I’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, but plenty of my family members do, and they consider it to be one of the world’s most engaging table top games; a game that also promotes community. And, like any game that has been around for more than fifty years, there’s bound to be changes. And, with changes, comes angry voices in opposition. One of the angriest right now is Elon Musk. Writing for The Atlantic, Adam Serwer recently detailed Musk’s fury over changes to the game and the way Wizards of the Coast, the company behind D&D, has begun reckoning with its past Last November, on X, the billionaire tycoon Elon Musk told the toy company Hasbro to ‘burn in hell.’ Hasbro owns the company Wizards of the Coast, which produces the game Dungeons & Dragons. Wizards had just released a book on the making of the game that was critical of some of its creators’ old material. ‘Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash’ the ‘geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons,’ Musk wrote. The book acknowledged that some earlier iterations of the game relied on racist and sexist stereotypes and included ‘a virtual catalog of insensitive and derogatory language.’ After a designer at Wizards said that the company’s priority now was responding to ‘progressives and underrepresented groups who justly took offense’ at those stereotypes, and not to ‘the ire of the grognards’-a reference to early fans such as Musk-Musk asked, ‘How much is Hasbro?,’ suggesting that he might buy the company to impose his vision on it, as he’d done with Twitter. According to Mint’s Ravi Hari (with inputs from Deutsche Welle), “Musk has become increasingly vocal about the gaming industry, especially on his platform X (formerly Twitter).” He noted that “Too many game studios . are owned by massive corporations,” adding, “xAI is going to start an AI game studio to make games great again!” Dungeons & Dragons was the original role-playing game, born in the early 1970s after insurance underwriter and cobbler Gary Gygax met a student named Dave Arneson at a Midwestern tabletop gaming convention. In his piece, Serwer explains how their breakthrough came from shifting away from reenacting historical battles with miniatures toward a more character-driven, improvisational style involving a Dungeon Master, dice rolls, and narrative collaboration. It was, as he puts it, essentially “a game of pretend.” Serwer’s piece, “Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons & Dragons To Be Racist: The fantastical roots of ‘scientific racism,’” goes beyond the game’s mechanics, tracing how fantasy itself carries the weight of 20th-century ideas about race. He delves into J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, fantasy’s seminal 20th-century text, published in 1937, and the Lord of the Rings series that followed it. Both were “written, an era in which many Westerners believed that ‘races’ shared particular natures, characteristics, and capabilities. That genetic determinism seeped into the books. Although uncountable readers were inspired by the tales of its diminutive heroes defying stereotypes to save the world, some drew other conclusions. The books, and the ideas embedded in them, would go on to have a magnetic appeal to the political forces Tolkien had rejected.” Serwer points out that in the early days, the game was “largely confined to the white, nerdy, male subculture in which it was born. Most of these players wouldn’t have thought much about the racial meaning of the game-even when the stereotypes were blatant, like one inspired by a ‘traditional African-analogue tribal society’ set in a jungle featuring dark-skinned ‘noble savages’ and ‘depraved cannibals.’ But for kids like me, [Jewish and Black] the meaning was always there.” Although business wise D&D had always been “in financial peril,” sales grew during the Great Recession, “while the retail hobby stores that doubled as hangout spots where many kids were introduced to the game started to close. No one expected the game to experience a sudden renaissance,” Serwer writes. “But it did. In 2011, the sitcom Community ran a D&D-themed episode. The nostalgic horror show Stranger Things, which debuted in 2016, showed kids playing D&D together. As other geeky pastimes became more mainstream-such as Disney’s Marvel juggernaut-the stigma once associated with those activities began to fade, a process I’ll call ‘de-geekification.’” Protests following the murder of George Floyd led the D&D development team to acknowledge “in a blog post that some earlier versions of the game offered portrayals of fantasy creatures that were ‘painfully reminiscent of how real-world ethnic groups have been and continue to be denigrated. That’s just not right, and it’s not something we believe in.’ In 2022, Wizards announced that it would be removing the word race from the game and substituting species, noting that “‘race’ is a problematic term that has had prejudiced links between real world people and the fantasy peoples of D&D worlds.” So where does that leave Elon Musk? Will he continue his personal crusade against the direction D&D is taking? Will he attempt to buy Hasbro? Or launch a gaming empire of his own? What’s clear is that his outrage is about much more than a hobby: it’s about who gets to define the stories we tell, the worlds we imagine, and the futures we fight over.
https://dissidentvoice.org/2025/11/elon-musk-vs-dungeons-and-dragons/
Author: admin
Beverly Thorn
Beverly Thorn, 73, of Blytheville passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born to R. C. and Estelle Maupin, Beverly’s professional life included working at Wiremold and later for Owens Drug Store until her retirement. In her youth, she enjoyed tanning and house cleaning. In later years, Beverly became more of a homebody and enjoyed playing games on her phone, listening to music and prioritizing her beloved “nap” time. Anyone who knew Beverly, knew she was quick-witted and quite the jokester. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Kelly Dodd; three brothers, Sammy, David and Phillip Maupin; two sisters, Annie Kennedy and Eva Jane Byers; and her brother-in-law, Roger “Moe” Thorn. Beverly is survived by her beloved husband of 39 years, Grant Thorn; daughter, Jamie Dickson and her husband Randall of Blytheville; mother-in-law, Betty Thorn of Manila; sister-in-law, Tina Thorn of Manila; three grandchildren, Easton Dickson, Jonna Hamilton and her husband Frank, and Hunter Dodd and his wife Danielle; two great-grandchildren, Gannon Parker and Hayes Dodd; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Martinez and the dedicated hospital staff at the Great River Medical Emergency Room for their exceptional care and efforts. Funeral services were 2 p. m. Wednesday, November 19, at Cobb Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Dogwood Cemetery. The family received friends from 1 p. m. until service time. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www. cobbfuneralhome. com.
https://www.neatowncourier.com/obituaries/beverly-thorn-1ff0b75f
The 10 Best Animated Series For Adults
You’re an adult. You value things like the New York Stock Exchange and being able to swear. You drink cappuccinos. You pay your taxes. You go to bed at a reasonable hour. You don’t have time to waste on childish things. That’s why when you watch cartoons, you make sure those cartoons were made with adults like you in mind. There aren’t any kids shows with adult themes on the list, no Avatar The Last Airbender or Over The Garden Wall. These are shows that no sane parent would allow a child to watch, but you stopped giving a hoot about what your parents thought long ago, didn’t you? These are the 10 best animated series for adults, for a mature cartoon watcher like you. Recommended Videos Primal From the mind of Genndy Tartakovsky the man responsible for “kids’ show with adult themes” titles like Samurai Jack and Star Wars: Clone Wars comes a show made for mature eyes only. Set in a primeval world, Primal follows a caveman who bonds with a dinosaur after both suffered the loss of their loved ones. Yes, dinosaurs can love. In a carnivorous world with no one to depend on but each other, Spear and Fang become an apex predator made up of man and beast. The beauty and brutality of Primal‘s story is explored with barely any dialogue whatsoever dinosaurs aren’t exactly a chatty species, and I’m not sure Spear has discovered language himself. It’s basically How To Train Your Dragon for adults, if the dragon was something out of Jurassic Park. Who wouldn’t want to ride a T-rex to work? Daria A sophisticated spinoff of Beavis and Butthead, Daria is the story of the best friend we all wish we’d had in high school. Daria is a teenage iconoclast, a young woman who refuses to conform to the rigid standards of 1990s America. She doesn’t give a hoot about being popular, she’s not even concerned about being well liked. Cynical and satirical, Daria is a takedown of superficial society, as its lead character uses her scathing, understated wit to cut to the heart of what’s real. Daria is concerned about her relationships with those closest to her: her workaholic mom, her neurotic dad, her vapid younger sister, and her best friend Jane who holds her down through it all. Clever, raw, and honest Daria is one of the greatest animated bildungsroman series around. And if there’s anything a literary adult like you can’t resist, it’s a bildungsroman. Bojack Horseman BoJack Horseman takes place in a world where anthropomorphic animals live alongside humans, and where its titular protagonist was once a household name. The star of late 80’s sitcom Horsin’ Around, BoJack became a victim of his own success, as fortune and fame lead him down the path of addiction and alcoholism. A bleak portrait of sunny Los Angeles, the series is a deep dive into the vapidity of celebrity culture and the negative effects it has on those wrapped up in it. This is a world of burned out child stars and has-beens, trying to make a comeback in a world that moved on long ago and BoJack is one of them. It’s equal parts dark and darkly funny, and dysfunctional, depressed, angry, and poor BoJack is usually the butt of the joke. Smiling Friends The bright and beaming face of adult animated absurdism, Smiling Friends is the story of Pim and Charlie two employees of a company meant to spread happiness to a troubled world. Run by the emotionally labile Mr. Boss, Smiling Friends opens its doors to anyone in need of a good grin and Pim and Charlie aren’t allowed to rest until a smile is on a client’s face. In a world full of sociopathic frog emperors, carnivorous demons, evil doppelgängers, and panhandling witches, smiles are in short supply, but the plucky Pim and the cynical Charlie will do their best anyway. The charm of the series comes from its fast-paced and frenetic humor and ever changing animation style. It’s raunchy, violent, funny, and surprisingly tender this series just can’t make up its mind, and that’s what keeps the smiles coming. Cowboy Bebop The show that elevated the anime series into the lofty realm of high art, Cowboy Bebop remains one of the greatest animated stories ever told. A space western set in a colonized Solar System, the series follows bounty hunters Spike and Jet as they attempt to enforce the law in a lawless universe. Though the pair have a checkered relationship with authority themselves, they’ve come to realize that they can’t be picky about where the money comes from in this dog eat dog galaxy. Sometimes it comes from turning in interstellar drug dealers, or ecological terrorists, or escaped government experiments, and sometimes it comes from chasing down a space cowboy cut from the same cloth they are. Combining high octane action, a moody tone, and a stellar space jazz score, this series is the pinnacle of cool. The Veture Bros. An animated cult classic, The Venture Brothers serves as a send up to superhero culture and nerdy cinema. A pastiche of Johnny Quest, the series follows the lives of the Venture family spearheaded by mad scientist Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture with his dimwitted sons Hank and Dean along for the ride. Accompanied by their bodyguard Brock Sampson (essentially a homicidal version of Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove), Hank and Dean set off on harebrained adventures that result in death and destruction for everyone else involved. While the series starts off cynical, the plot soon softens detailing the complexities of the characters’ relationships between each other and their supervillain arch nemesis The Monarch a butterfly themed evildoer. Sweet, smarmy, satisfying it’s one of the best. Futurama While The Simpsons may have more cultural impact, there’s something special about Matt Groening’s sophomore show Futurama. It’s the story of Phillip J. Fry, a dimwitted pizza boy who ends up cryogenically frozen in a delivery gone wrong. After waking up in the year 3000, the 90s era Fry finds a new job helping a mad scientist, a cyclops mutant, and a homicidal robot make deliveries across the stars. A delightful pastiche of early 2000s America, Futurama is a comfort show to its core. Madcap humor combines with a deep emotional heart to make this series one of the most impactful pieces of animation ever created. Just try to watch the episode “Jurassic Bark” without sobbing your eyes out, it simply isn’t possible. Scavenger’s Reign One of the greatest sci-fi series ever made, the short-lived Scavenger’s Reign follows a group of survivors stranded on an alien planet after their cargo ship crash landed. Teeming with strange animals and plants, planet Vesta feels as vibrant as our own, with complex ecosystems worthy of David Attenborough’s nature documentary narration. As the survivors of the Demeter 227 struggle to make their way back to the wreckage of their ship, they’re forced to contend with the beauties and dangers of the extraterrestrial world they now call home. Though the show only lasted one season, it does alien sci-fi better than any other a true masterclass in world building worthy of a season two, three and four. Devilman Crybaby One of the most shockingly disturbing anime ever made, Devilman Crybaby is set in a world plagued by carnivorous demons that possess and devour humanity. After attending a debauched sex party that attracted demonic attention, the teenaged Akira becomes the host of a powerful evil spirit transforming him into a human/demon hybrid called a “devilman.” As Akira struggles to understand his newfound power, he’s equally confused by his relationships with those around him exacerbated by raging teenage hormones. It’s a bloody and brutal puberty metaphor with tragic consequences. As demonkind runs rampant across a powerless world, Akira will do his best to stop the threat, but his best might not be good enough. South Park Perhaps the greatest work of adult animation ever made, South Park remains one of the most culturally relevant shows in circulation. It’s the story of four foul-mouthed middle schoolers in small town America, and the dimwitted adults that serve as anything but role models. Fearlessly funny, there’s no subject matter too taboo for South Park to take on. No one is safe from the show’s scathing social satire- not celebrities, politicians, or everyday people like you and me. It’s depraved, disturbing, and absolutely debauched. A product of American mean spiritedness reflected back on itself. South Park works because of humanity’s inner darkness, our propensity to be selfish, cruel, vain, and egotistical. We can’t blame Kyle, Eric, Stan and Kenny for their abominable behavior they learned it from the society that they grew up in. They are a product of their time, just like the show itself. Until humanity stops being awful, South Park will always be relevant and I don’t see our species making a change anytime soon. Do you?.
https://www.themarysue.com/the-10-best-animated-series-for-adults/
Another rally for Alphabet leads the US stock market higher
NEW YORK (AP) The U. S. stock market is rising again on Monday, for now at least, ahead of a week with shortened trading because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The S&P 500 climbed 0. 9% and added to its jump from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 72 points, or 0. 2%, as of 10 a. m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1. 7% higher. Stocks got a lift from rising hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in December, a move that could boost the economy and investment prices. The market also benefited from strength for stocks caught up in the artificial-intelligence frenzy. Alphabet, which has been getting praise for its newest Gemini AI model, rose 5. 6% and was one of the strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. Nvidia slipped 0. 3% after bobbing up and down. An early gain for the U. S. stock market guarantees nothing, though, as the last few weeks have so painfully shown. Stocks have been swinging sharply, not just day to day but also hour to hour, as worries weigh about what the Fed will do with interest rates and whether too much money is pouring into AI and creating a bubble. Even within Monday’s first 15 minutes of trading, the S&P 500 rallied to a gain of 1% and then halved it. All the uncertainty is creating the biggest test for investors since an April sell-off, when President Donald Trump shocked the world with his “Liberation Day” tariffs. Still, despite all the recent fear, the S&P 500 remains within 3. 3% of its record set last month. Several more tests lie ahead this week for the market, though none loom as large as last week’s profit report from Nvidia or the delayed jobs report from the U. S. government for September. One of the biggest will arrive Tuesday, when the U. S. government will deliver data showing how bad inflation was at the wholesale level in September. Economists expect it to show a 2. 6% rise from a year earlier, the same inflation rate as August. A higher-than-expected reading could deter the Fed from cutting its main interest rate in December for a third time this year, because lower rates can worsen inflation. Some Fed officials have already been arguing against a December cut in part because inflation has stubbornly remained above their 2% target. Traders are nevertheless betting on a nearly 79% probability that the Fed will cut rates next month, up from 71% on Friday and from less than a coin flip’s chance a week ago, according to data from CME Group. U. S. markets will be closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. A day later, it’s on to the rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On Wall Street, U. S.-listed shares of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk fell 8. 3% Monday after it reported that its Alzheimer’s drug failed to slow progression of the disease in a trial. Bitcoin, meanwhile, continued it sharp swings. It was sitting near $86,000 after bouncing between $82,000 and $94,000 over the last week. It was near $125,000 last month. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed across Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2% for one of the world’s biggest moves. It got a boost from a 4. 7% leap for Alibaba, which has reported strong demand for its updated Qwen AI app. Alibaba is due to report earnings on Tuesday. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4. 04% from 4. 06% late Friday. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2025/11/24/stock-market-fed-cut-hopes/
UT Tyler picks up road win over Colorado School of Mines
GOLDEN, COLO. UT Tyler men’s basketball delivered another complete team effort on Saturday night, picking up an 87-79 road win at Colorado School of Mines behind five players in double figures and a wire-to-wire performance that featured runs on both sides. The Patriots opened the game with poise, scoring the first four points behind a pair of free throws from Kyle Morgan and a layup from Sam Phipps. After Mines cut into the margin, Jacob Bell knocked down a three at the 15: 23 mark to pull UT Tyler even at 7-7, and the Patriots followed with more points highlighted by a Suarjaya three and a driving layup that pushed the lead to 12-7. UT Tyler’s early execution from deep and in transition fueled a 19-11 advantage after another Morgan three and a Bell layup off a steal. Moments later, Bell drilled his second three of the half, and two fastbreak free throws from the sophomore guard extended the margin to 26-15. Mines traded punches with the Patriots for much of the half, but UT Tyler kept the lead around double digits throughout. A two-handed fastbreak dunk from Phipps off an outlet from Bell provided the Patriots their largest lead of the opening period at 42-29 in the final minute, and UT Tyler took a 42-32 edge into the break. Out of halftime, Colorado School of Mines looked to chip away, but the Patriots had responses at every turn. Suarjaya converted in the lane to stabilize the lead, and after a Mines three trimmed the margin to 45-39, Bell knocked down a mid-range jumper before Xavier Williams added a driving finish to push the lead back to 10. Mines made another push, but UT Tyler’s defensive pressure and interior play swung momentum back in the Patriots favor. A steal by Williams led to a Bell fastbreak layup that made it 52-41, and minutes later, Suarjaya found Bell in transition once again to stretch the margin to 54-43. Colorado School of Mines continued to battle, knocking down perimeter shots to pull within single digits, but the Patriots frontcourt delivered the closing punch. Phipps powered home a key dunk later in the half, and Barbee knocked down important free throws to keep UT Tyler firmly in front. The Patriots maintained control in the final seconds with a collective effort at the free-throw line and on the defensive glass. UT Tyler closed the night shooting 55 percent (31-for-56) from the floor while racking up 46 points in the paint. Bell led the way with 21 points, Phipps added 18 points and nine rebounds, Morgan totaled 17 points and five assists, Barbee contributed 16 points and eight boards, and Suarjaya rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points and five assists. The win moves the Patriots to a perfect 2-0 start as they return home for their home opener next week to continue non-conference play against Our Lady of the Lake.
https://tylerpaper.com/2025/11/24/ut-tyler-picks-up-road-win-over-colorado-school-of-mines/
How to extract audio from a video file on iPhone
There are times when you may want to keep the audio from a video for a future project, use it as a ringtone, or for any personal reason you can think of. While this often requires a third-party app, website, or secondary device, you don’t actually need one to extract audio. Using the Shortcuts app on your iPhone, you can easily create a sequence of actions to extract audio with a single tap. Here’s how to set it up and use it. Creating the audio-extracting shortcut Since we’ll be using the Shortcuts app to extract the audio, make sure it’s installed on your iPhone. If you can’t seem to find it, you may have deleted it. If that’s the case, all you need to do is reinstall Shortcuts for free from the App Store. After opening the app, tap the plus icon (the “+”) in the top right corner to start creating your shortcut. This will open the sheet where you’ll enter each step. Once opened, tap the shortcut name-titled “New Shortcut” by default-at the top and select “Rename.” You can name the shortcut whatever fits best. For example, I titled mine “Extract Audio From a Video,” since that’s the name that will appear when selecting the shortcut later. You can also edit the shortcut’s icon, which helps distinguish it from other apps in the share sheet. Next, pull down the menu tab at the bottom of the screen to reveal the information icon (the “i”). Tap it, then make sure “Show in Share Sheet” is enabled, and tap “Done.” This will make the shortcut appear in the share sheet options for easy access. A new shortcut task will appear once you toggle that option on. Tap “Apps and 18 more” next to “Receive” in the step, and turn off all options except “Media,” then tap “Done.” Instead of toggling each option off individually, it’s easier to tap “Clear” in the upper left corner to disable all options, then turn on only “Media.” Enabling this option alone will cause the shortcut to accept media input, preventing it from appearing in irrelevant places. Following that, create an action to encode the provided input media. Tap on “Add Action” and type “Encode” in the search bar, then select the “Encode Media” option. Tap the arrow next to “Shortcut Input” to expand the options for the newly added task, then toggle on “Audio Only.” You can change the audio format if you want, but collapse the menu once you’re finished. Finally, you’ll add one more action to save the extracted audio output. Tap on the search bar at the bottom, type “Save File,” and select the “Save File” option that appears. After that, tap “Done” to finish creating your shortcut. Using the shortcut for your extraction needs Now that your shortcut is set up, play the video you want to extract audio from and let the shortcut do the rest. While the video is playing, tap the share icon in the bottom-right corner, then select the shortcut you created from the share sheet options. Next, choose a location where you’d like to save the extracted audio and tap “Open.” Wait a few seconds for a checkmark to appear at the top of the screen, indicating the shortcut ran successfully and the audio was extracted. Then, locate the file in the Files app and start enjoying your extracted audio. You can also permanently remove audio from a video before sharing it on your iPhone. What to do if the shortcut is not in the share sheet If you don’t see the newly created shortcut in the share sheet, there are several options you can try to fix the issue. One option is to review the shortcut that was just made to ensure it’s set up correctly, and make sure the “Show in Share Sheet” setting is toggled on. If everything looks good, restart your iPhone after creating the shortcut, especially if you’ve freshly installed the Shortcuts app. Another option is to add the shortcut to your home screen, as some users report it helps the shortcut work more reliably. To do this, open the shortcut, tap its name, and select “Add to Home Screen.” You’ll also want to ensure the video file is in a format supported by the iPhone. To check that, try extracting audio from a different video with the same format. If the issue persists, it indicates a format problem. In that case, you should convert the video file to a format supported by the iPhone before extracting audio from it. If all else fails, delete the shortcut and recreate it from scratch. Open the Shortcuts app, long-tap the shortcut, and tap “Delete.”.
https://www.howtogeek.com/extract-audio-from-a-video-file-on-iphone/
James Fishback launches campaign for Governor
Azaria CEO James Fishback just formally announced his campaign for Governor. The move came after weeks of teasing a run on a conservative, nativist platform. “America is our birthright, and we will never let them steal it from us,” Fishback said in a nearly three-minute video launching his campaign. Fishback posted the video about 40 minutes before a planned press conference in Tallahassee. In the video, Fishback directly attacked U. S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican endorsed for Governor by President Donald Trump. Fishback also promoted himself as the clear ideological successor to Gov. Ron DeSantis. “If a Republican politician supports the H-1B scam that fires our workers, he can’t be our next Governor. If he goes out and supports the building of AI data centers that threaten our electric bills and our water supply, he can’t be our next Governor. And if he goes to Congress and does nothing for us but makes millions of dollars trading stocks for himself, he can’t be our next Governor,” Fishback said. “Congressman Byron Donalds can’t be our next Governor because he won’t fight for Florida like Ron DeSantis has. I will. I’ll fight to preserve Governor DeSantis’ wins by keeping Florida free from DEI (diversity equity and inclusion), radical transgenderism, (George) Soros-backed prosecutors, child predators, voter fraud and the millions of illegals that invaded our country on Kamala Harris’ watch.” Meanwhile, he focused on affordability and touted his own roots to the Sunshine State while promising to visit all 67 Florida counties on the campaign trail. “I’m running for Florida Governor so I can make life more affordable for you and your family, easier to afford groceries, to buy a home, to raise a family, and when it’s all said and done, to retire with dignity,” Fishback said. Notably, Fishback, also the founder of the conservative Incubate Debate competitions, jumps into the ring as speculation rises about Lt. Gov. Jay Collins entering the contest. Collins was named to his post by DeSantis earlier this year and would likely also run as DeSantis’ natural successor, likely with the Governor’s endorsement.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/767120-james-fishback-launches-campaign-for-governor/
UK government will buy tech to boost AI sector in $130M growth push
The UK government will promise to buy emerging chip technology from British companies in a 100 million pound ($130 million) bid to boost growth by supporting the artificial intelligence sector. Liz Kendall, the science secretary, said the government would offer guaranteed payments to British startups producing AI hardware that can help sectors such as life sciences and financial services. Under a “first customer” promise modeled on the way the government bought COVID vaccines, Kendall’s department will commit in advance to buying AI inference chips that meet set performance standards. Kendall acknowledged that 100 million pounds “sounds small compared to the billions being spent” in the US and China but argued it was about “government showing leadership in the areas where we think we will be absolutely world-leading.” Valued at over 72 billion pounds ($94 billion), the UK’s AI market is the third largest in the world following the US and China, according to the British government. However, investment in AI in the UK lags behind the US. In 2024, US private investment in AI was at $109. 1 billion-significantly higher than the UK’s $4. 5 billion, according to the Stanford AI Index. The science secretary did not provide precise details on how the “advance payment mechanism” would work but said “cutting-edge chip companies” based in Britain will be told “the government will buy that when the technology reaches a certain standard.” “Our particular strengths as a country lie in areas like life sciences, financial services, the defense sector, and the creative sector. And where we will really lead the world is where we can use the power of AI in those sectors,” Kendall told the Financial Times. The plans came as part of a wider AI package designed to upgrade Britain’s tech infrastructure and convince entrepreneurs and investors that Labour is backing the sector ahead of next week’s Budget, which is expected to raise taxes on the wealthy. The UK has sought to attract investment from US AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. The government has signed several “strategic partnerships” with American groups in a bid to attract foreign investment in UK AI infrastructure and talent, in exchange for adopting their technology in the public sector. Sue Daley, of lobby group TechUK, said the plan showed “real ambition” but warned: “Advanced market commitments of this kind must be designed carefully to avoid unintentionally distorting competition.” The government also announced that James Wise, a venture capitalist at Balderton, would chair the government’s 500 million pound sovereign AI unit, which has been set up to back AI startups alongside the British Business Bank. Additional reporting by Ivan Levingston © 2025 The Financial Times Ltd. Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/11/uk-government-will-buy-tech-to-boost-ai-sector-in-130m-growth-push/
Puzzles? Sports? Birdsong? The variety of new nonfiction means there’s something for everyone
Birding. Photography. The great outdoors. Big Macs. Chances are good there’s a nonfiction book out there to suit just about anybody on your holiday gift list. Some ideas: For your puzzlers Imagine, if you will, a world without mobile phones, the internet or The New York Times (digital OR print). Would your favorite puzzler survive? The good folks at the Times have something perfect to put in the bunker: “Puzzle Mania!” It’s a stylish hardcover book full of Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and more. By a lead Times puzzle editor, Joel Fagliano. Authors Equity. $38. Contemporary art Painting, collage, photography, sculpture, performance. Derrick Adams has embraced them all in a career spanning more than 25 years. His first monograph, “Derrick Adams,” includes 150 works that explore Black American culture and his own identity. Portraiture abounds. There’s joy, leisure and resilience in everyday experiences and self-reflection, with a little humor on board. Monacelli. $79. 95. Steph Curry inspiration “Being shot ready requires practice, training and repetition, but it rewards that work with an unmatched feeling of transcendence.” That’s Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry in his new book, “Shot Ready.” The basketball star takes his readers from rookie to veteran, accompanied by inspiring words and photos. One doesn’t have to be into basketball to feel the greatness. One World. $50. The American West The photographer Frank S. Matsura died in 1913, but his work lives on in a hefty archive. He was a Japanese immigrant who chronicled life in Alaska and the Okanogan region of Washington state. He operated a photo studio frequented by the Indigenous people of the region. Many of those portraits are included in “Frank S. Matsura: Iconoclast Photographer of the American West.” Edited by Michael Holloman. Princeton Architectural Press. $40. The gift of bird chatter Cheeseburger, cheeseburger! The handy little book “Bird Talk” seeks to make identifying bird calls fun and accessible without heavy phonetic descriptors or birder lingo. Becca Rowland, who wrote and illustrated, offers funny, bite-size ways to identify calls using what’s already in our brains. Hence, the black-capped chickadee goes “cheeseburger, cheeseburger!” Storey Publishing. $16. 99. Mocktails and cocktails David Burtka is sober. His husband, Neil Patrick Harris, imbibes. Together, they love to throw parties. This elfin book, “Both Sides of the Glass,” includes easy-to-follow cocktail and mocktail recipes, with commentary from Harris, who took mixology lessons out of sheer love of a good drink. Written with Zoë Chapin. Plume. $35. It’s a book. It’s a burger. This tome with a cover design that evokes a Big Mac is a country-by-country work of journalism that earned two 2025 James Beard awards for Gary He, a writer and photographer who previously freelanced for The Associated Press and self-published the book. He toured the world visiting McDonald’s restaurants to do his research for “McAtlas: A Global Guide to the Golden Arches.” As social anthropology goes, it serves. $49. 95. Yosemite love From the cute but ferocious river otter to the gliders of the night, the Humboldt’s flying squirrel, this striking book is the first comprehensive work in more than a century dedicated entirely to the park’s animal kingdom. “Yosemite Wildlife: The Wonder of Animal Life in California’s Sierra Nevada” includes more than 300 photos and covers 150-plus species. By Beth Pratt, with photos by Robb Hirsch. Yosemite Conservancy. $60. Samin Nosrat’s new book Samin Nosrat lays herself bare in this long-awaited second book from the chef and author of the acclaimed “Salt Fat Acid Heat.” Her first book was 17 years in the making. In its wake, she explains in “Good Things,” was struggle, including overwhelming loss with the deaths of several people close to her and a bout of depression that nearly swallowed her whole. Here, she rediscovers why she, or anybody, cooks in the first place. The recipes are simple, her observations helpful. You can taste the joy in every bite. Penguin Random House. $45. Chappell Roan She struggled in the music game for years, until 2024 made her a star. Chappell Roan, with her drag-queen style, big vocals and queer pride, has a shiny Grammy for best new artist. Now, in time for the holidays, there’s a sweet little book that tells her origin story. “Chappell Roan: The Rise of a Midwest Princess.” With text contributions from Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Dibs Baer, Patrick Crowley, Izzy Grinspan, J’na Jefferson, Ilana Kaplan and Samantha Olson. Hearst Home. $30. Snoop’s homemade edibles For edible-loving weed enthusiasts, “Snoop Dogg’s Treats to Eat” offers 55 recipes that can be done with or without the weed. The connoisseur includes tips on how to use your goods for everything from tinctures to gummies, cookies to cannabutter. Perhaps a loaded milkshake or buttermilk pancakes with stoner syrup. Chronicle Books. $27. 95. A style muse With her effortless beauty, and tousled hair and fringe, Jane Birkin easily transitioned from her swinging London roots in the early 1960s to a cultural and style muse for decades. She lent a bohemian charm to everything she did, from acting to singing to liberal activism. And she famously was the muse for the Hermès Birkin bag. The new “Jane Birkin: Icon of Style,” encompasses all of Birkin. By Sophie Gachet. Abrams Books. $65. More Taylor Swift All those Easter eggs. All those songs. It’s Taylor Swift’s world and we’re just eyes and ears taking it all in. Swift has been everywhere of late with her engagement to Travis Kelce, her Eras tour and now, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Add to the pile “Taylor Swift All the Songs,” a guide to the lyrics, genesis, production and secret messages of every single song, excluding “Showgirl” tracks. By Damien Somville and Marine Benoit. Black Dog & Leventhal. $60. Got a theater buff? What’s the beating heart of American theater? Broadway, of course. Teale Dvornik, a theater historian known on social media as The Broadway Blonde, has written a handy little history of New York’s Theater District, “History Hiding Around Broadway.” She takes it theater by theater, offering backstage insights into the venues themselves, along with shows that played there and Broadway highlights through the ages. Running Press. $25. Christmas baking, Gilded-Age style Sugarplums. They’re a thing! Fans of “The Gilded Age” are well aware and will eat up “The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook.” It includes treats from the era, some culinary history and a lot of old-time charm. For the record, sugarplums date to the 1600s, when they were basically just sugar. By the Gilded Age, starting roughly in the late 1800s, they were made from chopped dried figs, nuts, powdered sugar and brandy. Yes, please. By Becky Libourel Diamond. Globe Pequot. $34. 95. Forever flowers Know a crafter? Know a flower lover? In “Everlasting Blooms,” floral artist Layla Robinson offers more than 25 projects focused on the use of dried flowers. She includes a festive flower crown, table displays, wreaths and arrangements with buds and branches. Her step-by-step guidance is easy to follow. Robinson also instructs how to forage and how to dry flowers. Hachette Mobius. $35. Michelle Obama style A brown polyester dress with a plaid skirt and a Peter Pan collar. That’s the very first fashion statement Michelle Obama can remember making, circa kindergarten. It was up, up and away from there, style-wise. The former first lady is out with a photo-packed book, “The Look,” taking us behind the scenes of her style and beauty choices. Crown. $50. For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage, visit and.
https://sentinelcolorado.com/uncategorized/puzzles-sports-birdsong-the-variety-of-new-nonfiction-means-theres-something-for-everyone/
Martina Navratilova raises questions about gunmen who shot President Donald Trump and assassinated Charlie Kirk
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova asked a burning question that most Americans want to know concerning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and an assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-martina-navratilova-raises-questions-gunmen-shot-president-donald-trump-assassinated-charlie-kirk