The Denver Broncos entered their Week 12 bye with one glaring question mark at the running back position following J. K. Dobbins’ season-ending injury. Unfortunately, their attempt to bring in a replacement for Dobbins on Sunday was foiled by perhaps their biggest AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. For the most part, the 2025 season has gone as good as it possibly could for the Broncos. Their 9-2 record has them firmly at the top of the AFC West and potentially in contention for the top overall seed in the AFC. While Denver is riding an eight-game winning streak, there are reasons to be concerned about their rushing attack without Dobbins in the picture. Notably, the Broncos were only able to rush for 59 yards in their Week 11 win over the Chiefs, their first game since their star running back’s injury. More news: 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey Sends Bold Message on Former Panthers Teammate Attempting to fill the void of Dobbins’ absence, the Broncos were reportedly nearing a deal with free agent running back Dameon Pierce, according to Broncos reporter Mike Klis. However, Pierce instead opted to sign with the Chiefs’ practice squad. More news: Patriots’ Will Campbell Carted to Locker Room With Apparent Leg Injury Denver will now look elsewhere to potentially add depth at running back to help replace Dobbins. Meanwhile, the Chiefs add a player who can potentially factor into their running back room, which could come back to bite the Broncos. The Chiefs and Broncos do still have one remaining game against one another in Week 17 that could have ramifications at the top of the AFC West standings. If Pierce does end up gaining a role on the Chiefs’ offense by the time that matchup happens, missing out on signing him could sting even more. On the bright side for Denver, they will get an ideal matchup to potentially get their run game going in Week 13 when they take on the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards in football this year. So maybe rookie running back RJ Harvey can show that he is fully capable of taking on a workhorse role without Dobbins or Pierce in the picture.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/denver-broncos-lose-out-on-jk-dobbins-replacement-to-kansas-city-chiefs-11096541
Tag Archives: unfortunately
Endemic Fraud in Minnesota’s Somali Community Is an Issue; but the Problem Doesn’t Involve Illegals
President Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to lash out at the reports about Somali remittances from the United States funding the ongoing civil war in Somalia; see Minnesota Fraud Feeding Terror: Autism, Meals Scams Bankroll Al-Shabaab RedState. Minnesota, under Governor Waltz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota. Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing. Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER! President DJT My colleague, Rusty Weiss, has more on the depth and breadth of fraud coming from one immigrant community. Unfortunately, the President’s announcement is not going to come close to solving the problem. The Somali population in Minnesota is about 86, 000. It is concentrated in the Twin Cities area, and dates from the early 1990s, and the refugee stream from the civil war that resulted in our military involvement and the Black Hawk Down incident; see Operation GOTHIC SERPENT. October 3-4, 1993 RedState. That Somalia civil war is not to be confused with the current one. More importantly, the majority, 58 percent, were born in the United States. The remaining 42 percent were born in Somalia, and most of them are naturalized U. S. citizens. The Temporary Protected Status for Somalis ends on March 17, 2026, unless otherwise extended. Work authorization expired on September 17, 2025. Of the non-resident Somalis in the United States, only 705 are here under TPS. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for ending TPS for most nationalities, but let’s not pretend that canceling it for Somalis will have any measurable impact on fraud and support for terrorism. In short, revoking TPS for Somalis will reduce the number of Somali immigrants by a fraction of a percent, assuming the case is adjudicated before TPS naturally expires, and there is no evidence that the fraud originating in Minnesota’s Somali community is by non-U. S. citizens. The most recent arrest for “material support of terrorism” was a 23-year-old Somali who was a naturalized citizen. I suspect that U. S. citizens, not Somali nationals, led the massive $250 million ripoff of the Feeding Our Future program. Likewise, the $14+ million “autism” scam seems to have been led by a U. S. citizen. The problem, as I see it, is multidimensional. The core problem was the decision to settle a large number of Third (if that) World refugees in a fairly homogenous community. That resettlement achieved a critical mass that allowed the Somalis to avoid assimilation, see any speech by Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05) if you need evidence. It also allowed the implantation of Somali culture into the United States. For instance, the recent election for mayor of Minneapolis hinged on the Somali clan identity of one of the candidates; see We’re Doomed. Omar Fateh Lost the Minneapolis Mayor’s Race Because He Lost the Loyalty of Somali Clans RedState. Part of that culture sees outsiders as fat sheep to be fleeced. The idea of “outsiders” leaves no one safe. Me and my clan against the world; Me and my family against my clan; Me and my brother against my family; Me against my brother. -The hierarchy of priorities, as ordered by a Somali proverb From Me Against My Brother; At War in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda; by Scott Peterson. A free online PDF of the book is at this link; the quote can be found on page 27. Small wonder that grants that are part of a high-trust society are pillaged for the benefit of family and self. And if part of that family is in a terrorist group back home, who cares? The second part of the problem is that theft and corruption on this scale can’t exist without the authorities’ knowledge. Christopher Rufo acknowledges that in his epic expose of Somali corruption. David Gaither, a former Minnesota state senator and a nonprofit leader] believes the mainstream media, alongside Minnesota’s Democratic establishment, have long turned a blind eye to fraud within the Somali community. This, in turn, allowed the problem to metastasize. “The media does not want to put a light on this,” Gaither said. “And if you’re a politician, it’s a significant disadvantage for you to alienate the Somali community. If you don’t win the Somali community, you can’t win Minneapolis. And if you don’t win Minneapolis, you can’t win the state. End of story.” As if to prove the point, here is a thoroughly stump-broke Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara apologizing to the Somali community for doing his job. Not to put too fine a point on it, there is a massive dose of Whtle liberal guilt at work. If you see the Somalis as downtrodden “POC,” victimized by “systemic racism,” you’re not very likely to make yourself part of a government you hate by reporting blatant fraud to the police. It is estimated that 30, 000 women and girls in Minnesota have undergone female genital mutilation, despite it being a felony. Undoubtedly, some of those were sent back to Somalia for the festivities, but common sense tells you that if a majority of Somali women have had the procedure, there is a thriving underground community of “reproductive health” providers. Part of the solution is to shut down the refugee flow so the Somali community distances itself from the “old country.” Another vital part of the solution is a comprehensive audit followed by the firing and selected imprisonment of government and non-profit officials who knew, or should have known, what was going on and did nothing. Some consideration should be given, where possible, to denaturalizing people involved in this fraud. I’d think that most naturalized citizens supporting the al-Shabaab terror group could lose citizenship just as easily as Nazi death camp guards did. Perhaps the problem will go away, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The only way it ends is with fearless enforcement of the law and the same type of federal scrutiny that crushed the Sicilian Mafia.
https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/11/22/endemic-fraud-in-minnesotas-somali-community-is-an-issue-but-the-problem-doesnt-involve-illegals-n2196469
Cowboys Cut Ties with Former 1st Round Pick Cornerback
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/
Weeks after John Elkann’s ‘talk less’ remark to Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc doesn’t hold back in his criticism of the car
Charles Leclerc shared flat-out criticism about Ferrari’s years-long issue with its F1 car, which has denied him performance in wet conditions, such as those at the Las Vegas GP qualifying on Saturday. The Scuderia had mixed but dismal results in qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q1 in dead last, while Leclerc made it to Q3, but could only manage P9. After the team’s double DNF at the Brazilian GP two weeks ago, Ferrari chairman John Elkann had criticized the drivers, urging them to ‘talk less and focus on driving.’ Ahead of the Las Vegas GP weekend, both Leclerc and Hamilton had highlighted that the criticism was in a positive light and promised better results. Unfortunately, it all went downhill this weekend. Ferrari had decent pace in the practice sessions, with Leclerc topping FP1 on Friday. However, none of the three free practice sessions had wet conditions. FP2 was a slightly damp session, but nowhere near the qualifying conditions. In qualifying, both Ferrari drivers had trouble with getting their tires in the right window, especially Charles Leclerc, who found himself in the runoff areas more often. In a post-qualifying interview, the Monegasque blamed Ferrari’s lack of adaptability to wet conditions, stating that it has been an unsolvable problem that has existed since he joined the team in 2019. “Since I joined the team, we’ve been struggling massively at finding the grip in those conditions. It’s usually frustrating because it’s probably been my biggest strength in the junior categories. We are doing something wrong. I have no idea what that is because we’ve turned the car upside down.” Charles Leclerc expanded on how former teammate Carlos Sainz, who had driven for Red Bull, Renault, and McLaren, and current teammate Lewis Hamilton, who brought a wealth of experience from his time at McLaren and Mercedes, gave their inputs to help Ferrari’s setup in wet conditions, but to no avail. “We’ve had Lewis and obviously Carlos before that, who joined from the other teams that will tell us the fittings they had with the other cars, but it’s just extremely difficult to find the grip with our car, and very unpredictable as well, which causes us to do a lot of mistakes. It’s not that we are not trying because we’re the team which tried absolutely everything, but for some reason, we haven’t found our way yet.” Charles Leclerc ‘won’t miss’ the Ferrari SF25 in the new technical era from 2026 Charles Leclerc found the cold and wet conditions during the Las Vegas GP qualifying to be too tricky. However, he eventually made peace with the underwhelming result, stating, “It is what it is.” The Monegasque also spoke about Ferrari’s pursuit of second place in the constructors’ championship, which now feels far-fetched. Mercedes built a 36-point lead over the Scuderia after the Brazilian GP, and on Saturday, George Russell qualified in P4, ensuring a great starting position to extend its lead in the race on Sunday. “I mean, we’re fighting for third or maybe second, but honestly, second is going to be difficult for the constructors’ [championship]. What I want to do is to be fighting for wins, so surely it’s not a car I will miss.” Though Kimi Antonelli qualified in P17, he will start ahead of Lewis Hamilton. So, the best result for Ferrari at the Las Vegas GP would be minimizing the extension of Mercedes’ lead, with Charles Leclerc needing to do the heavy lifting.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-weeks-john-elkann-s-talk-less-remark-ferrari-drivers-charles-leclerc-hold-back-criticism-car
Wicked: For Good – Fails To Stick An Already Very Flawed Ending
Wicked: For Good might not be technically terrible, but much like the last film, considering the amount of talent and everything else involved with these movies, they should have been better. Wicked: For Good already had a difficult task of adapting the weaker second act of the musical, but despite an over two-hour running time, everything is somehow both rushed and also drags the pacing to a slog. Director: Jon M. Chu Summary: Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The second of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical. Wicked: For Good Struggles To Adapt A Flawed Act Two It seems that the pink and green glasses have finally come off some people’s eyes. Wicked: Part One, released last year, was far from a perfect film, but what stood out the most was how it completely failed to justify not only splitting this into two films, but two films with over two-hour runtimes. However, the second act of the musical is dense as hell, with a ton going on. Going into it, the thought was that perhaps that second half was going to show why this film had to be split into two. A whole movie that would give that dense act room to breathe and maybe even add something to it that would make the adaptation from stage to screen make sense. Unfortunately, Wicked: For Good is just as weak as the second half of the musical is, but it is much slower and was released a year later than the first film. The second act of the musical is supposed to be a jarring change, but this works on stage because the second half almost immediately follows the first. With movies, there is a lot more time between the parts when you’re doing a true part one and two, so you have to work twice as hard to make the films work in that original context, but also still work as standalone pieces. Wicked: For Good picks up not long after the events of the first film, but despite part one ending on a big moment, it takes Wicked: For Good a half hour to find any sort of balance. This sort of pacing flows a lot better on stage, with just an intermission between the two parts. By the time Wicked: For Good finds its footing, you’re twenty minutes in and already going a bit cross-eyed because there is so much going on and almost no time is spent exploring it. One would think that with all of this extra time, the story would feel less rushed since what is usually half of the show has a full movie’s worth of time to breathe, but not every character involved with Wicked: For Good took advantage of the extra runtime in the best ways. So many character beats seem like they come out of nowhere, and some of the interesting changes they do make are only undercut when the film fails to address them by the end. To be as vague as possible, they give a character who has a very good reason to be mad the microphone to express said anger. But that character then vanishes from the final reveals of the film, drawing extra attention to their emotional state, which is more jarring than if they had just faded into the background. All of the other relationships, aside from the one between Elphaba and Glinda, are also given the short stick. Wicked: For Good might be giving Jobathan Bailey plenty to do, but his romance with Elphaba and his complicated relationship with Glinda aren’t given the time they need. These dynamics matter, and one way this film could have improved upon the play is by making them feel more fleshed out. The film also makes the decision to add two more songs to the mix. In theory, this isn’t a bad idea since songs are where characters go through emotional development in musicals. However, the songs are given to Elphaba and Glinda, which makes sense since they are the stars of the show, but they are the last two who need more emotional arcs. The two songs aren’t bad, but they are also forgettable and don’t really add much to the narrative, relying instead on songs for “show, don’t tell.” Again, this is not uncommon for musicals, but the entire show is uses songs to subvert the “show don’t tell” aspect, and two more songs about these two singing about their journeys isn’t the bandage that Act Two or Wicked: For Good needed to get itself out of mediocrity. Failing To Learn From The Musical And The First Film’s Mistakes The things that didn’t work in the first film also apply to Wicked: For Good. The sets are undercut by strange cinematography and lighting choices that still make them look oddly fake. It’s such a strange decision that would be awesome if it were intentional [some sort of nod to the stage roots], but it’s just distracting. Our two leading ladies are doing their damndest in these roles, but the second half of the film is not exactly kind to Glinda. Ariana Grande is playing a character who essentially turns a blind eye to many terrible things and believes she’s doing the right thing. The film and Grande’s performance never really have her come to terms with what is happening around her. She is horrified by what the Wizards and Madame Morrible are doing to Elphaba, but Glinda never really accepts responsibility for the discrimination that she was essentially condoning by aligning with the Wizard. Her new song, The Girl in the Bubble, alludes to someone staying wilfully ignorant, but again, the film has only focused on the Elphaba element and how all of this has impacted Glinda’s life and self-perception, when there is so much else going on. Cynthia Erivo has a tough role this time around because there are several character arcs she needs to move through at lightning speed. Both her relationships with Fiyero and her half-sister, Nessarose, are given a lot of weight and importance in her story, but in both aspects, it feels like we skipped a chapter or two between the end of Wicked and the beginning of Wicked: For Good. The romance between Fiyero and Elphaba was barely alluded to in the first one, so the rush to true love is jarring even by musical standards. Elphaba’s relationship, or lack thereof, with her half-sister has also completely broken down off-screen. This film has over two hours to flesh out all of this, yet it repeats all the mistakes that the musical did. Wicked: For Good might not be technically terrible, but much like the last film, considering the amount of talent and everything else involved with these movies, they should have been better. Universal hasn’t shown why this musical needed to move from stage to screen, because it doesn’t take advantage of any of the benefits gained from filmmaking over stage production. Everything looks cheap and fake instead of real and immersive, thanks to strange lighting and cinematography choices. They didn’t take advantage of the extra runtime in either film to really expand anything in a real and meaningful way, though the consequences of that decision are very much magnified in the second film. Nearly all of the talent involved have done stagework in some way, so if you aren’t going to take advantage of your change of medium, why not just do a stage run and film it Hamilton style? Wicked is already a story that has changed mediums, going from book to musical. However, the musical took the source material and adapted it for the stage, while taking advantage of both the strengths and weaknesses of that medium. Then again, nothing I write here will dissuade the stans, and anyone who hasn’t seen the first one is unlikely to check Wicked: For Good out. If you’re worried about the weird pacing issues and want to get the most out of the musical experience, wait for the inevitable sing-along double feature showings. That is, without a doubt, the best way to experience both of these films.
https://bleedingcool.com/movies/wicked-for-good-fails-to-stick-an-already-very-flawed-ending/
Saved from the scrapheap: Bazball proves more good than bad to give England Ashes hope
England ended the opening day of the Perth Test with renewed Ashes hope after a ferocious fast-bowling display redeemed a disastrous batting collapse. Ben Gardner reflects on a chaotic day of extremes. How quickly things can change. At around 6am, when those who decided not to brave the first ball began to wake, the texts rolled in. ‘Ashes already done, awful start,’ read one. ‘Had a little hope, gone!” was another. A third, simply: ‘FFS’. And somehow, England end day one on top, leading by 49 with one wicket left to take. England’s post-sunrise excellence almost feels like an affront to those who had to sit through the darkness before the dawn, but it will also make the next all-nighter worth staying up for. At the time, the early decrees of doom were hard to dispute, because England fans have been here before so often, the hope proven false in a flash, and because this felt like their best chance squandered. After Scott Boland’s first over, it felt as if Mitchell Starc would need to do most of the work himself. Unfortunately for England, he did so. His 7-58 were career best figures to take him past 100 Ashes wickets. Among modern bowlers, only Bob Willis, Dennis Lillee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne have more Ashes scalps at a lower average. Without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, England were hoping to exploit an attack shorn of two of the Big Three. Instead, Starc stood tall as the Big One, seizing a day that will rank alongside World Cup wins in every format, right at the top of a career decorated with highlights. This was the game England had to win, and it’s still a game they could win. So unlikely did that feel halfway through, the analysis already felt there to be written. Here’s a sneak peek at what would usually be on the scrapheap: “What was the worst bit? To begin with, it was how simply Australia’s plans fell into place. Mitchell Starc tempted Zak Crawley to drive, and while he just about resisted attempting to recreate his first-ball boundary in the 2023 series, it only took six balls for the edge to be found. For Ben Duckett, it was full and straight that did the trick. “Ollie Pope and Harry Brook counterattacked through Plan A, but were quickly undone by Plan B. Cameron Green has Pope’s number, having dismissed him three times in 26 balls in Test cricket, his awkward release making even his bad balls dangerous. Pope was pinned lbw trying to work away a leg-stump yorker four balls into their battle. It took one fewer delivery for the short ball ploy to do for Brook, remembering Australia’s Big Boundaries too late to properly pull out of a full-blooded hook shot, and instead gloving behind. “Still, if it had all felt a bit too easy for Australia to that point, it was about to get easier. Brook was the sixth wicket to fall, in the 30th over. By the end of the 33rd, England were all out, the last three perishing attempting what Brook had tried to avoid, caught in the deep on the leg-side. England were questioned for warming up with this series with three ODIs in New Zealand, and the worries were only heightened by their struggles with the bat, whitewashed and failing to make it into the 41st over at any point. Their effort here was shorter than any of those three. It was also England’s shortest completed Test innings under Brendon McCullum’s stewardship. They had their worst batting day at the worst possible moment. “A run rate in the fives but all done in a session and a half. Dismissals that ranged from the avoidable to the lamentable. Conditions which were tough and required application, but not such a lottery that survival was impossible. This was the disaster Bazball’s critics say happens much more frequently than it actually does, but this series will also go a long way to deciding how Bazball is remembered.” ALSO READ: Bazball’s arrived, they forgot the brains Michael Vaughan laments ‘all too predictable’ England collapse in Ashes opener How much of that remains true? Perhaps plenty. And yet the flipside of England’s approach is that, even in their car crashes, they’re driving so quickly they end up getting some way towards their destination. At the equivalent stage inside 30 overs, both sides had lost five wickets but England had double the runs. England’s five seamers had combined to roughen and rattle Australia, and while Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne survived for a time as much by chance as by grit, they were hardly better off for it. England’s quicks were superb, justifying the decision to go without a spinner by each bringing something different. It took Jofra Archer two balls to show off his devastating ability against left-handers, Jake Weatherald’s first Test innings ending flat on his front. It will get easier at some point, but maybe not this series. With Usman Khawaja taking an ill-timed toilet break, Smith and Labuschagne were joined inside the first over, but were tied down by Archer and Gus Atkinson, the latter metronomic and unlucky. After Archer bowled Labuschagne off the elbow, it was Brydon Carse’s turn, Smith and Khawaja nicked off with two rip-snorters. Then the captain took centre-stage, claiming the day’s last five wickets, fielders always in just the right place, Australia outthought and outgunned. England’s management deserves plenty of credit here. The decision to pension off James Anderson remains unpopular, but with him around, game time for Atkinson and Carse would have been limited. The fitness of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood has been well managed, particularly the former, who, if not valued and handled delicately, could easily have been lost to the format altogether. Instead he looks every inch the worldbeater he was in 2019. And then there’s the captain himself, bowling as well as he ever has, looking as fit as he ever has, triceps bulging through his sleeves to claim a first Ashes five-for in a decade. England with the bat witnessed the good and bad of Bazball, while the bowling attack, surely England’s fastest ever, reaped the rewards of 18 months’ planning and brave calls. One day in, English hope remains. Their fans know too well that even that small victory is all too rare.
https://www.wisden.com/series/the-ashes-2025-26/cricket-news/saved-from-the-scrapheap-bazball-proves-more-good-than-bad-to-give-england-ashes-hope
How you’re charging your tablet is quietly ruining the battery – here’s how experts do it instead
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Unplug at 100%, and keep the battery between 20% and 80%. Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%. Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating. As someone who uses a tablet daily, I’m constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don’t think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet’s battery life, and there are some things you should avoid that do the opposite. Also: I tried this massive 25-inch Android tablet for a week and it surprised me Most tablets offer six to eight hours of use on a single charge, though battery life diminishes with age and continued use. While there are many things you can do to conserve battery life, here are the ones you should avoid to ensure your battery’s longevity. 1. Leaving your tablet plugged in overnight This isn’t always a problem with newer tablets, but most tablets on the market will suffer from being left plugged in overnight. Tablets typically charge to 100% and stop using electricity. However, leaving your tablet plugged in can cause it to continue trickle-charging to keep the battery full, which can stress the battery over time and diminish its lifespan. Instead, unplug your tablet when its battery reaches 100%. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%. Also: Unplugging these 7 common household devices helped reduce my electricity bill Like all the common charging mistakes we make with our tablets, leaving it plugged in overnight once or twice won’t permanently damage it. Battery damage happens when these incorrect practices become a habit and are followed often. 2. Letting the battery drain to 0% (and forgetting it) I’ve been guilty of letting my tablet’s battery drain to 0%, only to set it aside and forget to charge it for a couple of days. Repeatedly letting your battery drain to 0% makes it age much faster, risking battery death and requiring a replacement or repair to revive it. I’ve unfortunately learned this the hard way after leaving my discharged Nintendo Switch Lite in a drawer for a couple of months, only to learn that its battery had been irreparably damaged. Lithium-ion batteries are simply not meant to stay empty, so most tablets don’t truly hit 0% when they shut down. Instead, they shut down with a little charge to protect the battery, which is why a low-battery screen appears when you try to turn them on. If you leave your tablet with a drained battery for days, weeks, or months, the battery continues to slowly discharge until the voltage drops too low, potentially damaging the battery’s internal chemistry. Also: 8 reasons why I replaced my Kindle with an iPad Mini for reading ebooks Repeatedly doing this results in a battery that is less capable of holding a charge or, worse, incapable of recharging altogether. To prevent this and prolong your battery’s life, avoid letting the battery drop below 20%. If you won’t use your tablet for some time, charge it to 50% capacity and shut it down before storing it. 3. Using the wrong charger Your local dollar store may be a good spot to get party and craft supplies, but not electronics. No matter how enticing the idea of buying a $1 charger seems, it’s probably best to avoid it. Using a cheap, non-certified, or incorrect charger for your tablet can deliver inconsistent power, overcharge it, or result in inefficient charging. All of these cause increased strain on your battery and a shorter lifespan. Using the wrong charger on your battery can do more than simply prolong its charging time. If a charger’s wattage isn’t properly matched to the battery, it can overheat your device as it struggles to supply enough power, or even overload the tablet’s circuits if it can’t regulate the power draw. Cheap chargers can also deliver fluctuating voltage, which stresses the battery and wears out its chemistry. Also: The new iPad Pro’s biggest upgrade isn’t the M5 chip I’d buy it for this feature instead Many certified chargers, like Apple-certified or USB-PD ones, have built-in safety measures that off-brand and cheap chargers skip. These measures prevent surges and overheating that could damage the battery and charging port. When charging your tablet, it’s best to look for a charger that is either certified or properly matched for your device, from the cable to the brick.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-youre-charging-your-tablet-is-quietly-ruining-the-battery-heres-how-experts-do-it-instead/
Woman Buys Children’s Book at Thrift Store—She Breaks Down at What’s Inside
A woman picked up a book in a thrift store, unprepared for what was slipped inside it when she opened it up. The Reddit user, u/GabrielleCullenn, shared her find-Dr. Seuss’s Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go!-and the unexpected contents in the subreddit r/Goodwill_Finds. “A book I picked up for my library with Ultrasound Pictures inside. I always find ones with notes which is sad but this is worse,” she wrote. The accompanying image showed the book lying next to two ultrasound scans. Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go! is a popular read-aloud book inspired by Dr. Seuss’s classic Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Written by Tish Rabe with the blessing of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, it is often given as a baby-shower gift or used to celebrate a pregnancy. Reddit users quickly weighed in, offering a mix of theories and personal experiences. “Why would you assume the baby was lost? I had ultrasound photos and all sorts of things in storage. It was my ex’s storage, he didn’t pay it and I found out everything was gone. My baby is now 9 years old and totally fine lol [laugh out loud] it probably says the name of the obgyn on there and the patient, you could call the office and let them know you found the images. Just in case someone’s looking for them, I wish I had mine back,” wrote one user. Another shared a similar sentiment: “Idk [I don’t know], my oldest is 15 and I only have 4 ultrasounds and with my youngest I was unfortunately unable to get obgyn care so I have zero ultrasounds of them. which is sad for many reasons. Id be upset to lose what I do have.” Others offered more lighthearted possibilities. “I thought the parents used the photos as book marks and just forgot about them, rather than the baby passing. I use photos as bookmarks then find them years later lol,” one Reddit user said. Gabrielle acknowledged that theory but maintained her sadness over the find. “Maybe yes. They could have just read this book and placed them there to think of them. It’s just sad,” Gabrielle responded. Not everyone agreed. “I don’t get why it’s sad. It seems to be assuming a lot to consider this sad,” another user wrote. Gabrielle later elaborated on her feelings: “It’s just sad because it’s such an experience seeing your baby, honestly judging by how this looks it looks very similar to my pictures of my daughter at 6 weeks, likely one of the first pictures they saw of their child but maybe not idk. I personally have all mine in a safe so if I lost them I’d be devastated. We could not verify the details of the case.
https://www.newsweek.com/woman-buys-book-thrift-store-breaks-down-whats-inside-11074156
16-Year-Old Suffered Suspected Seizure and Cardiac Arrest Before Tragic Death at Theme Park, Coroner Says
A 16-year-old boy suffered a suspected seizure and cardiac arrest before his tragic death at a theme park in Wales, according to the coroner. Taha Soomro, from Grangetown in Cardiff, died at Barry Island Pleasure Park on May 23 of this year, per a previous South Wales Police news release. “Police were called just before 5 p. m. [local time on Friday, May 23] with a report of a 16-year-old teenage boy suffering a medical episode,” an initial police news release stated, adding, “Despite efforts of emergency services, Taha died at the scene.” According to an inquest opening at the coroner’s court in Pontypridd on Tuesday, Nov. 18, details of the teenager’s “medical episode” at the park were discussed, per the BBC. A post-mortem examination was inconclusive after being conducted at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, the outlet stated. A court usher and admin assistant for the Coroner’s Office in Pontypridd confirmed to PEOPLE that a coroner had told the court on Tuesday that Soomro suffered a suspected seizure and cardiac arrest at Barry Island Pleasure Park on May 23, and that his death remains “unascertained.” However, they said they were “unable to provide further information regarding this matter” at this time. The case has now been adjourned, the court usher and admin assistant also confirmed. “Once a case is opened for an Inquest, it is common practice to adjourn the matter to acquire all the relevant evidence to assist the Coroner in making a determination of fact at a future date,” they told PEOPLE in an email. South Wales Police had previously responded on May 23 after receiving reports that Soomro was in an apparent cardiac arrest at the park, with initial reports suggesting he was believed to be having a seizure and cardiac arrest, per Wales Online. Coroner Graeme Hughes said during Tuesday’s inquest opening, “I have heard evidence this morning touching on the death of Taha Ali Soomro. On the information I have heard it’s necessary to open an inquest,” according to the outlet. An inquest date is yet to be fixed, Wales Online reported. According to the previous police release, a 15-year-old boy was previously arrested on suspicion of assault, but an update on May 25 stated he was out on bail pending further enquiries. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Barry Island Pleasure Park said in a statement following Soomro’s death that staff “did their best to assist the emergency services but, unfortunately, the boy suffered a medical emergency and could not be saved,” per the BBC.
https://people.com/teenager-suffered-seizure-cardiac-arrest-tragic-death-theme-park-coroner-11852436
The GameCube Lost The Console War Of Its Time, But It Won My Heart
It’s fascinating to look back at Nintendo’s history. Just like all of us, the company has made some wise moves and some absolute splatteringly disastrous missteps, but that’s the rich tapestry of life. Sometimes, you have to have an appalling relationship before you meet your soulmate, and other times, you have to release the poor old Wii U before you can drop the now-beloved Nintendo Switch. The GameCube’s position, I’ve often thought, falls somewhere in between those two extremes. In the battle against Xbox and PS2, it was utterly outshone by the monstrous success of the latter in particular. However, it also brought the world a string of wonderful new games. Some of the most beloved titles of all time found homes on the GameCube, and similarly, it marked the beginning of some now-iconic IPs too. In 2001, with the Millennium Bug (whatever that was supposed to be) safely behind us, two incredible events happened that would impact my gaming life forever: the Game Boy Advance and GameCube both released, months apart. My very first gaming system was the original Game Boy (Super Mario Land: Six Golden Coins was a heck of an introduction to the industry), but the Game Boy Advance and its companion cube (as I liked to call it) were the first gaming systems I bought with my own money, and I felt utterly flush with riches as I did so. I was 14 at the time and a lot of the money had been given to me for my birthday by my grandparents, but that doesn’t at all diminish my achievement. I chose the black model of GameCube over the ‘default’ purple, and there were two reasons for this. The first was that black was far more stylish and sophisticated, and the second was so that it would be a life decision I could regret later. I must have known even then that I’d spend a lot of time doing this in the years to come, so it was nice to get the practice in. Purple is now my favorite color, you see, but back then, I was a far more conventional red enjoyer. That shade of purple would go on to be as emblematic of the GameCube as the beloved start-up jingle. So, unfortunately, would a “for kids” reputation that surely contributed to the system’s relative failure that era compared to its rivals. I remember a wave of “Fisher Price” jokes about the system’s appearance, and it’s certainly true that it didn’t look like a sleek multimedia system. That’s partially because it wasn’t: Instead of pulling double-duty as a DVD player, it was instead made compatible only with those adorably dinky disks Nintendo made for it. The era of memory cards was a special one, but that’s more of a general thing. Beloved In Hindsight, One Mighty Little Cube “Cute” could be the word used to describe the GameCube aesthetically, and for the crowd for whom appearances are everything, that was less than ideal. Of course, you can simply store your console in a TV unit or similar, meaning that the design of the box itself really doesn’t matter very much. What should and did matter the most is the crop of games available on said system, and here again the GameCube was controversial: A little after launch, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker arrived, and it had been widely disparaged for its art style since the public first caught a glimpse of it. The cel-shaded look was considered a huge misstep by those who had seen that initial footage of a rather more realistic Link in action, and cemented for some the idea that Nintendo wasn’t to be “taken seriously.” Nintendo is well-known for the strength of its first-party titles, often suffering when it comes to the third-party side of things. Logically, then, if you’re not interested in the former, you may not sign up for the system just for the multiplatform titles on it that are available elsewhere. Xbox’s now legendary Halo also launched in 2001, a paradigm-shifting exclusive and launch title that became more of a wider movement than a game. It was unfortunate that the GameCube’s launch line-up was less than stellar, with Luigi’s Mansion being the highest-profile Nintendo release. The system didn’t have that Super Mario 64 appeal to kick off with. Nonetheless, almost 25 years of hindsight later, it’s clear to see just how important and influential the GameCube era was for the company. Wind Waker is now one of the most beloved Zelda games ever among fans and critics (it was much-lauded by the latter on its arrival anyway), Super Smash Bros. Melee is often considered the competitive pinnacle of the beloved series, and the Resident Evil remake was the definitive way to play this classic until its HD remaster arrived (there were some fantastic horror games on the GameCube). Super Mario Sunshine, though it continues to divide opinion, was a creative and innovative new entry in the series that wasn’t afraid to experiment. The system was far from awash with third-party releases, but what a line-up it ended its run with. That deal with Capcom brought not only then-exclusive Resident Evil titles, but cult classics like Viewtiful Joe too. From curios like Doshin the Giant and Cubivore to mega-hits like the formerly exclusive Resident Evil 4 and classics like Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Beyond Good and Evil, GameCube owners had a wide range of fascinating games to enjoy. Some, today, are valuable collector’s items. Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is yet another example, a technically impressive and visually stunning journey through some of the biggest setpieces of the original trilogy. There were some excellent games every year of the system’s run. When it comes to Nintendo’s own offerings, Pikmin would rise to become iconic, as would Metroid Prime. Luigi’s Mansion, meanwhile, was a bold new direction to take the character in. The GameCube wasn’t my introduction to gaming, but it’s the system I look back upon most fondly. It’s also the one for which I have the biggest physical games collection (kindly stored at my parents’). When some GameCube titles arrived for the Switch 2’s Nintendo Classics range, I was playing back through Metroid Prime Remastered, and it all just coalesced to remind me how much this system continues to mean to me.
https://www.dualshockers.com/gamecube-lost-console-war-but-won-my-heart/