Monthly Archives: November 2019

‘NCIS’: Why the Producers Ended Bishop’s Marriage – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted: November 30, 2019 at 10:16 am

NCIS agent Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham) went through a tough time after her marriage to Jake Malloy (Jamie Bamber) disintegrated (he cheated on her). However, one silver lining is that Bishop can now date and explore new relationships. Heres why the producers decided to end Bishops relationship.

In an interview with CBS, PauleyPerrette said relationships tend to fall apart on NCIS. Perrette saidDiNozzos relationships were a disaster, Abby was all over the place, and Gibbshas failed at every relationship hes ever been in. She says Vance had thebest relationship, but that all ended when the writers decided to kill hiswife. The show finally had a stable couple, Jake Malloy and Ellie Bishop, butthat ended in divorce.

Late NCIS executive producer Gary Glassberg told CBS hehad been toying with the idea of splitting up Bishop and her husband for awhile. Glassberg said it can be hard for agents to maintain a healthyrelationship in this line of work, so he wanted to demonstrate this reality inthe show:

In the real world of federal agents, divorce happens all the time. Its a very stressful situation, careers go in different directions. We were intrigued by the idea when we originally introduced her that when youre with an agency like the NSA, unless youre married to another NSA agent, you cant talk about what you did at work. If you put her as an NCIS agent and he remains at the NSA, if their careers are all they have in common, then its going to start to deteriorate. And thats something we talked about going all the way back to the creation of this character. [We thought] wouldnt it be interesting to split them apart and see what happens?

NCIS producer Frank Cardea agrees that the writers andproducers try their best to keep the show as real as possible. I think we tryto mirror real life. These things happen. While theyre out getting the bad guys,they have lives to deal with, Cardea told CBS.

Wickersham said she liked Bishops storyline because it gaveher something fun to work with. She also said it was fun to act out therelationship and to work with co-star Jamie Bamber. When I first came in andstarted with Bishop, we saw a lot of her working, and we saw one side. But Ithink, especially [in season 13], we had a chance to see a more vulnerable sideof Bishop and kind of dive into her personal life, and her relationships fallingapart, Wickersham told CBS.

Bishopand Torres have been flirting for what seems like forever. However, therehasnt been any movement toward a romantic relationship. At this point, itsanyones guess where their relationship is headed. It seems like the writersand producers are also figuring out Bishop and Torres status as they go along.NCIS producer Steven D. Binder said if they decide to have the characterscouple up, itsgoing to be horrible.

Read more: NCIS:The Mistake Michael Weatherly Made on Screen That Still Has Him Laughing

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet onFacebook!

Follow this link:
'NCIS': Why the Producers Ended Bishop's Marriage - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on ‘NCIS’: Why the Producers Ended Bishop’s Marriage – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

NSA Backdoors and Bitcoin (2013) – 101Newsindustry

Posted: at 10:16 am

Many cryptographic standards widely used in commercial applications were developed by the U.S. Governments National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Normally government involvement in developing ciphers for public use would throw up red flags, however all of the algorithms are part of the public domain and have been analyzed and vetted by professional cryptographers

Many cryptographic standards broadly extinct in industrial functions had been developed by the U.S. Govts Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Technology (NIST). In most cases authorities involvement in constructing ciphers for public employ would throw up red flags, nonetheless all of the algorithms are piece of the overall public arena and had been analyzed and vetted by official cryptographers who know what theyre doing. Except the authorities has access to some highly developed math no longer known to academia, these ciphers must be stable.

We now know, nonetheless, that this isnt the case. Support in 2007, Bruce Schneier reported on a backdoor stumbled on in NISTs Dual_EC_DRBG random number generator:

Nonetheless right now theres an even greater stink brewing round Dual_EC_DRBG. In ancasual presentation(.pdf) on the CRYPTO 2007 conference in August, Dan Shumow and Niels Ferguson showed that the algorithm accommodates a weakness that can handiest be described as a backdoor.

Heres the device in which it works: There are a bunch of constants mounted numbers in the same old extinct to define the algorithms elliptic curve. These constants are listed in Appendix A of the NIST publication, but nowhere is it explained where they came from.

What Shumow and Ferguson showed is that these numbers maintain a relationship with a 2d, secret location of numbers that can act as a roughly skeleton key. Whenever you already know the secret numbers, you would possibly perchance be in a device to foretell the output of the random-number generator after collecting factual 32 bytes of its output. To keep that in true phrases, you handiest desire to monitor oneTLSweb encryption connection in reveal to crack the safety of that protocol. Whenever you already know the secret numbers, you would possibly perchance be in a device to totally destroy any instantiation of Dual_EC_DRBG.

Heres crucial because random number mills are broadly extinct in cryptographic protocols. If the random number generator is compromised, so are the ciphers that employ it.

Due to intrepid work of Edward Snowden we now know that Dual_EC_DRBG used to be developed by the NSA, with the backdoor, and given to NIST to disseminate. The upsetting piece is that RSA Security, a firm that develops broadly extinct industrial encryption functions, continued employ of Dual_EC_DRBG the whole manner as a lot as the Snowden revelations despite the known flaws. Not pretty this brought heaps of warmth on RSA which denies they intentionally created a honeypot for the NSA.

UPDATE: RSA used to be paid $10 million by the NSA to lend a hand the backdoor in there.

All of this has been known for several months. What I didnt know till reading Vitalik Buterins fresh article Satoshis Genius: Surprising Ways in which Bitcoin Dodged Some Crytographic Bullets, is that a variant of an algorithm extinct in Bitcoin seemingly also accommodates a NSA backdoor, but miraculously Bitcoin dodged the bullet.

Bitcoin makes employ of the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) for signing transactions. Heres the device in which you use your private key to existing you indulge in the bitcoins linked alongside with your handle. ECDSA keys are derived from elliptic curves that themselves are generated the usage of determined parameters. NIST has been actively recommending that all individuals employ thesecp256r1 parameters because they are presumably the most stable. On the choice hand, there looks to be to be some humorous alternate with secp256r1 that is eerily equal to the backdoor in Dual_EC_DRBG.

Secp256r1 is speculated to make employ of a random number in generating the curves. The model it allegedly creates this random number is by the usage of a one-manner hash feature of a seed to assemble a nothing up my sleeve number. The seed need no longer be random since the output of the hash feature is no longer predictable. In device of the usage of a rather innocuousseed admire, bid, the number 15, secp256r1 makes employ of the very suspicious wanting seed:c49d360886e704936a6678e1139d26b7819f7e90. And admire Dual_EC_DRBG, it gives no documentation for how or why this number used to be chosen.

Now as Vitalik pointed out, although the NSA knew of a particular elliptic curve with vulnerabilities, it unruffled must had been stop to very no longer going for them rig the system resulting from the reality that brute-forcing a hash feature is no longer possible. On the choice hand, in the event that they stumbled on a flaw that occurred in bid, one curve in every billion, then they handiest desire to examine one billion numbers to search out the exploit.

On the choice hand, the kicker in all here is that the parameters for secp256r1 had been developed by the head of elliptic curve research on the NSA!

The amazing ingredient is that in its keep of the usage of secp256r1 admire nearly all other functions, Bitcoin makes employ ofsecp256k1 which makes employ ofKoblitz curves in its keep of pseudorandom curvesand is unruffled believed to be stable. Now the determination to make employ of secp256k1 in its keep of secp256r1 used to be made by Satoshi. Its a thriller why he chose these parameters in its keep of the parameters extinct by all individuals else (the core devs even thought to be changing it!). Dan Brown, Chairman of the Requirements for Environment pleasant Cryptography Community, had this to order about it:

I didnt know that BitCoin is the usage of secp256k1. Certainly, I am bowled over to seek someone employ secp256k1 in its keep of secp256r1.

Merely wow! This used to be both random luck or pure genius on the piece of Satoshi. Either manner, Bitcoin dodged a broad bullet and now nearly looks destined to head on to excellent stuff.

Read the original here:
NSA Backdoors and Bitcoin (2013) - 101Newsindustry

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on NSA Backdoors and Bitcoin (2013) – 101Newsindustry

The worst cyber attack in DoD history came from a USB drive found in a parking lot – We Are The Mighty

Posted: at 10:16 am

The media dubbed it "The Worm that Ate the Pentagon" and it was the most serious breach of the Pentagon's classified computer systems. In November 2008, the Army caught a worm called Agent.btz crawling through the Defense Department's Secret Internet Protocol Router Network the classified SIPRNet as well as the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System used by the U.S. government's top intel agencies.

No one knows if any information was taken or who its creator was. All they know is it took 14 months to eradicate.

The worst breach of U.S. military computers in history begins in 2008, in a parking lot at a U.S. military installation in the Middle East. A flash drive infected with a virus called "agent.btz" was inserted into a DoD computer network and quickly spread throughout the U.S. military's classified and unclassified networks. Data anything on these networks could now be transferred to other servers under the control of agent.btz's creator. The worst part is that no one knew it was there, what it might have sent, and to who the information went.

Once in place, the malicious code began to "beacon" out to its creator, letting whoever created it know that it was in place and ready for further instructions. That's the only way analysts from the NSA's Advanced Networks Operations team noticed it was there. At the height of the Global War on Terror, the Pentagon's defense intelligence networks had been compromised.

"Go over to that village and get the wifi password. My USB drive isn't working."

The NSA and DoD quickly determined the cause of the infection, and banned thumb drives as a response. They then collected thousands of thumb drives from officers and other troops in the field, finding they were all infected with the worm as well. Reports of new infections to the network didn't slow down until well into 2009. In an operation called "Buckshot Yankee," the Defense Department led an all-out assault on the worm. The effort was so intense and deliberate that it led to the creation of the 11th military unified command The U.S. Cyber Command.

Pentagon officials blame Russian agents for the virus, but individuals who worked on Buckshot Yankee dismiss that assertion, saying that the worm, though potentially destructive, ended up being "relatively benign." Still, others assert that Russian intelligence agencies have used code similar to agent.btz before. Even with the concerted effort against the worm, Pentagon officials couldn't answer the simplest of questions. How many computers were affected? How many drives were infected? Where was the virus' patient zero?

No one knew. To this day, no one knows for sure.

The Air Force's "silent service."

In the end, it taught the Defense Department an important lesson. It was much more vulnerable to a small threat, even a cyber threat, than it should have been. Now the DoD claims it is better-equipped to detect such threats and infections, and to respond to them. The policy shift took the responsibility of protecting classified and unclassified Defense networks out of the hands of the local IT troops (or contractors) and put it in the hands of senior commanders.

From Your Site Articles

Related Articles Around the Web

Continue reading here:
The worst cyber attack in DoD history came from a USB drive found in a parking lot - We Are The Mighty

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on The worst cyber attack in DoD history came from a USB drive found in a parking lot – We Are The Mighty

New scheme to promote the diversity and tastes of sheep meat – Press and Journal

Posted: at 10:16 am

An initiative to promote the flavour and diversity of Britains native sheep breeds has been launched by the National Sheep Association (NSA).

The British Heritage Sheep project aims to introduce the public to the different eating experiences from 60 breeds of sheep and sheep meat of different ages.

NSA chief executive, Phil Stocker, said the connection between landscapes and the breeds which have created them is an important cultural link.

Each breed has its own niche and purpose, and each has its own flavour, he said.

The scheme will open up this treasure trove of different flavours and textures by spearheading exports.

Consumers will be given an ABC of sheep meat, relating to Age, Breed and the area of Countryside where it has been farmed.

Age is in three categories lamb (up to 12 months); hogget (12-24 months), and mutton (24 months+).

Labels will inform consumers about these different aspects, and others will be accessed by consumers via an app and barcode.

According to Bob Kennard, who researched the project, taste trials have shown that there is a wealth of flavours to enjoy in sheep meat.

He said: For millennia older sheep meat was much more widely eaten in the UK, and yet for the past few decades this great array of flavours has not been available.

We hope this scheme will rectify that and bring some extra excitement and enjoyment into eating sheep meat.

Link:
New scheme to promote the diversity and tastes of sheep meat - Press and Journal

Posted in NSA | Comments Off on New scheme to promote the diversity and tastes of sheep meat – Press and Journal

Bidvest Waltons delivers on its promise after subscribing to Picup’s TMS solution – Intelligent CIO Africa

Posted: at 10:15 am

Bystreamlining its entire logistics and last-mile delivery process, BidvestWaltonscan deliver on its promise and improve the overall customerexperience. The stationerhas subscribed to Picups Transport ManagementSystem (TMS) to deliver a reliable logistics solution.

Thepartnership was born when Bidvest Waltons encountered Picup through an ongoingproject to improve service delivery and efficiencies from its main distributioncentre in the Western Cape.

Picupthen came to Bidvest Waltons aid during a strike, in a dire situation, whereexisting delivery methods were strained causing a massive backlog indeliveries. Thereafter, Picup was retained to assess the driver routing andoverall distribution model.

Weeklysite visits with key stakeholders were conducted to understand the existingoperations, systems and constraints. Picup had to analyse different departmentsand role players and provide a tailored logistics solution through the TMS.

Picup isdifferent from conventional couriers because its advanced technology and fleetmanagement tools enable companies to deliver using their own fleet, a thirdparty courier or its own crowdsourced driver network.

Antonio Bruni, Picup CEO, says after the evaluation, it was very clear that Bidvest Waltons could use Picups technology to manage its fleet more efficiently.

When volumes increased, there was definitely value in using Picup as a delivery partner. Our crowdsourced driver network was clearly the answer during the strike, said Bruni.

The Picup driver app allows routes to be optimised, eliminating the choice of familiar routes. This saves time and reduces fuel and maintenance costs considerably.

ThePicup TMS has saved Bidvest Waltons both time and money during the last mile,as well as given the company full visibility of each individual delivery. Thisensures driver accountability and benchmarking which drives good behaviour andoverall efficiencies.

One ofthe reasons for this high success rate is our driver-partner remunerationmodel. We use a pay per parcel method versus the pay by volumetric-weightmethod that most conventional couriers use, Bruni adds.

The TMSautomatically processes addresses and converts them into GPS coordinates inreal-time based on the GPS co-ordinates of the device using the Picup app.

Bruni says in last-mile delivery, incorrect addresses can be a major hiccup particularly in a South African environment.

Incorrectly captured and changing address information is an unavoidable risk, especially for companies with a large number of customers or customers with a large, or growing, number of branches, he said.

In theevent of addresses needing to be corrected, as identified through driverfeedback on the app, a dedicated Data Integrity Team is able to shift thelocation pin to a more accurate or relevant location. Once an address has beencorrected, Picups AI modules automatically update the clients information.

BidvestWaltons has also implemented the Picup Warehouse solution where parcels arelabelled and packed according to their allocation. Once the parcels leave thewarehouse, they can be tracked in real-time. The solution fully integrates withBidvest Waltons invoicing system for seamless operation.

TheDispatch Control System (DCS) allows for parcels to be labelled and packedaccording to allocation. This mitigates delays during dispatch and providesparcel-level visibility post-dispatch.

Byintegrating into Bidvest Waltons ERP system, Picup has gained a holistic viewof organisation-wide data and identified areas where the TMS technology couldimprove the efficiency of the supply chain.

Thesuccess of Picups TMS has given Bidvest Waltons full visibility on itsdeliveries. The solution enables them to geocode all of their addresses andapproximate the cost of each trip in advance, empowering them to make aninformed decision as to which delivery option is the most efficient andcost-effective.

TheEnterprise platform has a built-in search engine, this allows users to accessinvoices and electronic Proof of Delivery more easily. It also provides timestamps for key points in the supply chain like when the parcel was collected ordelivered.

Picup isa customisable driver app which allows drivers and fleet managers tocommunicate with one another in real-time. Every action on the app is trackedand channeled into meaningful analysis, reporting dashboards and real-timealerts.

Thisimproves transparency amongst departments as the customer relations team cantrack parcels in real-time and proactively keep customers up-to-date if thereare unexpected delays in delivery.

Operationalteams at Bidvest Waltons can now monitor their dashboards with live information,failed customer deliveries and can also gain insight into driver behaviour.They are now able to manage timing with exceptional accuracy and providecustomers with personalised feedback through advanced delivery notifications.

Thechange in driver behaviour has resulted in on-time departures,route-optimisation, adherence and route accountability.

Toprovide visibility into past, present and future orders, the Picup TMS has abuilt-in search engine. This allows users across different departments to accessinvoices, electronic proof of collection and delivery, an overview of areadensity, and customer and fleet insights.

BidvestWaltons is now able to plan and fine-tune deliveries, tweak its operationalprocesses and redefine customer engagement in a meaningful way. Challengesaround visibility, communications, addresses and driver behaviour have now beeneradicated using Picups innovative approach to logistics.

This exciting technology is changing the face of logistics and creating a far more organised and manageable environment, said Bruni.

Considering Waltons high order volumes, it is clear that the Picup Enterprise platform can handle the logistics of any business, no matter the size.

The rest is here:

Bidvest Waltons delivers on its promise after subscribing to Picup's TMS solution - Intelligent CIO Africa

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on Bidvest Waltons delivers on its promise after subscribing to Picup’s TMS solution – Intelligent CIO Africa

TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market Report by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application Forecast 2019 – 2025 – Statsflash

Posted: at 10:15 am

The market study on the Global TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market will include the entire ecosystem of the industry, covering five major regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa, and the major countries falling under those regions. The study will feature estimates in terms of sales revenue and consumption from 2019 to 2025, at the global level and across the major regions mentioned above. The study has been created using a unique research methodology specifically designed for this market.

Quantitative information includes TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market estimates & forecast for an upcoming years, at the global level, split across the key segments covered under the scope of the study, and the major regions and countries. Sales revenue and consumption estimates, year-on-year growth analysis, price estimation and trend analysis, etc. will be a part of quantitative information for the mentioned segments and regions/countries. Qualitative information will discuss the key factors driving the restraining the growth of the market, and the possible growth opportunities of the market, regulatory scenario, value chain & supply chain analysis, export & import analysis, attractive investment proposition, and Porters 5 Forces analysis among others will be a part of qualitative information. Further, justification for the estimates for each segments, and regions will also be provided in qualitative form.

Download Free Sample Copy of TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market Report: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/69724

Major Players included in this report are as follows MAG & More Magstim MagVenture ANT NeuroBrain Latam CoDeymed

TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market can be segmented into Product Types as H-coilC-core CoilCircular Crown Coil

TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market can be segmented into Applications as HospitalClinicOthers

TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market: Regional analysis includes:Asia-Pacific (Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia)Europe (Turkey, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)North America (United States, Mexico, and Canada.)South America (Brazil etc.)The Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries and Egypt.)

The study will also feature the key companies operating in the industry, their product/business portfolio, market share, financial status, regional share, segment revenue, SWOT analysis, key strategies including mergers & acquisitions, product developments, joint ventures & partnerships an expansions among others, and their latest news as well. The study will also provide a list of emerging players in the TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market.

Furthermore, this study will help our clients solve the following issues:Cyclical dynamics-We foresee dynamics of industries by using core analytical and unconventional market research approaches. Our clients use insights provided by us to maneuver themselves through market uncertainties and disruptions.Identifying key cannibalizes Strong substitute of a product or service is the most prominent threat. Our clients can identify key cannibalizes of a market, by procuring our research. This helps them in aligning their new product development/launch strategies in advance.Spotting emerging trends-Our Ecosystem offering helps client to spot upcoming hot market trends. We also track possible impact and disruptions which a market would witness by a particular emerging trend. Our proactive analysis help clients to have early mover advantage.Interrelated opportunities- This report will allow clients to make decisions based on data, thereby increasing the chances that the strategies will perform better if not best in real world.

Customize Report and Inquiry for The TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market Report: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/69724

This study will address some of the most critical questions which are listed below: What is the market size of the TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market at the global level? Which mode of distribution channel is most preferred by the manufacturers of TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil? Which is the preferred age group for targeting TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil for manufacturers? What the key factors driving, inhibiting the growth of the market, and what is the degree of impact of the drivers and restraints? What is the impact of the regulations on the growth of the TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market? Which is the leading region/country for the growth of the market? What is the anticipated growth rate of the leading regions during the forecast period? How are the emerging markets for TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil expected to perform in the coming years? How is the consumption pattern expected to evolve in the future? Who are the major players operating in the global TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market? What is the current market position of the key players? Who are the emerging players in this industry? Who are the major distributors, traders, and dealers operating in the TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil market?

Request For Discount Copy: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/69724

About UpMarketResearch: Up Market Research (https://www.upmarketresearch.com) is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.

Contact Info UpMarketResearchName Alex MathewsEmail [emailprotected]Website https://www.upmarketresearch.comAddress 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.

See the original post here:

TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market Report by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application Forecast 2019 - 2025 - Statsflash

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on TMS(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Coil Market Report by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application Forecast 2019 – 2025 – Statsflash

Pokmon: 10 Mechanics Introduced In Gen I That Are Missing Today – TheGamer

Posted: at 10:15 am

As super popular as the Pokmon franchise is, it absolutely isnt immune to criticism (as we all saw quite plainly in the run-up to the launch of Pokmon Sword and Shield). One of the most common points that detractors like to raise is that the series just never changes. That may be true on the surface, but those who have been around since the days of Gen I will appreciate just how far the games have come in terms of mechanics.

RELATED: Pokmon Green: 10 Differences It Had From Red & Blue

From totally unfair critical hit calculations to the physical/special split and HMs, here are some original Pokmon mechanics that players are lucky enough not to have to contend with any longer.

Game Freak have taken gradual steps towards making breeding and training competitive Pokmon easier and less time-consuming. One important move was making TMs unlimited use (though that benefited all players, of course). The most common and valuable moves, such as Ice Beam, Earthquake and Thunderbolt, had to be taught many times over and it was a pain to keep restocking those TMs.

In introducing TRs (Technical Records), Sword and Shield have returned to this single-use policy, but TMs as we now know them remain unlimited in the new games.

HMs were one of those early Pokmon mechanics that we just accepted and put up with, until we got to experience life without them and suddenly wondered how wed ever survived that long.

The fact is, the players party has such limited moveslots as it is that we just dont want to throw on something like Cut or Strength. Instead, wed tend to carry around a poor Pokmon overloaded with these moves, which was also totally inefficient.

Another valuable quality of life change Game Freak implemented in later generations was the overhaul to the Bag system. Aspiring Pokmon Trainers have always hauled around a bag containing their adventure essentials, key items, Pok Balls and such, but the inventory was just such a pain to navigate back in the day.

RELATED: Pokmon: 10 Gen I Cosplays That Look Just like The Games

Old-school Resident Evil players will remember the pain of managing super limited inventory slots. Are you going to need that odd-shaped crank? That obscure mask? Can you drop that book, or will you need whatever the heck that jewel is? Thanks, Game Freak, for giving us huge item storage and neatly-arranged pockets for various kinds of items. Opening that bag is like hopping into Narnia now, and we appreciate it.

Its lesson number one of Pokmon battling: do not use recharge moves. Yes, that huge base power is tempting and your Hyper Beam Snorlax crushed every CPU opponents souls into sad hunks of spam when you were eleven, but they just dont cut the mustard today.

In Generation I, for whatever reason, scoring a K.O. with one of those moves meant that the user could forego the turn usually required to recharge afterwards. This was entirely uncool, and we were super glad when it was fixed.

If youre a competitive battler, youve probably suffered the wrath of Dark Void Smeargle several times. Being able to put both opponents to sleep at once in a doubles battle is just wrong, and sleep in general has never been a fun status to be on the receiving end of.

Back in Pokmon Red and Blue, though, Pokmon could sometimes sleep longer than Rip Van Winkle after a nice cup of cocoa and a couple of soothing bedtime stories. To add to the fun, there was a waking turn which also prevented the Pokemon from moving! Fortunately, theres a (reasonable) set maximum number of turns Pokmon will sleep for these days, so theres far less RNG involved. Dont get us started on freeze, though, which is still as random as ever.

Over the course of the series, critical hits have been revised several times. Originally, they dealt double the damage, toned down more recently to 1.5 times. Along with that, they were originally determined by Speed.

What did this mean? Essentially, that super speedy Jolteon would be scoring critical hits all over the darn place, while a Snorlax would be lucky to hit one more than once in its thicc life. Chances are now even (though Abilities, certain moves and items can increase the odds).

With regards to physical and special attacks, two fundamental changes have been made since the beginning of the series. The first is that certain types were all either physical or special originally (all Ice attacks were special and all Flying attacks were physical, for instance).

RELATED: The 10 Best Ice Pokmon

Yes, some types remain predominantly based around one or the other (there arent many special Rock-type attacks or physical Psychic-type attacks, for instance), but this was a huge change for the better. Physical powerhouses like Gyarados having to use special Water moves just didnt make sense.

Thats right, friends. There was a time when moves like Wrap and Bind were completely overpowered. The 90s, huh? What a wacky time to be alive.

In case you need a refresher, heres how these moves used to work: the target couldnt take any action at all while under their effects, which could last for up to five turns! It was just a sad time for all concerned.

As weve seen, typings being locked to physical or special presented a real problem; one that wasnt rectified until Gen IV. A similar issue that took some time to be addressed was the Special Stat.

Special has since been divided into Special Attack and Special Defense, another change that was sorely needed (why could specially-oriented glass cannons like Alakazam also shrug off special hits like The Terminator?).

If you return to the earlier games in the franchise today, youre sure to feel the clunky nature of the Bag system. As discussed, youll constantly be running out of space and desperately using up healing items or the like to make some space. It was an inefficient system and the same applies to the Pokmon Centers boxes.

In any given game, the players going to be spending a lot of time sorting through boxes, trying to determine which is that Pokmon with the perfect IVs and which is holding that item you cant find. With the limited space and fiddling nature of the early games system, navigating around them was a nightmare.

NEXT: 10 Gen I Pokmon Cut From Sword & Shield That Well Miss The Most

NextPokmon Sword & Shield: 5 Things That Make The Game Too Easy (& 5 That Keep It Challenging)

Chris is a freelance video game journalist and entertainment writer from a small town in England. While he's an ardent fan of video games, regardless of platform, he specializes in retro games. His heart will always belong to the Sega Genesis. When he isn't gaming, Chris will usually be found catching up on the latest and greatest movies, whether at the theater or at home. He has sat through the Harry Potter movies more times than you have, and he doesnt care if you disagree.

View post:

Pokmon: 10 Mechanics Introduced In Gen I That Are Missing Today - TheGamer

Posted in Tms | Comments Off on Pokmon: 10 Mechanics Introduced In Gen I That Are Missing Today – TheGamer

Martin is verging on immortality – The Roar

Posted: at 10:12 am

ASet small text sizeASet the default text sizeASet large text size

Sport analysts and commentators have long revered the players of old.

When we discuss the greats, lots of criticism falls on the current generation, with the standard of greatness elevated the more we part from legends we remember.

Considered a symptom of the glory days and time passed, legends are often cleared of their moments and remembered for their undeniable triumphs.

In todays all-access age, the modern player is denied the same mystique, but thats not to say that these legends are anything other than legends.

Take this into consideration when regarding the talent and potential of modern greats like Dustin Martin.

Not only is he the best player in the AFLs most damaging side, but Martin has achieved honours beyond most in an unbelievable three-year period.

Martin is not the greatest ever, although he might be in the discussion about Richmonds best.

Players like Royce Hart, Kevin Bartlett and Matthew Richardson are all exalted in Richmond history.

Retiring in 1977, Hart received outstanding honours in his ten-year career with four premierships, two Jack Dyer Medals and two Michael Roach Medals, as well recognition in the AFL Team of the Century and Australian Football Hall of Fame.

However, Kevin Bartlett stands at the top. Besides recording 403 games for Richmond between 1965 and 1983, Bartlett achieved five premierships, one Norm Smith Medal, five best and fairest awards (three in Premiership years), four Richmond leading goal-kicker prizes and Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend status.

But something needs to be said about Martins success achieved in the VFL/AFLs most expansive era.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

In 2017, Martins made history more times than thought possible. He won the Brownlow Medal with a record 36 votes and became the first player to do so with a premiership and a Norm Smith Medal in the following week.

Martin had his name on everything that year, but at the start of 2018, we observed a different Dustin Martin. Despite excelling, Martins form dipped with his passion for the game fading fast.

Martin achieved every award achievable by a player in his position and seemingly had nothing left to strive for. The media pumped him up for the class exuded in 2017, at times over-hyping a man no longer before us.

The Tigers lost to Collingwood in the preliminary final that year despite leading the league and remaining undefeated at the MCG all season until that match.

Although like Richmond, Martin returned in 2019 as many premiership stars fell throughout the season. As all great leaders do, Martin lifted, guiding Richmond out of a struggle.

He slowly returned to his 2017 form before transcending it in the matches leading into finals. Of course, Richmonds near perfect system meant Martin carried less weight than most other teams would allow. But Martin had a purpose again and seized it fast.

He assisted the Tigers to their second premiership in three years, and in turn secured his second Norm Smith Medal. He joined stars Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Luke Hodge as one of four players to win it twice, although Martin remains the only player to do it with Brownlow honours in the same year.

The Richmond star could retire tomorrow as one of the best players to ever grace the club.

But with a few more strong years, Martin may just take out the top spot in Richmonds history and be remembered as their greatest ever.

See original here:

Martin is verging on immortality - The Roar

Posted in Immortality | Comments Off on Martin is verging on immortality – The Roar

Derrick Henry’s Titans teammate interrupts interview by blasting Auburn’s Kick Six call – For The Win

Posted: at 10:12 am

Its impossible to think about the Iron Bowl without remembering the craziness of the Kick Six in the 2013 Alabama-Auburn game.

But on the off chance Tennessee Titans linebacker Daren Bates teammates forgot what happened, the Auburn alum was happy to remind them.While former Alabama running back Derrick Henry spoke to the media Thursday, Bates offered up a soundtrack for his teammates interview.

He interrupted Henrys interview by blasting the radio call of the Kick Six, when Alabama attempted to break the tie with what would have been a 57-yard field goal for the win. Instead, the Crimson Tide missed the kick, and Auburn cornerback Chris Davis was waiting in the end zone, caught the ball and returned it for the game-winning touchdown and Iron Bowl immortality.

Auburn won, 34-28, in surely the wildest ending to the Iron Bowl and one of the greatest plays in college football history.

Henry said there has been trash talking in the Titans locker room all week, adding: I love it though. Well after see Saturday how he feels.

But that wasnt the only thing Bates did this week to troll his Alabama alum Titans teammates. As linebacker Rashaan Evans spoke with the media, Bates hilariously played the Auburn fight song and danced in the background.

And the Titans Twitter account also shared photos of Henry and Evans during practice with Auburn signs on their backs with War. Damn. Eagle. written on them.

No. 5 Alabama takes on No. 15 Auburn on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game the Crimson Tide need to win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Read the original:

Derrick Henry's Titans teammate interrupts interview by blasting Auburn's Kick Six call - For The Win

Posted in Immortality | Comments Off on Derrick Henry’s Titans teammate interrupts interview by blasting Auburn’s Kick Six call – For The Win

BOOKS IN BRIEF: ‘Living With Limericks,’ by Garrison Keillor, and ‘The Secrets We Kept,’ by Lara Prescott – Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted: at 10:12 am

Living With LimericksBy Garrison Keillor. (Prairie Home Productions, 175 pages, $17.99.)

You can almost hear Garrison Keillor snickering like a naughty schoolboy as you leaf through his latest book, Living With Limericks, featuring dozens of mildly saucy rhymes, too tame for Playboy, too raunchy for the New Yorker. His obsession with flatulence is so deep, you may want to ground him for a week.

But between acts of juvenile delinquency, the former Prairie Home Companion host waxes wistfully through poems and anecdotes about childhood memories, surgeries and growing old. In many ways, the collection serves as a sneak preview to the memoir hes currently peddling to publishers.

He also bares his fangs, laying into everyone from Bob Dylan to local podcaster Nora McInerny, who wrote a scathing commentary about him for Time magazine shortly after he was accused of sexual misconduct. He never directly references the scandal, but he can be quite amusing while skirting at its hem.

Youre a phenomenon and a national treasure, he shares in a chapter about immortality. And then the earth turns and youre a guy spilling soup on his shirt.

When hes not playing the pity card, Keillor reminds us that he remains one of our most thoughtful wordsmiths and a generous one. At one point, he offers some helpful tips on how you too can improve your writing, something Dylan would never do.

Neal Justin

The Secrets We KeptBy Lara Prescott. (Knopf, 325 pages, $26.95.)

The dazzling prologue of The Secrets We Kept is a tough act to follow, but Lara Prescott pulls it off. Written in first-person plural, its from the perspective of women who toil in the secretarial pool at the CIA in the early 1950s. They tell us they are smarter and more skilled than the suits they work for and they close the prologue by asserting, Unlike some of the men, we could keep our secrets.

The plural chapters continue throughout the novel, but theyre interspersed with first-person accounts from several characters, including Irina, a Russian-American who quickly earns duties in addition to typing. Her job? Helping to smuggle into the U.S. a copy of Boris Pasternaks unpublished Doctor Zhivago, which the CIA intends to get into the hands of as many Americans and Russians as possible.

Prescott (yes, she was named after the heroine of Zhivago) also includes chapters featuring Pasternak and the real-life inspiration for Lara and, although theyre involving, theyre not as strong as the voices of the secretaries, who we miss every moment The Secrets We Kept isnt with them. Perhaps a sequel is in order, one where we find out what other secrets theyre keeping?

CHRIS HEWITT

Originally posted here:

BOOKS IN BRIEF: 'Living With Limericks,' by Garrison Keillor, and 'The Secrets We Kept,' by Lara Prescott - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Posted in Immortality | Comments Off on BOOKS IN BRIEF: ‘Living With Limericks,’ by Garrison Keillor, and ‘The Secrets We Kept,’ by Lara Prescott – Minneapolis Star Tribune