Throughout history, the visionary power of science fiction has repeatedly transformed into science reality. Countless times, the creative minds of writers, artists, and filmmakers have shown us possible futures long before technology could catch up. This often happens decades before, and occasionally even longer. For example, in his 1865 novel "From the Earth to the Moon," Jules Verne calculated the precise mathematics of a lunar trajectory a full century before Neil Armstrong made his inspiring 'small step' speech. Similarly, Hugo Gernsback accurately predicted car phones, robot tanks, and home shopping among a plethora of other predictions with remarkable accuracy and detail throughout his writing career. Whether we talk about science-fiction novels, comic books, or Hollywood movies, these time gaps between imagination and implementation prove that humans envision concepts long before we engineer them. This journey from fiction to fact clearly isn't just about technology — it's also about humanity's remarkable ability to imagine its way into a very real future. However, taking these innovations onto the big screen can often be more challenging than writing down thoughts and ideas, and not all hit the mark. Those "Blade Runner" spinners might be iconic sci-fi vehicles , but we're still dreaming of sky-high commutes and scenic taxi rides above the clouds. Yet, for every flying car, there's a piece of tech that has leapt from the silver screen into our daily lives. Here are some movie gadgets that did become reality. A videophone is a phone equipped with a camera and screen that enables you to see the person you're talking with. The fact that Fritz Lang envisioned one in the first ever feature-length sci-fi movie, "Metropolis," just one year after the invention of the television in 1927 is quite remarkable. Moreover, his videophone was notably more modern than John Logie Baird's weird contraption and was just one aspect of the German silent movie that showed astonishing foresight. The videophone was wall-mounted and had a multiple-dial control system that enabled audio-visual communication. This calling system was somewhat more rudimentary than today's sophisticated smart displays and tablets that require just a tap or two and a decent Wi-Fi connection. Contemporary video-calling technology also exceeds what the film imagined, with particular regard to portability. Fritz's machine was big and clunky, as most envisioned machines of the time were. We can now boast compact videophones in our pockets, as well as advanced smart displays that do a whole lot more than just make calls. However, despite its bulky design and all the precise tuning it took to make a call, the accuracy of the prediction is undeniable. The screen also displayed sharp text similar to a caller ID. Moreover, the fact that the caller could see his recipient before answering might have hinted at the privacy concerns of video-calling today. In 1990, Hanna-Barbera released "The Jetsons: The Movie." It was the last installment in the animated television show that ran from 1962 to 1963 and later from '85 to '87. Unfortunately, the feature-length movie didn't achieve much in terms of commercial success or critical appreciation, nor did it introduce many more futuristic gadgets. The original show had already brought so many weird, wonderful, and often visionary creations that sparked children's imaginations. While predictions like flying cars, automated hygiene machines, and cloud-based buildings with moving walkways everywhere haven't quite proved to be so prophetic, the cartoon did get a lot right. It accurately showcased video-calling on wall-mounted flat-screen displays, internal medical cameras, drones, and smart ovens and fridges, among others. One other prescient prediction was Rosey the Robot. On her first appearance in episode one, she announced, "I may be homely, but I'm S-M-A-R-T, smart." While today's major robot mop and vacuum brands don't offer models that match the Rosey aesthetic or have arms to hold their cleaning tools and the ability to interact vocally with homeowners, our smart home helpers do offer some of her capabilities. Companies like iRobot that consistently deliver progressive machines, including the Roomba Combo 10 , have successfully automated Rosey's floor-cleaning functions. When James Bond appeared on the big screen for just the third time in 1964's "Goldfinger," he did so in his iconic Aston Martin DB5. This model is the spy's original Aston Martin and simply the best Bond car of all time . It was equipped with an extraordinary array of gadgets, from an ejector seat to revolving number plates. These gadgets were so entertaining that Q, the character responsible for their research and development, would become a permanent fixture in the series. However, one particular gadget that caught the eye was a mapping system remarkably similar to today's GPS navigation devices. Bond's car had a screen on the dashboard with a detailed map that displayed the position of his target, Auric Goldfinger, with a beep and a light as they wound through the Swiss mountains. There may not have been any monotone voice to indicate when the next exit approached, but this device is one that is now very familiar to modern drivers. While satellite tracking began in the Sputnik era in the mid-60s, GPS, as we know it today, didn't become fully operational until 1993. Modern drivers might take this Bond gadget for granted today, but in 1964, it was a visionary piece of equipment with an often-overlooked ingenuity. Ostentatious gadgets like jetpacks may be a ridiculous idea in the real world regarding espionage. Any spy worth their salt wouldn't want to attract attention to themselves with something so blatant and noisy. However, this is James Bond we're talking about, and he can get away with more than most. The jetpack Sean Connery used in "Thunderball" sparked imaginations back in the 60s and had everyone thinking about the possibility of a future with personal flight technology. Since then, movies like "The Rocketeer" and the jetpack-equipped police officers in "Minority Report" have kept the gadget popular. But it's really this fourth James Bond movie everyone thinks of when you talk about this technology. The British spy controlled his pack effortlessly. However, the truth in the real world is somewhat different. Power and safety constraints still make flight times relatively short, while precise engineering must balance weight and stability with the short fuel span. Rudimentary jetpacks actually existed before "Thunderball," but they couldn't cover anywhere near the distance or height that 007 managed. Over the decades, inventors like Glen Martin expanded on these early concepts. The Martin Jetpack, which was revealed in 2008, was designed to stay in the air for up to 30 minutes and be more simple to pilot. However, engineering and regulatory hurdles put an end to production, and jetpack technology continues to develop with private companies creating models for niche uses. That said, jetpacks remain out of reach for consumers, at least for now . In 1968, legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick and British science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke gave audiences a glimpse into the future. "2001: A Space Odyssey" featured a space station, an AI assistant, personalized in-flight entertainment, and commercial spaceflight companies, among other visions. However, the movie clearly delivered the first sighting of what can only be described as a modern-day tablet. With it, we experienced video conferencing and the now-familiar ritual of eating breakfast while watching the news on a small personal screen beside our coffee mugs. The newspad, as Arthur C. Clarke named it in the original novel, featured a prominent, flat display with a minimal frame housed in a slimline casing. Its design was so prescient that it was cited in a 2011 legal battle between Samsung and Apple. The Korean tech giant used the film's depiction of the newspad as evidence that its design of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 predated Apple's patents. However, the design wasn't exactly the same. Most notably, it had different dimensions, with its 9-by-16 ratio. Almost everything else is remarkably similar, although there was no glimpse of a user interface decorated with colorful app icons and the display was definitely no higher than a standard 480p. Still, the latter isn't too bad, considering the ship was "80 million miles from Earth." In 1966, the "Star Trek" TV show predicted that phones would boldly go where no phone had gone before, which was, of course, into pockets. The crew's communicators were pocket-sized devices that enabled handheld communication and clearly resembled early real-world flip phones. These communicators weren't the only gadgets accurately predicted by "Star Trek." Gene Roddenberry, the show's creator, envisioned tablets, heads-up displays (HUDs), and 3D printing, among many other technologies. However, it was the iconic flip-open design of the "Star Trek" communicators that would later have an enormous impact on real-world mobile phone development. In fact, Martin Cooper, the inventor of the very first handheld mobile phone in 1973, went as far as saying that Captain Kirk's communicator served as his inspiration. By the time 1979 came around, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" had introduced wrist-worn communicators. This was because the 'old' flip-open devices of the 1960s series no longer seemed futuristic enough. Yet raising wrists to mouths obscured the actors' faces and proved to be impractical, and the handheld devices returned in later movies without explanation. Years later, in 1996, Motorola, whom Cooper worked for at the time of his invention, released the StarTAC in homage to the series. It mimicked the communicator and proved to be so successful that other manufacturers adopted the style. Smartphone technology may now have surpassed that of "Star Trek," but after something of a comeback, there are plenty of affordable and practical flip phones available even today. Some might say the predictions made by "Back to the Future 2" rival those of more intellectual movies like "2001: A Space Odyssey." Among its many visions that have become real tech are wall-mounted flat-screen TVs with multi-screen viewing, dog-walking drones (yes, they exist!), voice-activated lights, holograms in entertainment, motion-controlled gaming, video calling, and AR glasses, while hoverboards are in the process of becoming a reality. The movie even gave us an almost bang-on prediction of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. That said, it failed in most of its smart clothes predictions. We're still waiting for self-fitting and self-drying jackets. Yet, the self-lacing shoes that surprised Marty McFly became such an iconic piece of movie technology that Nike felt compelled to make them real. In 2011, the footwear giant released limited edition replicas of the Nike MAG, but the "power laces" tech remained fiction. However, in 2016, Nike created an updated version. It was a limited edition, with only 89 pairs available, but they did feature Adaptive Fit (self-lacing) technology. They were all auctioned off, which raised $6.75 million for Parkinson's research. Resale prices for these shoes now start at around $24,000, but they can go for over $50,000. Between 2016 and 2019, Nike released the HyperAdapt 1.0 line, which brought the MAG's self-lacing technology to a wider consumer market. Beyond then, we've had the Adapt BB line , which maintained the more affordable pricing. This futuristic gadget was first introduced by the American cartoonist Chester Gould, creator of the Dick Tracy comic books, back in 1946. After stopping by the workshop of wireless communications pioneer Al Gross, who had previously created the walkie-talkie, Gould was inspired to give his Dick Tracy character a two-way wrist radio based on wearable technology the inventor had shown him. While the gadget had been a feature of the detective's adventures since those early comic book days, the 1990 movie "Dick Tracy" brought it to mainstream Hollywood. Warren Beatty's film probably doesn't deserve its status as a commercial flop. It did actually make money, and it also left youngsters in the audience desiring a Dick Tracy two-way wrist radio for themselves. Following the film's release, small portable radios were being marketed as Dick Tracy watches, paving the way for the later development of smartwatches. Now, over three decades later, many of us proudly sport stylish tech on our wrists. With seriously advanced functions, one such as the Apple Watch Series 10 would have helped the yellow-coated detective escape several sticky situations. 1992 saw the release of "The Lawnmower Man." But rather than being a tale about gardening enthusiasts, this sci-fi fantasy proved to be a prophetic story about virtual reality technology. Specifically, you can see the design of the headset and handheld controllers, as well as the digital world users were thrown into, as specific matches to today's VR headsets — that is if you can see past the dodgy early 90s CGI. Pierce Brosnan starred in the film several years before he first played James Bond in "Goldeneye." However, the technology his character uses in this movie far exceeds anything the British spy had access to. The movie also showcases motion-capture (mo-cap) suits that are used in the real world to digitize physical movements for film, video games, sports analysis, and military training. While we may not yet have full-body mo-cap suits for home VR use, third-party companies have developed haptic gloves that simulate physical sensations for the Meta Quest 2 . These gloves may be incredibly expensive and inaccessible to most of us, but the tech is developing and will surely become more affordable for VR users. The movie also predicted touch and gesture interfaces decades before we had them on smartphones and tablets. Yet, some of the more advanced "Lawnmower Man" technology is still not available, but if you have seen the film, perhaps we shouldn't wish for it. However, its core vision of using headsets and controllers to enter virtual worlds is now an everyday reality. Almost two decades before the Marvel Cinematic Universe hit our screens, Iron Man comics had shifted from Cold War themes to exploring futuristic technologies. Among these were augmented reality and artificial intelligence. These concepts became a part of 2008's "Iron Man" movie, with Tony Stark's AR interface captivating audiences. The billionaire playboy's AI assistant, JARVIS, powered the system and displayed virtual information in his field of vision. The HUD showed Tony Stark everything he needed to know, including threat analysis and system diagnostics. The tech may have been ever-so-slightly more advanced than today's AR glasses, and the processing power certainly helped with Stark's split-second decision-making; however, his HUD ensured real-world AR technology got mainstream attention. The movie captured the public imagination so completely that it even inspired MIT graduate student Natan Linder to win the aptly named Audi-Tony Stark Innovation Challenge. His device combined AR projections, similar to Stark's technology, with a robotic arm close to the hydraulic limbs DUM-E and U that provided light comic relief in the movies. Modern AR may not have reached Tony Stark's holographic interface level of development quite yet. However, the technology is advancing rapidly, with the market projected to reach $96.32 billion by 2029. Meanwhile, AI's integration with AR enables more natural interactions through gesture recognition and adaptive interfaces, though we're still far from a JARVIS-level of sophistication.
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Hope and scepticism greet UDC’s Kingston Waterfront rebirth planArticle content A Saskatchewan legislature member says his transgender children were targeted in an election campaign promise about school change rooms and he wants an apology from Premier Scott Moe. Opposition NDP member Jared Clarke told the legislative assembly this week his daughters were subjects of a complaint for using a girls’ change room at a southeast Saskatchewan school. “The premier put a target on the backs of my two 12-year-old kids,” Clarke said in the house. He said a news article of the complaint was published Oct. 16 and later that day a photo of his family was shared on social media linking them to the article. The next day at a campaign stop in Regina, Moe was asked about the complaint and announced he would ban “biological boys” from using girls change rooms at schools if his Saskatchewan Party won the Oct. 28 election. Moe had touted the proposal as his first order of business, but it was not in his party’s campaign platform. “He held a press conference to stoke fear and outrage about two kids at an elementary school, while my children’s picture was circulating on social media, identifying them, while unimaginable hate was raging down on my family,” Clarke told the assembly. “The premier owes my children an apology. He owes all transgender people in this province, especially kids, an apology for how he has made them feel so unsafe over the last year.” Moe’s office said in an emailed statement the premier and former Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill at no point identified the children. “The premier and his campaign consistently stated that, ’the identity of individual minors should never be part of any political debate,” the email said. “We will work with school divisions to ensure that there is a policy in place that supports each and every student.” Moe told reporters a week after the Saskatchewan Party was re-elected the ban would no longer be a legislative priority. Clarke asked if it would be acceptable for the children of other legislature members to be used as political fodder. “What do you think would be going through a 12-year-old’s mind when they hear the premier of their province targeting them?” he told the assembly. He said it wasn’t easy when his children came out as transgender, and that he and his wife had to do a lot of learning, reading, talking and thinking. “As a parent of a transgender child, you are presented with a stark choice: to outright reject the feelings and words of your child when they tell you who they are or to choose to embrace your child and love them with all your heart,” he said. “My wife and I decided to love our kids with all our hearts. “Transgender kids are not scary. Transgender people are not scary. They are not people that we should be afraid of. They are people who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and love.” He said his kids are kind and smart, and they play sports and music. They are also fond of Taylor Swift and airplanes. “They have the incredible strength to live as their authentic selves.” Clarke said it’s the second time the Saskatchewan Party government has gone after transgender kids. Last year, the province passed a law using the notwithstanding clause to require parental consent when children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns at school. “I don’t expect everyone to understand the journey that we have been on as a family, but I hope that my words today can be heard by those who have an open heart and a willingness to learn about the different lived experience than perhaps their own,” he said. “I hope something good can come from this terrible experience.” The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Offering patients an injection is more effective than the current care of steroid tablets and cuts the need for further treatment by 30%, according to a study. Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at a low dose, but a new clinical trial has found that a higher single dose can be very effective if injected at the time of a flare-up. The findings, published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, included 158 people who needed medical attention in A&E for their asthma or COPD attack (COPD is a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties). Patients were given a quick blood test to see what type of attack they were having, with those suffering an “eosinophilic exacerbation” involving eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) being suitable for treatment. Around 50% of asthma attacks are eosinophilic exacerbations, as are 30% of COPD ones, according to the scientists. The clinical trial, led by King’s College London and carried out at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, saw patients randomly split into three groups. One group received the benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard care (prednisolone steroids 30mg daily for five days) and a dummy injection, and the third group received both the benralizumab injection and steroids. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better in people on benralizumab. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment compared with those receiving steroids. Treatment with the benralizumab injection also took longer to fail, meaning fewer visits to a GP or hospital for patients, researchers said. Furthermore, people also reported a better quality of life on the new regime. Scientists at King’s said steroids can have severe side-effects such as increasing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, meaning switching to benralizumab could provide huge benefits. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, from King’s, said: “This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. “Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. “Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. “We’ve used the drug in a different way – at the point of an exacerbation – to show that it’s more effective than steroid tablets, which is the only treatment currently available.” Researchers said benralizumab could also potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice, as well as in A&E. First author Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, clinical senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia, said: “Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. “COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. “We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out.” Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, welcomed the findings but said: “It’s appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is.” AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study and funded the research, but had no input into trial design, delivery, analysis or interpretation.
Home Stretch Property Management Launched Turn Key Property Solutions to Address Saint Louis’ Real Estate Challenges
Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldier and wounds 18 as Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others, the Lebanese military said. The Hezbollah militant group meanwhile fired barrages of rockets into northern and central Israel, wounding at least five people. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. The Israeli military expressed regret over the strike, saying it occurred in an area of ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah. It said it does not target the Lebanese armed forces and that the strike is under review. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggests
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Mike Johnson Calls on Biden to 'Speak Up' as Trump Cabinet Picks TargetedFirst new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years - Medical Xpress
This vehicular Pink Panther is falling flat on its face. Jaguar’s alleged attempts to woo Generation Z with a Barbie-pink electric vehicle backfired spectacularly after Zoomers dubbed the luxury UK automaker’s creation “cheap” and compared it to a “pink Batmobile.” Pictures of new Jaguar Type 00 concept, dubbed the Design Vision Concept, had leaked online ahead of its official release at Miami Art Week this week, the Telegraph reported. Per the photos, the $126,519.50 vehicle featured a giant bonnet, slatted rectangular grills and no rear window while the leaping Jaguar logo has vanished from both ends, taking a back seat to a divisive, new round logo, the Daily Mail reported. However, the hot-omobile’s most noticeable feature was its “Miami pink” exterior, which evoked a boxier version of the Corvette from the “Barbie” movie. It also comes in metallic blue. Gerry McGovern, the chief creative officer of Jaguar Land Rover, deemed the flamboyant concept car a “taste of things to come” at the Miami convention. The EV-only hot wheels are seemingly the latest part of Jaguar’s seemingly “woke” rebranding campaign to win over Gen Z, which was promoted in a video ad that featured androgynous models in bombastic outfits, including one man wearing a dress and, most notably, no cars anywhere in sight. Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover notably dubbed the company’s new direction a “complete reset” meant to “inspire a new generation.” Ironically, many of their so-called intended younger customers were quick to put the Type 00 model in the rhetorical car compactor. “If you thought the Jaguar rebrand was peak cringe, you gotta look at their new car,” scoffed one detractor on X. TikTokker Fionnuala compared the car to Muck, a red digger from the kid’s show “Bob the Builder.” “Now you’re telling me Jaguar had all that faff (Brit slang for fuss), all that rebrand, all that nonsense for a car that looks like Muck, and to be honest I’d rather [have] Muck,” she declared. Other unimpressed Zoomers took shots at the rebranding efforts in general. “What on Earth is Jaguar thinking?” exclaimed gearhead Luke Malpas in one TikTok clip. “They’ve gone from being a staple of British engineering, creating some of the best cars we’ve seen on the road, to this” “Go woke, you know the rest,” wrote podcaster Jay Anderson on X, while journalist Jordan Schachtel wrote, “Go DEI go absolutely broke. This is a mockery of the Jaguar brand.” Some critics found the “Copy Nothing” slogan ironic, given that the new EV vehicle seemed to rip off many storied vehicle brands. “Copy nothing except Rolls Royce, Bentley, and then put a Studabaker radiator on the back of the car,” snarked Canopy Capital Group CEO Eric Golden on X. “Copy nothing? It’s a pink Batmobile,” scoffed another naysayer while decrying the vehicle’s departure from the brand’s iconic macho mobiles of old. Some accused Jaguar of risking alienating their consumer base by attempting to appeal to people who will never buy their product. “Someone on the Jaguar marketing team has greatly overestimated the size of the ‘vegan barista who wants to roll up to the drum circle in a luxury sports car’ market, I fear,” mused Lulu Cheng Meservey, a board member at tech company Shopify, on X. “I have a feeling @Jaguar may be about to find out that there are fewer well-off, non-binary, woke lesbians of color than their echo chamber assured them there were,” sniped right-wing British Reclaim Party founder and “political correctness” foe Laurence Fox. The criticisms extended beyond accusations that the model was ugly in pink. “That @Jaguar concept car is one fugly monstrosity,” griped one. “The switch to electric gave huge potential for a radical redesign to live up to their unimaginative ad campaign, but they had so little imagination that they gave it a huge view-restricting nose to house a non-existent engine.” Despite the online savaging, a few vehicle buffs have praised the Type 00s, with “Top Gear” host Rory Reid commenting: “Having been massively underwhelmed by XE, XF and XJ (which are only even vaguely interesting with a 5-liter supercharged V8 under the bonnet) ... This is the most ‘I would actually look twice at this’ Jag since ... forever. “I’d even have it in pink for the haters,” Reid declared. McGovern also seemingly defended the creation, saying: “Getting attention in today’s world is not always easy, and I assume all of you and those following from around the world may have read a thing or two about the new Jaguar brand. “And we’re delighted to have your attention,” he continued. “Controversy has always surrounded British creativity when it’s been at its best.” McGovern then analogized the company’s makeover to visionaries like singer David Bowie and designer Vivienne Westwood, who “challenged convention and had no desire to copy the norm.” Originally published as Jaguar’s pink, ‘woke’ electric car slammed by Gen Z: ‘What on Earth is Jaguar thinking?’
Body discovered in water off Shetland during search for a missing wild swimmer who disappeared two days after Christmas
Bad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in peril( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) NEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email ... for information on the class action. What is this about: On October 22, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with“making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions.” Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys' stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: , on Twitter: or on Facebook: . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 ... MENAFN29122024004107003653ID1109040109 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
2024 has been a milestone year for data analytics company Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 4.87% ) . Perhaps most important event for the company was its addition to the S&P 500 earlier this year -- an achievement few thought was possible just four years ago when Palantir went public and was quickly written off as a glorified government contracting and consulting operation with no real technology capabilities. That narrative has come to an end. Over the last couple of years, Palantir has entered a new phase of growth thanks to the company's successful launch of a new software suite called the Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). All of these factors have contributed to notable interest in Palantir stock over the last several months. At the time of this writing, shares of Palantir have gained 283% year to date. With the stock hovering around an all-time high valuation, can it possibly keep climbing higher? In my eyes, I think Palantir stock is set to continue running. Below, I'll break down the company's latest announcement and point to why investors should have their eyes on Palantir stock on Nov. 26. Palantir's latest big announcement One thing that often goes overlooked with stocks is the exchange that they trade on. But, believe it or not, trading on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) versus the Nasdaq Stock Market can actually have some pretty big implications for a company. A few days ago, Palantir announced that it is moving its listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq . Shares of Palantir are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq on Nov. 26. On the surface, this may seem like mundane news. But below I'm going to break down a number of examples of other companies that have switched to the Nasdaq and illustrate how their share prices moved following the transition. History is on Palantir's side Below, I've outlined two companies that have moved from their original stock exchange to the Nasdaq in recent years. Workday : On Sept. 1, 2017, software company Workday announced that it was switching from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. Shares of Workday began trading on the Nasdaq a couple of weeks later, on Sept. 20. Here is how Workday stock has moved since becoming a Nasdaq-traded security: Between Sept. 1, 2017, and Sept. 20, 2017, shares declined by a nominal 2%. Between Sept. 20, 2017, and Sept. 20, 2018, the stock gained more than 30%. Since becoming a member of the Nasdaq, the stock has increased 144%. PepsiCo : On Dec. 8, 2017, beverage and snack conglomerate PepsiCo announced that it was moving from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. PepsiCo began trading as a member of the Nasdaq on December 20, 2017. Between Dec. 8, 2017, and Dec. 20, 2017, shares rose by a nominal 2%. Between Dec. 20, 2017, and Dec. 20, 2018, the stock dropped roughly 7%. Since becoming a member on the Nasdaq, the stock has increased 33%. I think the decision to move to the Nasdaq benefited PepsiCo and Workday in a number of ways. First, the Nasdaq is often affiliated with technology, growth, and innovation. While PepsiCo is a consumer packaged goods empire, I think the move to the Nasdaq helped the company's perception as more of a growth stock and less of a mundane soda and snack business. In addition, both Workday and PepsiCo joined the Nasdaq-100 following their respective moves from the NYSE. Earning inclusion into the Nasdaq-100 index can help a company land on more investor radars. As such, increases in trading volume and buying can occur which positively influences stock prices. What I think will happen after Palantir's debut on the Nasdaq While the news about Palantir's change from the NYSE to the Nasdaq is interesting, you're probably wondering why a company would do this in the first place. To be honest, there are a lot of reasons that could influence a company's decision to move exchanges. Some of the more pedantic factors could be related to fees associated with different stock exchanges, for example. In my eyes, the cost structures among different exchanges isn't really a concern for Palantir. Rather, I think the move to the Nasdaq is rooted in branding. While the Nasdaq is home to companies in many different industries, it is most commonly affiliated with the technology sector. Given Palantir's success throughout the AI revolution, I think the notion of the company being a consulting business for the government has been erased. Palantir's close alliance with big tech cements the company as a strong force in the AI industry, and I think moving to the Nasdaq will help strengthen the company's image as a legitimate player in the technology realm. I previously predicted that Palantir's inclusion into the S&P 500 would help get the company on the radar of more institutional investors. I'm now doubling down on this stance, as becoming a member of the Nasdaq should help better position Palantir as an attractive growth stock in a sea of leading technology companies. Some analysts are already projecting that increased institutional buying in combination with the spotlight of the Nasdaq could propel Palantir into the coveted Nasdaq-100 index. Should that come to fruition, I think it's almost a certainty that the company's share price will continue soaring. While I can't say for certain what will happen, Palantir's stock price has already experienced some momentum following the news of the company's switch from the NYSE. I think trading on the Nasdaq will help Palantir become more widely recognized as a leading opportunity in AI and the technology arenas over time. For these reasons, I think the stock will follow the trends I outlined above and continue soaring after its move to the Nasdaq.
On most weekday nights, the ticking of a metronome rings out across the University of Massachusetts Amherst athletic fields, followed by the music of the “Power and Class of New England,” the UMass Amherst Minutemen Marching Band. The students in the band put in a huge commitment to their music and routines, and this year their hard work has brought them to the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where they will showcase their talents on a national stage. “This is a chance to represent our university and our state to this huge audience,” said Timothy Anderson, director of the Minutemen Marching Band. “The students really understand what the mission is. That, to me as their teacher, has been real inspiring.” The marching band was selected from bands around the country to perform in the Thanksgiving Day classic, which will be televised on NBC starting at 8:30 a.m., and they will be the fourth band to play. “I really am excited for people to see the UMass band and what ‘Power and Class’ is all about and what we do here,” said Qeanu Smith, a fifth-year drum major. “We’re trying to bring as much of ourselves with us there and really show people, ‘This is what we do. UMass. This is what the band is all about.’ What we do here is special and getting the opportunity to go to the parade is really exciting.” The band will play “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” during their televised performance, a tribute to late UMass alum Natalie Cole. The routine includes musicians, baton twirlers, dancers and the color guard, who will march the 31⁄2-hour, 2.5-mile parade route, ending with their performance in front of the Macy’s flagship store at Broadway and 34th Street. The band began practicing its music in early October, and overall had about a month and a half to prepare the routine, also practicing for the UMass football halftime shows during that time. The band members learned they would be performing in the parade during the Oct. 7, 2023 football game. “I got to go to New York in the middle of the summer, and walking the parade route, it was super neat standing there. It’s kind of hard to envision. We were in the street looking at the Macy’s sign, and I’m like, ‘There’s going to be a star here!’ It’s going to be so cool, I’m super excited,” said Lilly Barnett, a junior baton twirler and travel coordinator for the band. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess At a rehearsal on Nov. 19, just over a week before their performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the band members were still making adjustments to their routine, ensuring that everything was precisely in place. One of the trickiest parts of performing in the parade is getting the 400-plus members of the band into the small televised space during their time slow of 1 minute and 15 seconds. The performers have 56 counts, or approximately 25 seconds, to move everyone into the Macy’s Star and begin their routine, while playing. The dimensions of the star and performance space in Herald Square are spray-painted onto their practice field, and the band members meticulously practice getting into that space and landing exactly on their “dots.” “The hardest thing about getting ready for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is that the stuff you see on TV, that is like, at most, a fourth of a football field,” said Anderson. “The first couple days we started learning the drill I just had to tell them, ‘You guys need to trust me on this, this is how it’s going to work.’ And now they’ve got the hang of it, but really that’s the biggest challenge is that it’s such a small, restricted space.” Even the smallest changes can make a huge difference in the band’s 75-second routine, so precision is key. At practice, Chris Sirard, assistant director and visual coordinator, instructed students to move closer together in certain configurations, so that different formations would be distinct from each other, telling them to find space “even if it’s 6 inches.” Along the parade route, the band will play songs including “God Bless America” and “Fight Mass,” the UMass fight song, which are part of the band’s typical repertoire. While they have yet to perform in a parade this year, the band members typically march in a few each season and will perform at the Merry Maple celebration in Amherst on Friday, Dec. 6. The UMass band left Amherst on Monday and spent the days leading up to the parade practicing in a bubble dome, hotel ballrooms and on the streets of New York. On Wednesday, the day before the parade, the University of South Carolina Band joined UMass for a performance at New York’s Pier 16 near the South Street Seaport at 10 a.m. Anderson and the USC band director went to graduate school together, and when they found out they would both be in the parade, they decided to put together this performance. The students in the band put a lot of time into it throughout the year and their season, practicing every afternoon Monday through Thursday, often performing on the weekends. “After four years, you really become a strong part of this band, and the band becomes a part of you,” said Aiden Beckman, a senior who is the Macy’s coordinator for the band and section leader of the front ensemble. “It’s amazing. You know that there is one large place on campus where you can go every day, feel welcome and commit to a common task.” This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature 22 balloons, 34 floats, 11 marching bands, 28 performers and more from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It will be available to watch on NBC. The UMass Minuteman Marching Band will also be performing its Macy’s set at the football game against the University of Connecticut on Saturday, Nov. 30.