce removes the curated shopping experience that includes context, impulse buying, and personalized recommendations. The cease-and-desist letter emphasizes:
“Amazon has invested billions over many years to develop a carefully curated shopping experience designed to help customers find and discover products through reviews, price, availability, delivery speed, post-purchase satisfaction measures, and personalized browsing and shopping history. This delights customers and builds trust, which is critical to Amazon’s success.”

### The Broader Context: Power, Control, and Commercial Transparency

Author and activist Cory Doctorow offers a provocative view in his book *Enshittification*, where he suggests Amazon exploits both users and merchants—arguing that “top results in product searches aren’t best matches, but those paying the highest fees.”

Regardless of viewpoint, it appears this conflict is headed for the courts. According to Lumida Wealth Management, an investment advisory firm,
“This is the first major legal test of autonomous AI agents in commerce.”

But this issue transcends shopping bots. As AI agents increasingly act on our behalf, society will need to address questions about ownership of their work, whether that work counts as our own in professional settings, and what rights and responsibilities such agents should have.

Hashbyt, a U.K. software company, summarizes the challenge succinctly:
“This isn’t just about shopping bots. It’s about the foundation of an AI-driven web.”

—

The clash between Amazon and Perplexity may well set critical precedents for the future of AI, commerce, and digital autonomy. As technology evolves, so too will the battles over control, transparency, and innovation. Stay tuned.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/welcome-to-the-battle-for-the-future-of-commerce/

general

Bill Belichick commends Drake Maye for an ‘outstanding’ start with Patriots

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“They’ve won a couple of close games, and that’s really changed their record.”

UNC head coach Bill Belichick has largely remained mum this season when it comes to talking about his former team, the Patriots, and in particular, Tar Heels alum Drake Maye. But the future Hall-of-Fame head coach did give New England’s QB some props this week while making an appearance on the “Let’s Go!” podcast with Jim Gray.

In particular, Belichick highlighted the dangers that come with the dreaded sophomore slump for young quarterbacks and how a team on the rise could seemingly splinter in short order. In this exercise, Belichick pointed to how the Washington Commanders and QB Jayden Daniels have largely regressed this season, while Maye’s ascension as one of the league’s top young quarterbacks has allowed New England to jump up to a 7-2 record.

“I think competitively, most everyone who’s been in strong competition will tell you that it’s a little bit easier to get to the top than just stay on top,” Belichick said. “Certainly, an organization like Washington could see that this year. They had a great year last year. Things fell right for them. And this year, everybody’s gunning for them. And it’s a lot tougher.

“Certainly, Drake Maye has had an outstanding year for the Patriots,” Belichick added. “They’ve won a couple of close games, and that’s really changed their record. I’d say.”

Maye has put himself in the conversation for league MVP in his first full season as New England’s starting QB, with DraftKings tabbing Maye with the third-best MVP odds (+425), behind only Josh Allen (+180) and Patrick Mahomes (+350).

Even with an uneven performance on Sunday against the Falcons, Maye is still completing 74.1 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 2,285 yards (fifth in the NFL) to go along with 17 touchdowns (tied for 3rd) and just four interceptions. He has also rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns on the year, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Of course, Maye and the Patriots might need to heed Belichick’s warning for next season when it comes to teams being more prepared to account for Maye’s playmaking and a New England team that has surprised many so far this season.

New England will need to both keep its franchise QB healthy and avoid regression across several other areas of their depth chart moving forward—two keys that the Commanders have failed to execute in what is looking to be a lost year for a franchise that made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season.
https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2025/11/05/bill-belichick-drake-maye-nfl-football-new-england-patriots-unc-north-carolina/

general

1971 Datsun 240Z Project at No Reserve

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**1971 Datsun 240Z Project – Restored Body, Includes L24 Engine & Spare Parts**

This 1971 Datsun 240Z project is an exciting opportunity for classic car enthusiasts. Acquired by the seller in 2019 after a long period of storage, the car has since undergone significant restoration work on its body and comes with a variety of valuable spare parts. It is now offered at no reserve, complete with a car cover and an Indiana title in the seller’s name.

**Highlights and Background**

– **Model:** 1971 Datsun 240Z
– **VIN:** HLS3033972
– **Title:** Indiana title (previously issued by Indiana court order), odometer reads 42,383 (odometer brand: exceeds mechanical limits; total mileage unknown)
– **Offered At:** No reserve

**Body and Restoration**

Originally finished in Racing Green (907) from the factory, this 240Z’s body has been carefully restored under current ownership. The seller reports that the car was disassembled and refinished after rust repairs, with the front frame rails and various panels replaced. Photos documenting different stages of the bodywork are available in the gallery.

Out back, a chrome bumper with a guard and rubber-trimmed overriders is in place. The interior was completely stripped before the floor pans were replaced and the interior surfaces refinished, per the seller.

**Mechanical Condition**

The classic 2.4-liter L24 inline-six engine is included but currently partially disassembled. According to the seller, the engine was last started under previous ownership (with starter fluid) but has not run since, and it should be rebuilt along with the transmission, which is also included but removed from the car.

**Included Parts & Extras**

This 240Z project comes with an extensive range of spare and refinished items, including:

– Polyurethane suspension bushings
– Refinished suspension components
– Steel wheels with tires
– Wheel covers
– Rear disc brake conversion kit
– Window glass and seals
– Bucket seats
– Refinished woodgrain steering wheel and shift knob
– Radiator (recored, per seller)
– Driveshaft U-joints
– Car cover
– Photos of uninstalled VIN plates/tags and engine stamping

**Ownership & Documentation**

The car is titled to VIN HLS3033972, as shown in the provided photos of the front firewall. The sale includes documentation as well as photographs chronicling the restoration process and various included spare parts.

—

**Summary**

This 1971 Datsun 240Z project offers a solid, restored body, a partially disassembled L24 engine, a transmission, and a generous array of parts needed for reassembly and further restoration. With no reserve, it presents a unique opportunity to complete a classic Japanese sports car to your own specifications.

**View the gallery for detailed photos and parts inventory. Serious project car buyers are encouraged to inquire for further details.**
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-datsun-240z-330/

general

Kristen Stewart Declares “State Of Emergency” Over Hollywood’s Gender Inequality: “I’m So Angry”

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As Kristen Stewart rolls out her feature directorial debut, she’s calling for more opportunities for women in filmmaking.

The Oscar nominee, whose film *The Chronology of Water* is set for a limited North American release in December, spoke openly about the challenges she faced. Stewart called out the “misogynist cacophony” she had to break through in order to make the adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s book.

“In a post-Me Too moment, it seemed possible that stories made by and for women were finally getting their due, that we might be allowed or even encouraged to express ourselves and our shared experiences, all of our experiences without filter,” she said at Chanel’s 2025 Women’s Luncheon on Tuesday, according to *People*.

“But I can now attest to the bare-knuckle brawling that it takes every single frame,” Stewart added. “When the content is too dark, too taboo, when the frankness with which it serves up observations about experiences routinely experienced by women frequently provoke disgust and rejection.”

Noting she was “in a severe state of PMS today,” Stewart added, “But I relish being able to say that my nerves are close to the surface of my skin and it is a great day for that.”

“So in my hormonally activated state, let’s get further into this. It’s awkward to talk about inequality for some people, and it’s more awkward when the nature of inequality is somewhat ephemeral. We can discuss wage gaps and taxes on tampons and measure it in lots of quantifiable ways, but the violence is silencing. It’s like we’re not even supposed to be angry. But I can eat this podium with a fork and f***ing knife, I’m so angry.

“The backsliding from our brief moment of progress is statistically devastating. It is devastating. Such a pitiful number of films from the past last year have been made by women,” she said, adding: “Our business is in a state of emergency, man.

“I am thankful to you. I am not grateful to a boys club business model that pretends to want to hang out with us while siphoning our resources and belittling our true perspectives.”

Stewart concluded, “Those of us who have been lucky enough to make a movie have a responsibility to those who are yet to come.”
https://deadline.com/2025/11/kristen-stewart-state-emergency-hollywood-gender-inequality-1236608467/

business, technology

Marvel Games lead teases likely collaboration with Insomniac Games past Wolverine

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By all accounts, Marvel Games and Insomniac Games’ relationship has been going swimmingly. They are now three successful Spider-Man games into their partnership, with the highly anticipated Wolverine title around the corner. Given this strong track record, there’s little reason to believe their collaborations will stop after Wolverine.

Marvel Games’ general manager, Haluk Mentes, recently spoke to Game Informer about the relationship between Marvel and Insomniac—and his comments were glowing, to say the least. Even as they continue working on Wolverine, set for a fall 2026 release, Mentes gushed over the strong partnership Marvel and Insomniac have built.

Of course, it’s not just about Insomniac. Marvel Games has been branching out into a variety of projects, showcasing the diversity of their portfolio. This includes everything from the NetEase hero shooter Marvel Rivals to the Second Dinner digital card game Marvel Snap. They’ve also embraced indie titles, such as Dotemu and Tribute Games’ beat-‘em-up Marvel Cosmic Invasion, among others.

Mentes expressed pride in Marvel Games’ success in spreading its brand across multiple genres and platforms. He also welcomed even further diversity from the developers working with Marvel, signaling an exciting future ahead for fans and gamers alike.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146686/marvel-games-haluk-mentes-insomniac-games-wolverine

general

Super Micro Computer: Ugly Quarter, Beautiful Future

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**Analyst’s Disclosure:**
I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SMCI, either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

**Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure:**
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole.

Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker, US investment adviser, or investment bank. Our analysts are third-party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4838581-super-micro-computer-ugly-quarter-beautiful-future?source=feed_all_articles

general

Decred Price Prediction 2025: Is a 65% Crash to $25 Coming?

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**Decred Price Prediction 2025: Is a 65% Crash to $25 Coming?**

Following its official statement on November 4th, highlighting Decred’s proven decentralized governance model, DCR crypto surged over 150% in a single day. This explosive rally signals renewed investor confidence in privacy and governance-driven assets. But the question remains: will this momentum push DCR toward $100 or higher, or will bearish forces take over as frustrated investors exit, citing a lack of gains? Let’s explore what has happened and what could be next for Decred in this price prediction article.

—

### Governance and Privacy Drive Decred’s Sharp Revival

After the Fed’s recent rate cut, Decred’s price remained strongly bullish into November, benefiting from a growing appreciation for its robust governance structure. The official Decred account garnered attention by reposting a 2018 statement from Cathie Wood, where she praised the project for addressing Bitcoin’s structural challenges via strong on-chain governance.

This reaffirmation ignited investor sentiment, propelling DCR/USD from $27 to $70 between November 3rd and 4th—a stunning 150% daily surge. Notably, this move coincided with a broader uptick across privacy coins like DASH, XMR, and ICP, suggesting that Q4 2025 could favor privacy coins after an exchange-driven Q3.

—

### From Long Dormancy to Explosive Growth

Decred had languished after peaking at an all-time high of $250 in 2021, as the spotlight shifted to narratives like real-world assets (RWA), gaming, and artificial intelligence. However, its recent November rally signals a market shift.

Starting from a low of $16 on November 1st, DCR rocketed 340%—breaking major resistance areas at $25 and $50, and ultimately topping out at $70. Remarkably, this surge defied the broader market downtrend stemming from Federal Reserve policy uncertainty. As Bitcoin dipped below $100,000 and large-cap altcoins corrected sharply, capital rotated into privacy-focused projects like Decred, seen as safer amid regulatory concerns and volatility.

—

### Profit Booking and Key Levels to Watch

Despite this spectacular ascent, profit-taking quickly set in. Long-term holders, underwater since 2021, used the rally as an exit opportunity, resulting in a swift retracement. Data shows DCR pulled back from $70 to $40, losing nearly 40% of its weekly gains. Still, Decred maintains over 130% gains from its November low, indicating strong underlying buying pressure and market conviction.

Looking ahead, if bulls can defend the crucial $32 support zone, a renewed push toward $70—and potentially $100 by year’s end—is possible, fortifying Decred’s price prediction for 2025. Sustained accumulation and bullish sentiment would further reinforce this outlook.

However, if $32 fails as support, the next significant level sits near $25—a 65% retracement from recent highs—which some analysts warn could materialize if sellers dominate.

—

### Technical Outlook

Technical indicators currently support the growth narrative:

– **EMA Bands:** Supported the rally, showing clear upward momentum.
– **Awesome Oscillator:** Indicated strong bullish momentum.
– **RSI:** Approached an overheated level near 90, underscoring the rapid ascent but also hinting at a potential cool-down or consolidation.

—

### Conclusion: Will Decred Crash or Soar in 2025?

Decred’s resurgence is powered by renewed attention to governance and privacy. If the $32–$40 support zone holds and broader sentiment remains favorable, targets of $70 or even $100 could be achievable before year-end. Conversely, a breakdown below $32 would shift focus to $25—a level representing a potential 65% crash from recent highs.

As always, monitor key support and resistance levels, technical indicators, and the broader market sentiment before making any investment decisions.

*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult with a professional before investing.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/decred-price-prediction-2025-is-a-65-crash-to-25-coming/