
However, despite the game's strengths in character development, some players have raised concerns about its overall plot coherence. Marvel's Strife introduces a complex political landscape that intertwines with the superhero conflict, leading to moments of narrative ambiguity and inconsistency. The game's attempts to tackle real-world issues through its storyline have been met with mixed reactions, with some players feeling that the execution falls short of its ambitious goals.Namibia will have its first female leader after VP wins presidential election for the ruling party
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certainNews-Miner opinion: Fentanyl has become a devastating public health crisis in Alaska, and Fairbanks exemplifies the gravity of the issue. In just over two months, the Daily News-Miner has reported 15 crime-related stories involving fentanyl, including arrests, drug busts, court cases, and most tragically, a fatal overdose. These stories underline a growing epidemic that spares no one, cutting across age groups and demographics while devastating families and communities statewide. Its grip knows no age limit or ethnicity. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid approximately 100 times more potent than morphine, is primarily trafficked into the United States via Mexico, using precursor chemicals from China. In Alaska, its impact has been particularly insidious due to our geographic isolation and limited access to health care resources. Law enforcement reports that fentanyl often arrives hidden in counterfeit prescription pills or mixed with other drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, increasing its lethality. Alarmingly, users are now increasingly smoking or injecting fentanyl directly, with often fatal outcomes. Calls to “close the border” are a common refrain as an approach to slowing fentanyl. The call is little more than political pandering. An August 2024 report from the Cato Institute shows that U.S. citizens comprised 80.2% of individuals caught with fentanyl during border crossings at ports of entry from FY June 2019 to June 2024. From FY 2015 to 2024, 88% of all fentanyl was seized at ports of entry; 4% was seized at vehicle checkpoints on highways after the ports; and only 8% was seized by Border Patrol on patrol, and many of those seizures came from vehicle stops as well, the report states. Yet, from urban centers like Anchorage and Fairbanks to remote villages, fentanyl’s reach continues to expand. In 2022, the Alaska Department of Public Safety confiscated enough fentanyl to deliver 2.45 million lethal doses. Still, the drug’s presence in the community persists. Alaska faces a daunting challenge in addressing fentanyl, but action is being taken across multiple fronts. State and local law enforcement agencies are focusing on disrupting the supply chain. Programs like the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative enhance collaboration among agencies to intercept shipments. The Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team is a drug task force made up of members of the Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks police and North Pole police to combat drug trafficking and distribution in the Interior. High-profile drug busts in Fairbanks and other cities underscore the importance of these efforts. However, enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. Education and prevention are vital. Schools are incorporating drug awareness programs to warn students about the dangers of fentanyl, often using real-life stories to illustrate consequences. Organizations like Project HOPE distribute naloxone (Narcan), a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. These efforts aim to empower individuals to act swiftly in emergencies and increase awareness of fentanyl’s dangers. Hospitals and clinics, such as Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, play a critical role in treatment and prevention. Many facilities have expanded access to naloxone and opioid addiction treatment programs. Public health campaigns across Alaska emphasize harm reduction strategies and encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help. There is no silver bullet to combat the fentanyl crisis. This scourge demands a sustained, united effort across communities; strengthened law enforcement, expanded education, and comprehensive health care responses are essential to stem the tide. The impact of fentanyl is profound, but through persistent action, Fairbanks and Alaska at large can work toward reclaiming the health and safety of our communities. The fight against fentanyl is far from over, but every step taken brings us closer to a solution. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com . Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer.
As the massage continued, I found myself drifting into a state of profound relaxation. The rhythmic motions and gentle pressure lulled me into a trance-like state, and before I knew it, I had drifted off into a peaceful slumber. It was as though the healing hands of the practitioner had cast a spell over me, transporting me to a realm of tranquility and well-being.LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t going to last forever. It had to end sometime, and in the grand scheme of the season, two embers glowed in the aftermath of the inferno South Carolina traveled into on Nov. 24. One: Better now while there are still games to play. Two: Teams don’t have to be undefeated to win the national championship. The Gamecocks just made that a thing last year. All goals are still in mind and very reachable, despite USC losing for the first time in 605 days on Sunday. Fifth-ranked UCLA on its home floor was far too much to overcome, 77-62, especially when the Bruins (5-0) gave the Gamecocks (5-1) a taste of what they’ve dished out to the rest of the country over the past 10 years. Whether it was Alaina Coates or A’ja Wilson or Aliyah Boston or Kamilla Cardoso, the Gamecocks almost always had a dominant center to score, rebound, intimidate. This year, they do not. UCLA had plenty of height and used every bit of it. The Gamecocks became tentative to try to get the ball in the lane due to so many shots being sent back or never getting out of their hands against the Bruins’ land of giants, and starting 0 for 9 from the floor was a continuation of the same poor offense that’s been evident through USC’s first five games. The Gamecocks could not hit a shot in the first quarter and would not move the ball when they were down big. It forced Dawn Staley to call a timeout instead of waiting for a stoppage in play, an event that happens nearly as often as a politician keeps a campaign promise. Once the Bruins began sniping 3-pointers (they made 10), it was over. The Bruins shot well over 50 percent from the field for most of the game. No. 1 Gamecocks hammer Clemson for series-record 14th straight time Only Tessa Johnson showed signs of offensive life for the Gamecocks, draining her first four shots and finishing with 14 points. Te-Hina Paopao, playing in front of 100 family and friends from her nearby Oceanside, Calif., home, had a team-high 18. It was the first time USC had lost since the 2023 Final Four. It was the first regular-season loss in 1,060 days. USC on Monday will begin just its second week of not being the country’s No. 1 team over the past four seasons when the new Associated Press Top 25 is released. The Gamecocks’ school-record 43-game winning streak was snapped as well as a 33-game road winning streak, the third-longest stretch in Division I history. The Gamecocks begin the Fort Myers Tip-Off against No. 8 Iowa State at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
5. Government Regulations and Policies:
Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy blatantly misgendered Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) while interviewing anti-transgender crusader Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) during Sunday’s episode of “Fox & Friends Weekend.” Campos-Duffy casually referred to McBride, a trans woman who will be the first openly trans member of Congress, as “he,” while Mace appeared on the show to promote her campaign to ban McBride and other trans women from using female restrooms on Capitol Hill. When Mace called her mission to block trans women from using the bathrooms a “winning” political message, Campos-Duffy noted that “that trans member of Congress” has said she “will actually abide by the rules and not use the women’s restroom in Congress.” Doubling down on the bigotry moments later, Campos-Duffy took aim at Rachel Levine , President Joe Biden’s assistant secretary of health. Levine, also a trans woman, is the first openly trans federal official in the United States’ history. “I’ve seen Rachel Levine. I know that’s not a woman, so I don’t understand this idea,” the Fox News anchor proclaimed as Mace nodded in agreement. "I know that's not a woman" -- Nancy Mace is on Fox & Friends and the person interviewing her is referring to Sarah McBride and other trans women as "he." Mace agrees. These people do not think trans people exist. pic.twitter.com/cEhZpRKLIe — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 24, 2024 This past Monday, Mace introduced a resolution to prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” Asked if she was specifically targeting McBride with the proposed rule while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the South Carolina congresswoman said, “Yes and absolutely, and then some.” “I’m absolutely 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women’s restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms,” she added. “I will be there fighting you every step of the way.” Since Mace began her battle to exclude trans women from Congress’ women’s bathrooms, McBride has tried to stay above the fray. In a Monday night post on X , formerly called Twitter, she said, “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.” McBride called the controversy an “attempt to distract” Americans from real issues during a Sunday appearance on “Face the Nation.” “Every single time we hear them say the word ‘trans,’ look what they’re doing with their right hand,” she said. “Look at what they’re doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare.” Nancy Mace Fumes Over Journalist's 'Insulting' Challenge To Her Anti-Trans Fixation 'Daily Show' Spots 4 Major Flaws In Nancy Mace's 'Performative' Anti-Trans 'Bulls**t' Nancy Mace’s Former Aide Rips Her Anti-Trans Bill As Thirsty ‘Ploy To Get On Fox News’
Moreover, her self-assessment of not being suitable for scientific research reflects a deep understanding of her own strengths and weaknesses. Instead of following a traditional academic path, she has chosen to explore various job opportunities to find her true calling.