Tag Archives: particularly

puppetry, theft

Somebody stole her entire livelihood. L.A. puppeteer is devastated — but not beaten

Leave a comment

Jackie Smook has spent years crafting characters and props for *Dilly’s World*, her whimsical web series and touring theatrical show about a girl confronting big issues with the help of some puppet friends.

Her life’s work was stolen early Monday when thieves swiped a shipping box containing many of her puppets from outside her Beachwood Canyon apartment. Among the missing are Angus the bassist, Phyllis the mail-delivering puppet, Holstein, who was holding an intricate saxophone prop, and Dumont, who had a television stand. A large puppeteered car, drum set, piano, wigs, costumes, and all manner of merchandise were also stolen.

Smook estimates the total cost to be roughly $40,000. “We are starting from zero, basically,” she said. “It’s just a really tragic loss. My hands bled to make these things.”

The U-Haul box stuffed with props was delivered Saturday afternoon from Chicago, where Smook recently toured. She went to unpack it around 6 a.m. Monday and realized it was gone. So was the trailer carrying the box, suggesting that someone broke a lock, attached the entire thing to their vehicle, and drove off, Smook said.

Surveillance stills from a neighbor’s camera suggest the box was taken just minutes before Smook came outside between 5:35 and 5:49 a.m., but the footage did not capture any potential suspects, she said.

Police responded and took a report of a stolen vehicle, a Los Angeles Police Department public information officer confirmed.

The blow was particularly devastating because the show has no big investors or grant financing, Smook explained. She has mostly kept it afloat with money saved while working in real estate in Chicago.

Smook is now racing to rebuild all of the props and puppets by February 22, when her next show is slated to take place at the Dynasty Typewriter theater. But she’s not doing it alone: dozens of artists have reached out to help, including those in Los Angeles, Chicago, and even as far as Toronto and Trinidad, Smook said.

She has also launched an online fundraiser to bolster the effort. There’s no way to replace all that was lost in less than two weeks, but Smook has been heartened by the support.

“The show will totally go on,” she said. “And it’s going to be one of the best shows ever because of how much the community has come together.”
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-10/somebody-stole-her-entire-livelihood-la-puppeteer-is-devastated-but-not-beaten

general

Bieniemy Back With Chiefs as Eagles’ OC Search Intensifies

Leave a comment

Former Eagles running back Eric Bieniemy is back with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Tom Pelissero, returning to the offensive coordinator role where he helped build one of the most dominant dynasties in modern NFL history.

From a Philadelphia Eagles perspective, the news lands with a familiar sting. Bieniemy wasn’t just part of Kansas City’s rise — he was one of the architects behind the offense that ultimately ripped a Lombardi Trophy away from the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Now, after Kansas City’s offense showed signs of regression without him, head coach Andy Reid has brought back a trusted lieutenant to stabilize Patrick Mahomes and reset the Chiefs’ championship standard.

### Chiefs Reclaim a Proven Weapon the Eagles Know Too Well

Bieniemy’s return signals urgency from Kansas City. The Chiefs didn’t experiment or overthink it. They went back to what worked.

During Bieniemy’s previous stint, Kansas City consistently finished as a top-tier offense, pairing Reid’s system with Bieniemy’s demanding, detail-driven approach. His voice carried significant weight in the locker room, particularly with Mahomes, and his influence was clear in situational football—red zone execution, third-down efficiency, and postseason composure.

From the Eagles’ viewpoint, that’s the unsettling part. Philadelphia has spent the past two seasons searching for offensive consistency, cycling through different ideas while rivals double down on trusted leadership. Kansas City’s move feels surgical. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ recent offensive adjustments have seemed reactive.

### Eagles Looking To Replace Patullo At OC Themselves

Bieniemy’s return looms large, especially as the Eagles remain in the middle of reshaping their offensive staff. The team is tasked with restoring rhythm, creativity, and consistency around quarterback Jalen Hurts.

His return sharpens the contrast between a rival that moved swiftly and an Eagles team that now must get its decision right—not just soon, but decisively.

This high-profile hiring around the league underscores what’s at stake for Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator search. The next coordinator must do more than simply call plays. He must establish a clear offensive identity, maximize elite skill talent, and provide week-to-week adaptability against top-tier opponents.

Multiple of the Eagles’ top OC suitors have bowed out of the race. Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is set to take over the offensive coordinator position at the Los Angeles Chargers. According to Dianna Russini, Brian Daboll wants the Bills’ head coaching job, but if he does not receive it, he is expected to become the next offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans instead.

With the top two options off the board, the Eagles are now operating in “Plan C” mode. Some of the top available candidates include Matt Nagy, Joe Brady, and Kellen Moore.

### What Philadelphia Needs in Its Next Offensive Coordinator

For the Eagles, it’s particularly important to land an offensive coordinator who can maximize the talents of their playmakers rather than neutralize them.

Under Patullo, the Eagles ran a high volume of hitch routes that effectively limited the passing attack’s potential, which features Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. Compounding this issue were injuries on the offensive line, contributing to Saquon Barkley averaging fewer than four yards per carry after his impressive 2,000-yard season last year.

As Philadelphia moves forward, the pressure is on to find a coordinator who can reverse these trends and help the Eagles reach—and sustain—a championship level.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/bienemy-back-chiefs-eagles-oc-intensifies/

general

The same Knicks issue is rearing its head once again

Leave a comment

An early-season struggle has come back to hurt the Knicks. Dealing with teams that pressure ball handlers aggressively—especially with quick, athletic guards—was something that gave them problems earlier in the season. The Knicks are not particularly quick or athletic, and physicality can at times throw them off their rhythm.

They dealt with it well in wins over the Magic and Spurs in the NBA Cup semifinal and final, and looked to have taken a step forward. But they’ve since lost two of their past three games to the 76ers and Timberwolves, and that physicality discrepancy was a big reason why.

“Not great,” Josh Hart said of how they handled it against the Timberwolves. “They did a good job of getting into the ball. It was kind of getting us out of rhythm and those kinds of things. Give them credit, they played good and we didn’t play well enough today.”

This struggle has resulted in an uptick in turnovers. The Knicks committed 18 and 19 turnovers, respectively, in the two losses to the 76ers and Timberwolves. For the season, they average just 13.7 turnovers per game.

The 76ers had a 14-point advantage in points scored off turnovers. It was less glaring against the Timberwolves, though they still had a two-point advantage on the Knicks and used the turnovers to stymie Knicks’ comeback attempts. Hart led the way with six turnovers in that game.

It is in this area that Jalen Brunson’s absence has been most felt beyond scoring. As the Knicks’ primary orchestrator, Brunson did not commit a single turnover in the two previous games before Tuesday, recording 69 points and 17 assists in that stretch.

“It’s gonna be hard to win on the road if you have 19 turnovers for 22 points off those turnovers,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after Tuesday’s game. “And part of it those turnovers led to easy baskets in transition. Give Minnesota credit, because they brought a lot of physicality to the game and created a lot of those turnovers.”

The Knicks have been complaining to officials about fouls instead of matching the Timberwolves’ physicality. Frustration boiled over in the third quarter when Hart was assessed a flagrant 1 for hitting out at Rudy Gobert’s knees. Hart had been knocked to the ground battling for a rebound with Gobert and believed he was fouled.

That flagrant was the wrong kind of aggression the Knicks needed.

“I talked to all of our vets,” Brown said. “The officials, they’re not gonna help you win the game. They’re human. They’re gonna make mistakes out there. And we, as a team, starting with me, we have to try to leave the referees alone, because we’re good enough to still go win games.”
https://nypost.com/2025/12/24/sports/the-same-knicks-issue-is-rearing-its-head-once-again/

general

The Knicks are proving to be an oasis in a New York sports wasteland

Leave a comment

It’s funny how these things happen, and funnier how quickly they can change. But in the moment these sentences are written—late in the afternoon of Dec. 9, 2025, maybe three hours before the Knicks and Raptors tip off in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena—there seems to be one clear truth about New York sports: the Knicks are the oasis in the sporting city.

They are the patch of calm where everywhere else, storm clouds are either raging or gathering momentum. This can all change on a dime, of course, or with the snap of an ankle, the crackle of a knee, or even if things go particularly poorly, beginning with an unfavorable outcome of the game against the Raptors.

But for now, all is Zen with the Knicks. Of all teams.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/09/sports/knicks-are-proving-to-be-oasis-in-a-new-york-sports-wasteland/

general

Thailand Orders Worldcoin to Halt Operations, Delete User Data

Leave a comment

TLDR Thailand has ordered Worldcoin to suspend operations and delete user data for violating local data protection laws. Authorities instructed Worldcoin to remove all biometric data, including 1. 2 million iris scans, collected from Thai users. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society cited the exchange of iris scans for Worldcoin tokens as a violation of national privacy standards. Despite halting operations, Worldcoin maintains compliance with local regulations and denies any wrongdoing. Worldcoin’s token price dropped following the regulatory action, reflecting market concerns about the company’s operations. Thailand has ordered Worldcoin to cease operations and delete user data following violations of the country’s data protection laws. The suspension affects around 1. 2 million iris scans collected from Thai users, marking another regulatory hurdle for the digital identity platform. Authorities claim the platform’s practices violated the Personal Data Protection Act, which governs the collection and use of personal data. Thai Authorities Demand Immediate Action The Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand has instructed Worldcoin to delete all biometric data collected through its iris-scanning technology. This follows a raid on one of the company’s iris-scanning locations in October, during which authorities raised concerns about potential violations of digital asset laws. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society confirmed the company’s practices conflicted with local data protection standards, particularly around the exchange of iris scans for Worldcoin tokens. Worldcoin responded by confirming that it had paused its verification activities and removed Thailand from its list of available locations. “We have complied with local regulations and will continue to maintain open communication with the authorities,” the company said. However, Worldcoin stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing. The platform emphasized the benefits it provides in protecting users from identity theft and fraud. It argued that its technology offers a critical layer of security for Thai users concerned about AI-driven scams. Despite the regulatory challenge, Worldcoin maintained its stance that it has prioritized user privacy and data protection. Regulatory Pressure Expands Globally Thailand is not the only country to scrutinize Worldcoin’s operations. On November 22, 2025, Colombia ordered the deletion of biometric data and suspended Worldcoin’s operations. The Philippines followed suit with similar measures, and countries such as Indonesia, Germany, Kenya, and Brazil have expressed concerns about the platform’s data privacy practices. Worldcoin has consistently defended its methods, claiming that biometric data is anonymized and not stored on the Orb devices used for iris scanning. “We ensure that all data collected is anonymized and protected from breaches,” the company reiterated. Despite these assurances, concerns continue to mount across various nations about the risks of storing sensitive biometric data. Worldcoin’s Market Impact The ongoing regulatory challenges have directly impacted Worldcoin’s market performance. Following the Thai authorities’ directive, the price of Worldcoin (WLD) dropped to an intraday low of $0. 6172. The price later recovered slightly to around $0. 6192, but this was part of a broader decline in the token’s price. Worldcoin has faced a prolonged bear market, with its token price falling by nearly 33% over the past year. Further compounding the issue, 37 million WLD tokens, worth approximately $23 million, were unlocked on November 22, 2025. These tokens quickly moved to exchanges, increasing the circulating supply and contributing to additional selling pressure. While historical trends suggest that regulatory interventions may lead to short-term price rebounds, broader market conditions, including rising supply, suggest a more cautious outlook. Traders and investors will need to monitor the immediate support at $0. 573, as any further breach could trigger a more profound decline. The post Thailand Orders Worldcoin to Halt Operations, Delete User Data appeared first on Blockonomi.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/thailand-orders-worldcoin-to-halt-operations-delete-user-data/

games

All Wolf Den locations in Ghost of Yotei

Leave a comment

Your friendly wolf companion in Ghost of Yotei is not just there to add to the mystique. You can rank up a special skill tree to turn your lupine friend into a supplementary murder machine that can help you out in challenging situations. To do so, you need to earn its trust by finding all the wolf dens in the game and completing the mission attached to each one. All Wolf Den locations in Ghost of Yotei When you find each wolf den, you will need to follow the wolf and assist it. Usually, this will mean taking on enemies who are trying to kill wolves in the local area, and sometimes it will mean a duel against a particularly powerful foe, so be careful. Yotei Grasslands Great Mountain Wolf Den this den can be found to the northwest of the Crow’s Nest Watchtower. Green Hill Wolf Den this den is located south of Leake Shikotsu, beside the road that runs south to Shirahige Falls. Ishikari Plains Old Wound Wolf Den this can be found west of the Rumoi River, to the northwest of Stone Jaw Coast. Dying Fire Wolf Den is found to the west of the Matasumae Outpost. Tokachi Range Howling Fields Wolf Den can be found to the south of the Boar’s Eye Cave. Hunter’s Watch Wolf Den can be found in the center of the Ohara Plains. Nayoro Wilds White Scars Wolf Den this is found just north of Kankan Creek along the Nupur River. Teshio Ridge Cold Lake Wolf Den this den can be found to the east of Sarobetsu Lake. Biting Wind Wolf Den this can be found to the north of the Sentinel Forest. Oshima Coast Waterfall Wolf Den this den can be found to the east of the Saito Artillery Outpost.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146946/all-wolf-den-locations-ghost-of-yotei

general

Palworld: How to get Ancient Technology Points

Leave a comment

Palworld is a grand adventure where players progress through a huge open world, raising Pals and becoming more effective at crafting and survival. The latter, particularly, is aided by many character progression elements, including Ancient Technology Points. One of the most important resources in the game, players will want to gather as many of these as possible to obtain new unlockables. Here is everything to know about Ancient Technology Points in Palworld. Read on to know more. Also Read: 5 ways Palworld is better than Pokemon Scarlet and Violet What are Ancient Technology Points in Palworld and how to get them? Simply put, there are a few ways to obtain Ancient Technology Points in the game. For the most part, players will obtain them after defeating Alpha bosses (including Bounties) in the overworld and main Tower bosses, both for the first time. Note that while Alphas and Bounties grant only 1 Ancient Technology point, Tower bosses drop 5. Ancient Technology Points are used to unlock handy equipment and structures in the purple nodes under the Technology tab. These include crucial items and tools that cannot be obtained elsewhere, from food pouches to keep Pals fed to unlocking new mining structures and unique gear, like boots that help air-dash or double jump. While bosses can be farmed as many times as desired across the open world since they respawn, players will not be granted Ancient Technology Points after the first fight. Thankfully, there is a workaround: Ancient Technical Manuals. These are a consumable found in Palworld that grants 1 point when used. While they are randomly found in the world, there is a relatively consistent way to farm them: chests that spawn in the Wildlife Sanctuaries and dungeons (such as those on the Sakurajima Island) have a chance to drop Ancient Technical Manuals. Since multiple chests spawn in these areas and reset after a while, players essentially have an infinite way of farming these points. That said, these are mid to late game areas, and visiting the Sanctuary will put a bounty on the players’ heads if spotted on the island by the guards, so some caution is advised. Check out more articles: Is Palworld worth playing in 2025? All new Pals in Palworld Tides of Terraria update, and where to get them Palworld Terraria dungeon location, drops, and things you shouldn’t miss.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/mmo/palworld-how-get-ancient-technology-points

general

Cowboys Cut Ties with Former 1st Round Pick Cornerback

Leave a comment

The Dallas Cowboys earned a much-needed win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11, keeping their dim playoff hopes alive for at least one more week. If they really want to give themselves a shot at finding their way into the postseason, taking down the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 would certainly help their cause. For much of the season, the Cowboys have been piecing things together on the defensive side of the ball, particularly when it comes to their secondary. One guy who has been helping out on the backside of the defense was former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam, but his time with the team came to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon. Cowboys Release Kaiir Elam Before Week 12 Meeting with Eagles Entering the season, the Cowboys were hoping to be able to rely on their top duo of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland at cornerback, but injuries have once again limited their time together on the field. Diggs is currently on injured reserve with a concussion, while Bland missed a pair of games earlier in the season due to a foot injury. With Diggs and Bland in and out of the lineup, Elam took on a bigger role in the secondary. The No. 23 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Elam was traded to Dallas from the Buffalo Bills over the offseason after he struggled mightily early in his career. Unfortunately, those struggles continued with the Cowboys. Elam suited up for all 10 of Dallas’ games this season, racking up 29 tackles and a pass deflection. His coverage numbers were still awful, though, as he allowed a passer rating of 105. 0 when he was the closest defender in coverage. With Bland healthy and Caelen Carson and Reddy Steward earning more snaps, the front office decided to cut Elam before their upcoming matchup in order to open up a roster spot for running back Malik Davis. “The Cowboys waived CB Kaiir Elam and signed RB Malik Davis from the practice squad,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared in a post on X. Cowboys Looking to Get Revenge vs. Eagles After Week 1 Loss While Elam continued to earn snaps for the Cowboys, it was more due to a lack of available options. Since entering the NFL, the young cornerback has been unable to hold up in coverage, which is why he’s looking for a new home once again after getting traded just a couple of months ago. Another team could look to take a flier on Elam, but his tape simply is not good, and it’s fair to wonder what the future holds for him. In the meantime, Dallas will continue putting the final touches on its preparations for its upcoming matchup with Philadelphia. After suffering a hard-fought 24-20 loss to the Eagles back in Week 1, the Cowboys will be eager to get some revenge, and a win here may be the only shot they have at salvaging their season. Kickoff for this highly anticipated divisional matchup is scheduled for 4: 25 p. m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/kaiir-elam-waived-cut/

general

Adrian Fontes condemns President Trump for saying Mark Kelly should face death penalty

Leave a comment

PHOENIX Arizona’s top elections official said President Donald Trump’s recent comments about congressional Democrats who reminded military members not to obey unlawful orders are dangerous for democracy. “The Democrats did the same thing my drill instructors did in Marine Corps boot camp. They told us, ‘You’re not to obey unlawful orders.’ Pretty simple. I think everybody whoever wore the uniform knows that,” Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told KTAR News 92. 3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Friday. One of the Democrats Trump condemned was U. S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who said he and the other Democrats were specifically referring to recent strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea, which he believes are “really close” to crossing over into illegal activity. They delivered their message in a Tuesday video post. Two days later, Trump lashed out on Truth Social in a response to a Washington Examiner article about the video. What did President Donald Trump say in response to ‘unlawful orders’ post? “It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” the president posted. “Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.” Trump later added that he believes the video was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He also shared a post by a user who wrote, “HANG THEM.” “The president of the United States of America threatened American citizens and political opponents with death. That’s not what we do in this country. That’s not how you America,” Fontes said. Trump’s comments are putting the country down a dark path, he added. “This is some serious stuff here and particularly when you’ve got calls for political violence, which this is clearly,” Fontes said. “It’s not just unseemly and way beneath the office, but it’s disturbing, and it really takes us to a much darker place than, I think, we’ve been in before in this country.”.
https://ktar.com/arizona-news/unlawful-orders-trump-fontes-kelly/5780611/

general

This ‘iPhone 17 vs 16 vs 15 vs 14 vs 13 vs 12’ speed test video is a must-watch

Leave a comment

A fun new video from the PhoneBuff YouTube channel shows just how much faster iPhones actually get year over year. Or do they? Watch it below to find out. How much do yearly performance gains really add up to? You’ve probably seen one of PhoneBuff’s videos, where robotic arms zip across smartphone screens to compare how different models handle the same set of tasks. And while many may feel compelled to point out that these tests aren’t exactly scientific or definitive, there’s something about them that’s equally entertaining, creative, and hypnotic. The experiment is an interesting way to visualize just how much each device improved or even slipped in performance year over year, as well as to highlight how those year-to-year gains compound over several generations. With tasks involving image capture and processing, app loading, gaming, and heavier workflows like photo and video editing, the video shows that performance gains aren’t as straightforward as one might think. During multiple stages, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, for instance, holds its own pretty solidly against newer models, even though (spoiler alert) the iPhone 17 Pro Max glides by and finishes the test with time to spare against all competitors. Even if you’re not a fan of this sort of speed test, and if I’m being honest, they’ve never been my jam, this one is particularly interesting, and may be well worth 12 minutes of your time. Watch it below: Do you still rock an older iPhone? How’s the performance? Let us know in the comments. Accessory deals on Amazon.
https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/21/iphone-pro-max-speed-test/