Monthly Archives: July 2024

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 – The Central Virginian

Posted: July 30, 2024 at 4:05 am

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Go here to see the original:

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 - The Central Virginian

Posted in Cyberpunk | Comments Off

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 – The Elkhart Truth

Posted: at 4:05 am

Zip Code

See the article here:

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 - The Elkhart Truth

Posted in Cyberpunk | Comments Off

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Character Joins GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- In Historic Collaboration – InvenGlobal

Posted: at 4:05 am

The following was sent as a press release to Inven Global.

CD PROJEKT RED and Arc System Works proudly announce a joint collaboration which will bring Lucy from the award-winning anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to the acclaimed fighting game GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- as the franchises first-ever guest character.

The announcement came during the final day of Evo 2024, the biggest fighting game esports tournament, where the GUILTY GEAR series has long-been a competitive mainstay, with its latest installment -STRIVE- setting a franchise record for bracket entries and recently surpassing 3 million players globally. Arc System Works presented a trailer showcasing everything coming to the game throughout its Season Pass 4, including Lucy from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, who will be entering the ring as the season's final character in 2025. Her addition to the roster will mark the first time that the long-running fighting game series will feature a guest character.

Lucyna Kushinada, aka Lucy, is one of the main characters of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a critically acclaimed anime set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, the best-selling video game from CD PROJEKT RED. As a talented netrunner a combat-ready hacker capable of handling herself in encounters both in and out of cyberspace she plays an integral role in the series thrilling and heart-wrenching story. The addition of her unique skill set to GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, which is being created by Arc System Works in close cooperation with series producers from CD PROJEKT RED, is bound to shake up the playing field as players get access to her via Season Pass 4 next year on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. More information about the 2.5D fighting games fourth and final season pass, as well as content release timing, will be released later in the year.

For future updates on Lucys upcoming guest appearance in GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, follow the games official website and social channels. For more information on the world of Cyberpunk 2077, including Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, visit cyberpunk.net and follow the official channels on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Character Joins GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- In Historic Collaboration - InvenGlobal

Posted in Cyberpunk | Comments Off

Hilary Swank’s Most Underrated Role Is in This Bold Netflix Cyberpunk Thriller – Collider

Posted: at 4:05 am

The Big Picture

The further into the 21st century we get, the more common topical plot lines involving sentient artificial intelligence will become. Filmmakers must bring something unique to the screen to stand out from the pack. Fortunately for director Grant Sputore, he has a unique story to tell in 2019's I Am Mother and a fantastic cast of talented actors to tell it. Currently available on Netflix, the futuristic, dystopian science fiction thriller film stars Hilary Swank, Clara Rugaard, and the voice talent of Rose Byrne as "Mother." When a near-extinction level event almost eliminates humanity, Daughter (Rugaard) is safe in a hidden bunker and raised by a "Mother," a highly sophisticated AI being that has reared her since birth. When Swank's character, credited simply as "Woman," arrives on the scene, the perfect ecosystem established between Mother and Daughter is turned on its head, and Daughter is challenged to make some tough decisions for the first time. But it'sSwank who shines in the role of a mysterious drifter, using the deliberate pacing of the film to her advantage to heighten the carefully designed tension.

Expand

It has been approximately five years since almost all of humankind was wiped out after an extinction event. A sentient, robotic AI race is in the process of terraforming Earth to be repopulated by humans raised and taught by units known as "Mothers." We are introduced to the Daughter as a young girl going through her daily life under the care and tutelage of her AI Mother. She is in a sleek, futuristic bunker facility, and the dynamic between Daughter and Mother is very simple. When Woman (Swank) shows up pounding on the bunker door pleading for help with a severe injury, Daughter is reticent about allowing her in but does it anyway. Now a teenager, Daughter is naturally curious about the mercurial stranger, as her life up to this point has been a daily regimen of study and little else. Seeing another human being piques her interest in what is happening outside the bunker, and she begins to challenge the AI Mother, wanting to know more about the plight of humanity. Until the Woman arrives, the robot has been neutral and friendly in her programming, but as her authority is challenged more and more by Daughter and the Woman, a more sinister side of the AI Mother will present itself. It is far creepier with the soft and smooth dulcet of Rose Byrne voicing Mother.

The way Swank dazzles as Woman in I Am Mother, the question needs to be asked: Why hasn't she done more science fiction films? The two-time Oscar winner for Best Actress has proven her dramatic bona fides with unforgettable turns in movies like Boys Don't Cry, Million Dollar Baby, and the underseen and underappreciated Ordinary Angels. So why is there a shortage in the "little green men" genre in her extensive filmography? Whatever the case, her inimitable style and patience as a performer are on full display in I Am Mother and translate seamlessly. The first act of I Am Mother is a slow burn, but after a desperate and dying Swank arrives at the facility, she is masterful at letting the story come to her. She is tight-lipped and confused but also doesn't want to reveal too much about herself or where she comes from because, unlike Daughter, she has been living in the outside world and knows what this race of robots is capable of. Her lack of dialogue means she has to be even more expressive in her facial movements and mannerisms to communicate her emotions effectively. But by the time the movie's final act arrives, Swank also shows the physicality and badassery we have grown accustomed to seeing from her in her best turns on the big screen.

Sometimes, working with child actors can make it difficult to establish a solid rapport. That is not the case with Swank and Rugaard in I Am Mother. From the moment the Woman arrives at the bunker, she and her Daughter play off each other craftily. Credit the young Rugaard, who shows she is a special talent. Both actors have an Ellen Ripley-esque quality to them. Still, Swank's work allows the pair to establish such a believable and compelling dynamic. She takes the lead and deftly steers the relationship as a veteran performer, as she should. By the time they learn to trust one another and work in unison to escape the facility and extreme control of the sentient Mother robot, Swank is firmly in control of the film, bringing the humanity and beating heart of the story to life, even as they are scrapping tooth and nail to survive a droid that is intent on maintaining its deceptive directive of retaining authority over the Daughter, Woman, and her harvested group of hundreds of human embryos. As the Woman, Swank is very convincing in making the Daughter believe that she would be safer with her own kind back in the abandoned mines where she came from. However, the question burning throughout I Am Mother is whether Daughter can trust either of these maternal figures.

Hilary Swank is always at her best when she plays a character you want to root for and see succeed, like in her Academy Award-winning roles as a prizefighter and non-binary individual. I Am Mother is a little more nuanced in its layered plot and character development, but as the Woman, it is still a role that you can get the pom poms out and enjoy. Director Grant Sputore establishes the Mother's ability to be duplicitous and evil early in the film. Still, the extreme lengths she will go to in the end to secure her directive delivers a twist you couldn't possibly see coming. If the Woman turned out to be the biological mother of the Daughter, that would have been one hell of a curveball. Still, the surprise that is saved for the film's penultimate scene and Swank's character at the beach is nonetheless a lovely trick Sputore deftly delivers based on the story he wrote and adapted for the big screen.

I Am Mother is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Read the original post:

Hilary Swank's Most Underrated Role Is in This Bold Netflix Cyberpunk Thriller - Collider

Posted in Cyberpunk | Comments Off

Israel Meteorological Service issues warnings of high seas, heavy heat stress around the country – The Times of Israel

Posted: July 27, 2024 at 8:04 pm

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

See the original post here:

Israel Meteorological Service issues warnings of high seas, heavy heat stress around the country - The Times of Israel

Posted in High Seas | Comments Off

I cruised through two of the worlds most dangerous seasis it as bad as people say? – Cruise Blog

Posted: at 8:04 pm

Sometimes traveling is all about the journey.

After cruising over twenty times, I have sailed through seas around the world, from Australias Coral Sea to Spains Bay of Biscay. Some seas, like the Mediterranean, tend to be quite calm, especially in the most protected waterways like the Adriatic. Other seas typically encounter rougher conditions. The Gulf of Alaska, for instance, is often choppy due to strong winds and currents.

Of all the Earth's seas and waterways, however, there are two that are among the most treacherous: the North Sea and the Drake Passage. Yet some of the world's most breathtaking destinationsAntarctica, Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbardlay alongside these seas.

As a cruise writer, it was only a matter of time before I booked an itinerary that traversed these threatening waters. In the past year, I booked two polar cruises, cruising through the North Sea and the Drake Passage.

I feared no bodies of water on Earth like these two. Both times, as my ship left the safety of port, I was nervous for the inevitable journey that lay ahead.

Heres what it was like cruising through two of the world's most dangerous seas, and my take on whether or not they are really as bad as they say.

Related: The 9 Roughest Seas In The World For Cruise Ships

Even though any body of water is subject to the occasional storm, the Drake Passage and the North Sea are well known for their unpredictability.

The Drake Passage is located between the southernmost tip of South AmericaCape Hornand Antarcticas South Shetland Islands. The body of water has been feared by sailors for centuries, causing an estimated 800 shipwrecks and 20,000 lives lost.

What makes the Drake Passage so dangerous is its location. The passage is in a region of the Southern Ocean with no landmass at its latitude. This means storms can circulate around the globe uninterrupted, building intense strength and speed along the way.

At the other pole, the North Sea is prone to unpredictability, too. The majority of the sea is under 300 feet in depth, which causes friction between the water and the sea floor, leading to choppy waves. The shallow depth, combined with foggy conditions, freezing temperatures, and frequent icebergs, has earned the sea a fearsome reputation.

Dont be so quick to swear off Antarctic and Arctic cruises foreverits not necessarily as bad as people say.

Todays polar cruises, after all, are a far cry from the earliest polar expeditions. Whereas cruising to Antarctica in the 1800s was rampant with scurvy, loneliness, and unexpected storms, todays passengers are highly unlikely to encounter any of these issues, especially scurvy!

Modern ships have state-of-the-art navigation systems, weather forecasting equipment, and stabilizers for rough seas. The stabilizers emerge laterally from the ships hull to reduce roll, which helps to increase passenger comfort onboard.

Of course, even the latest technology cannot change Mother Nature. There's always a chance your itinerary could encounter a storm, itinerary change, or missed port of call. The ultimate goal of a cruise line, after all, is to keep passengers safe, and ships will not sail through dangerous conditions if they can be avoided.

Related: I took a cruise on a ship with 107 versus 7000 passengers

As a seasoned globetrotter, there was one destination above all others on my bucket listAntarctica. The penguins were calling, yet to get there, I knew I had one hurdle in front of me: the Drake Passage.

Having researched Antarctica cruises for years, I knew cruising to the continent was a gamble. Lucky passengers encounter what is known as the Drake Lakea calm, uneventful crossing. Those less fortunate face the Drake Shake, a term used to describe the seas intimidating, nausea-inducing waters.

Nonetheless, I decided the adventure was worth the risk, and I set sail toward Antarctica from Ushuaia, Argentina. The journey to Antarctica usually takes two days in each direction, although the exact travel time depends on the weather conditions at hand.

Leaving South Americas protected Beagle Channel behind and entering the Drake Passage, I braced myself for the worst.

As we ventured south, however, the winds appeared to be in our favor. Not only did we encounter sunny skies and calm wave conditions, but we arrived over twelve hours earlier than expected, giving us extra time to explore Antarctica.

Sure, I felt some movement onboardinevitable on a small expedition shipbut it was nothing a seasickness patch couldnt fix.

Related: How to avoid cruise motion sickness

The next five days in Antarctica were equally calm. Despite the Drake Passages risky conditions, waters around the Antarctica peninsula are well-protected by islands blocking strong currents.

When it was time to wave goodbye to Antarctica, I, once again, braced myself for the worst on our return to South America. Yet the return saw even better conditions, with our captain joking that he felt like he was navigating the Mediterranean!

Trading penguins for polar bears, I booked an Arctic cruise from Edinburgh to Svalbard earlier this summer. Its easy to fall in love with Earths polar regions, and after my unforgettable cruise to Antarctica, I was itching to explore further north.

Looking at a map of the itinerary, I realized I would have to cross the North Sea to reach Svalbard, a Norwegian Archipelago far above the Arctic Circle. Upon this realization, I felt slightly anxious. Would my luck continue after my smooth crossing of the Drake Passage, or had it run out?

Last fall, fellow Cruise.Blog writers Hayley and Allie cruised through the North Sea on a British Isles itinerary, and they encountered waves up to 18 feet. A massive storm caused the pair to encounter what Hayley said were the roughest seas she had ever experienced.

After their experience, I was already leery of the North Sea. To make matters worse, videos of the North Seas frightening conditions were trending on TikTok earlier this spring, with videos of massive storms amassing millions of views on the platform.

Like with Antarctica, I figured the destination was worth the risk of rough seas. I boarded my expedition vessel in Edinburgh feeling confident about the journey north.

On the first night of my Arctic cruise, I was woken up by a large crash of a wave against the ship. I felt as if I were riding a roller coaster, and while I didnt feel seasick, I had trouble sleeping with the ships movement.

Despite the rough seas, our ship docked at our first port of call in Scotlands Orkney Islands without any issues, but we later missed two ports due to wind conditions.

In order to land at the Shetland Islands and Jan Mayen Island, we were required to board small zodiac boats to go ashore. With waves as high as 6 feet, operating the zodiacs would have been too dangerous.

Expedition cruises always expect the unexpected, and thankfully, our itinerary was able to change course and head to Svalbard a day earlier.

This would give us an entire extra day in the archipelago, although traveling the far distance required three sea days.

I was nervous to spend three days in a row on the North Sea, but it wasnt as bad as I thought. The ship wasnt still by any means, but I wore a seasickness patch as a precaution and tried to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air.

If anything, crossing the North Sea was an adventure. A pod of orcas swam alongside us on one of the sea days, and the ship even hosted an Arctic Circle party which kept spirits high.

Upon arrival in Svalbard, we were welcomed by glaciers, polar bears, reindeer, and mammoth vistas in every direction. From my first glance at Svalbard, I knew that the North Sea crossing, despite my qualms, was undeniably worth it.

After cruising through the Drake Passage and the North Sea, I consider myself relatively lucky with the conditions I encountered.

There are dozens of Drake Passage horror stories on the internet, from reports of rogue waves hitting ships to passengers stuck sick in bed for days.

Nature is never predictable, and whether the Drake Passage will be "as bad as people say all depends on the particular circumstances during your sailing. You could encounter water as still as I did, or find yourself sailing through 20-foot waves for two days straight.

Related: Simple tips to safely take a cruise ship vacation

Likewise, the North Seas conditions are unable to be predicted for a particular cruise itinerary. You certainly shouldnt expect to sail through pristine, mirror-like conditions when cruising through the sea, but at the end of the day, cruise lines operating in the Drake Passage and North Sea are experienced. They are committed to keeping passengers safe, whether that means shifting an itinerary or delaying a departure.

Although the Drake Passage and the North Sea are notorious for being treacherous, the possibility of rough seas should not stop you from sailing to these untouched, breathtaking regions of the world.

Sometimes it really is all about the journey rather than the destination. Maintaining a positive mindset while crossing these waters will help ensure your cruise is successful regardless of the sea conditions at hand.

See the article here:

I cruised through two of the worlds most dangerous seasis it as bad as people say? - Cruise Blog

Posted in High Seas | Comments Off

The High Seas by Olive Heffernan: An experts enthralling view of the oceans is short on hope – The Irish Times

Posted: at 8:04 pm

The High Seas: Greed, Power and the Battle for the Unclaimed Ocean

We are astoundingly, sumptuously, radiantly ignorant of life beneath the seas ...

The words of North American-British author Bill Bryson come to mind on reading the opening chapters of Dr Olive Heffernans book. His observation in A Short History of Nearly Everything may be more than 20 years old, but in many ways it hasnt dated at all.

As a marine biologist and extensively published science journalist, Dr Heffernan has documented many of the threats to an area covering two-thirds of our planet which we, as a species, left 400 million years ago. In the race for resources, deep-sea mining, industrial scale commercial fishing and plastic pollution top the naughty list.

One of the areas identified for deep-sea mining is the Clarion-Clipperton zone in the Pacific, where up to 90 per cent of species gathered are new to science. It is administered by the little-known International Seabed Authority, one of a number of bodies that, as she notes, give an illusion of some sort of regulation.

There are some two dozen ideas for drawing on the worlds oceans to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, she tells us. These range from adding a trillion tonnes of crushed olivine rock to the ocean to burying giant kelp bales on the seafloor to marine cloud brightening, a type of solar geoengineering to cool the planet.

Yet there are some very simple alternatives. Marine animals are natural carbon harvesters, holding about 1.4 billion tonnes of the chemical element in their bodies. Restoring just eight species of whale to healthy population levels could store an additional 8.7 billion tonnes of living biomass in the sea, according to one analysis she cites.

Theres a lyrical quality to Dr Heffernans descriptions of the diversity of marine life, and an ease with which she alternates science with historical nuggets. She links up with a number of non-governmental organisations, but more of the voices of those who depend for their livelihoods on an often mismanaged sector would have provided valuable insight.

She offers positives such as new medical cures and a UN treaty of the oceans. Not surprisingly, she admits in the final chapter of her enthralling circumnavigation to a struggle to find reasons for hope.

[Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams: Moderate to good, occasionally greatOpens in new window]

See the original post:

The High Seas by Olive Heffernan: An experts enthralling view of the oceans is short on hope - The Irish Times

Posted in High Seas | Comments Off

CION Investment : 8K-Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank – Marketscreener.com

Posted: at 8:04 pm

Date: 07/18/2024 12:11 PM

Toppan Merrill

Project: 24-19565-1 Form Type: 8-K

Client: 24-19565-1_CION Investment Corporation_8-K

File: tm2419565d1_8k.htm Type: 8-KPg: 1 of 3

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 18, 2024 (July 15, 2024)

CON Investment Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Maryland

000-54755

45-3058280

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 Park Avenue,

25th Floor

New York, New

York 10017

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(212)

418-4700

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share

CION

The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Date: 07/18/2024 12:11 PM

Toppan Merrill

Project: 24-19565-1 Form Type: 8-K

Client: 24-19565-1_CION Investment Corporation_8-K

File: tm2419565d1_8k.htm Type: 8-KPg: 2 of 3

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On July 15, 2024, 34th Street Funding, LLC ("34th Street"), a wholly-owned, special purpose financing subsidiary of CON Investment Corporation ("CION"), entered into a Fifth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the "Fifth Amendment") with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association ("JPM"), as lender and administrative agent, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as collateral agent and collateral administrator, U.S. Bank National Association, as securities intermediary, and CION Investment Management, LLC, CION's investment adviser, as portfolio manager.

Advances to 34th Street remain unchanged of up to $675,000,000 but under the Fifth Amendment, the credit spread on the floating interest rate

payable by 34th Street on all such advances was reduced from the three-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus a credit spread of 3.20% per year to SOFR plus a credit spread of 2.55% per year. Also under the Fifth Amendment, the reinvestment period was extended from July 15, 2024 to June 15, 2026 and the maturity date was extended from May 15, 2025 to June 15, 2027.

34th Street incurred certain customary costs and expenses in connection with the Fifth Amendment and will pay an annual administrative fee of 0.20% on JPM's total financing commitment. No other material terms of the JPM credit facility were revised in connection with the Fifth Amendment.

The foregoing description of the Fifth Amendment as set forth in this Item 1.01 is a summary only and is qualified in all respects by the provisions of such agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

10.1 Fifth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2024, by and among 34th Street Funding, LLC, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, U.S. Bank National Association and

CION Investment Management, LLC.

104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

Date: 07/18/2024 12:11 PM

Toppan Merrill

Project: 24-19565-1 Form Type: 8-K

Client: 24-19565-1_CION Investment Corporation_8-K

File: tm2419565d1_8k.htm Type: 8-KPg: 3 of 3

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CON Investment Corporation

Date: July 18, 2024

By: /s/ Michael A. Reisner

Co-

Chief Executive Officer

Date: 07/18/2024 12:11 PM

Toppan Merrill

Project: 24-19565-1 Form Type: 8-K

Client: 24-19565-1_CION Investment Corporation_8-K

File: tm2419565d1_ex10-1.htmType: EX-10.1Pg: 1 of 128

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

This Fifth Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (this "Amendment"), dated as of July 15, 2024, is entered into by and among 34TH STREET FUNDING, LLC (the "Company"), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as lender (the "Lender") and administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent"), U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent") and collateral administrator (in such capacity, the "Collateral Administrator"); U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as securities intermediary (in such capacity, the "Securities Intermediary") and CON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, as portfolio manager (the "Portfolio Manager"). Reference is hereby made to the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2021 (as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of March 28, 2022, as amended by the Second Amendment, dated as of May 15, 2023, as amended by the Third Amendment, dated as of May 14, 2024, and as amended by the Fourth Amendment, dated as of June 17, 2024, the "Loan Agreement"), among the Company, the Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Securities Intermediary, the Portfolio Manager and the Collateral Administrator. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

WHEREAS, the parties hereto are parties to the Loan Agreement;

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the terms of the Loan Agreement in accordance with Section 10.05 thereof as provided for herein;

and

ACCORDINGLY, the Loan Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

SECTION 1.AMENDMENTS TO THE LOAN AGREEMENT.

The Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the bold and double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: bold and double-underlinedtext) as set forth on the pages of the Loan Agreement attached as Exhibit Ahereto. Exhibit Ahereto constitutes a conformed copy of the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 2.MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)The parties hereto hereby agree that, except as specifically amended herein, the Loan Agreement is and shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. Except as specifically provided herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any party hereto under the Loan Agreement, or constitute a waiver of any provision of any other agreement.

(b)THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(c)This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts by facsimile or other written form of communication, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

Date: 07/18/2024 12:11 PM

Toppan Merrill

Project: 24-19565-1 Form Type: 8-K

Client: 24-19565-1_CION Investment Corporation_8-K

File: tm2419565d1_ex10-1.htmType: EX-10.1Pg: 2 of 128

(d)This Amendment shall be effective as of the date of this Amendment first written above.

(e)The Collateral Agent, Collateral Administrator and Securities Intermediary assume no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals contained herein, and the Collateral Agent, Collateral Administrator and Securities Intermediary shall not be responsible or accountable in any way whatsoever for or with respect to the validity, execution or sufficiency of this Amendment and makes no representation with respect thereto. In entering into this Amendment, the Collateral Agent, Collateral Administrator and Securities Intermediary shall be entitled to the benefit of every provision of the Loan Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Collateral Agent, Collateral Administrator and Securities Intermediary, including their right to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified, whether or not elsewhere herein so provided. The Administrative Agent, by its signature hereto, authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent, Collateral Administrator and Securities Intermediary to execute this Amendment.

(f)(i) Each of the Portfolio Manager and the Company hereby certifies (solely as to itself) that all of its representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.01 of the Agreement are true and correct (or with respect to such representations and warranties which by their terms contain materiality qualifiers, shall be true and correct in all material respects), in each case on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct (or with respect to such representations and warranties which by their terms contain materiality qualifiers, shall be true and correct in all material respects) as of such earlier date and (ii) the Company hereby certifies that, as of the date hereof, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Market Value Event has occurred and the Borrowing Base Test is satisfied.

SECTION 3.CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS.

Go here to read the rest:
CION Investment : 8K-Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank - Marketscreener.com

Posted in Fifth Amendment | Comments Off

Amit Shah assures NE tribal council to resolve issues through 125th Constitution Amendment Bill – The Shillong Times

Posted: at 8:04 pm

Shillong, July 25: Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Thursday assured the ten autonomous councils (ACs) and territorial councils (TCs) from the Northeast to resolve all their issues and concerns on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 which proposes to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

While speaking to reporters after meeting the Union Home Minister in New Delhi, TIPRA Motha chief, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said that the Union Home Minister has assured them that they will be addressing all the issues which they have raised by August 25.

According to him, the Union Home Minister also told them that any agreement or accord which was signed when another government was in place will be honoured because it is not an agreement by the BJP or Congress since it is being done by the Government of India.

We are happy because of the positive attitude of the Union Home Minister, he said.

Debbarma however observed that the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019 may be different for the Autonomous Councils (ACs) or Territorial Councils (TCs) in Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram or Tripura.

But all our problems will be individually heard by a committee and will be addressed so that there is a solution which is amicable. The most important thing is we do not want to have a confrontation. We want to give rights to our people and community. This is how we progress and we will welcome it in a positive manner, TIPRA Motha chief.

Meanwhile, KHADC CEM, Pyniaid Sing Syiem informed that the committee which will be formed by the ministry will be headed by Union Home Minister of State, Nityanand Rai. We are happy with the positive outcome of the meeting, Syiem said.

He also informed that the forum of the ten ACs and TCs of the NE will again meet in Shillong on August 10 to further deliberate on the various issues relating to the proposed amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The KHADC CEM also informed that the meeting with the Union Home Minister lasted for more than 30 minutes.

Here is the original post:
Amit Shah assures NE tribal council to resolve issues through 125th Constitution Amendment Bill - The Shillong Times

Posted in Fifth Amendment | Comments Off

Crew Who Spent a Year in Simulated NASA Mars Base Say They Spent a Lot of Time Watching TV – Futurism

Posted: at 8:04 pm

Everyone needs their comfort show. Killing Time

Trapped in a small but high-tech habitat, stranded on a cold desert world completely alien to our own, what would you do to decompress after a laborious day of scientific fact-finding and on-foot exploration?

Thanks to NASA's simulated Mars habitat experiment the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission we just might have an answer.

According to Anca Selariu, a microbiologist who was one of the four participantswho lived inside a 3D-printed mock-up of a Mars base for 378 days straight without any access to the outside world, the crew's downtime consisted of "a lot of TV and reading downloaded," she told The Guardian.

To keep sane, Selariu also tried to improve her drawing chops. "I cannot claim I've been successful," she added.

We also know that the habitat came with a PlayStation 4 and board games like Starfarers of Catan and we're eagerly awaiting for one of these brilliant minds to own up to indulging in these guilty pleasures.

These are funny little details about life as an off world settler but they're also important insights to NASA, which will want to ensure the wellbeing of astronauts who will have to work together to survive on Mars or other worlds for possibly years at a time.

During their stint in the habitat, the quasi-colonists were expected to grow their own foodand manage their own limited supplies.They also had to contend with realistic time-delays about 44 minutes roundtrip when communicating with Earth.

On top of all that, the participants were forced to fully suit up every time they left their relatively small building, Dune Alpha, to go on expeditions, which included simulated "Marswalks," and a host of scientific objectives they were expected to complete. Mission managers would even introduce stressful scenarios to observe how the crew would react, like supply shortages and equipment failures.

"The study integrates all sorts of data from the behavioral and team dynamic perspective," Selariu toldThe Guardian, "and the question was not necessarily can a human withstand isolation and confinement as will be found on Mars, but rather, 'how we will adjust?'"

For her part, Selariu found the experience "absolutely exhilarating." And fortunately, it seems like the rest of the gang did, too.

"We were an incredibly functional crew and very cohesive, and there were many moments that we cherished together," Selariu told The Guardian. "Of course, sometimes you realize you're not around friends and family, but you do feel the support from everybody on the ground."

NASA is planning to carry out two more one-year CHAPEA missions, with the next slated to start in 2025.

"The CHAPEA missions are critical to developing the knowledge and tools needed for humans to one day live and work on the red planet," said NASA administrator Bill Nelson in a statement after the crew completed the mission earlier this month.

More on living on Mars: NASA Watching as Sun Blasts Mars to See Effect on Astronauts

Here is the original post:

Crew Who Spent a Year in Simulated NASA Mars Base Say They Spent a Lot of Time Watching TV - Futurism

Posted in Mars Colony | Comments Off

Monthly Archives: July 2024

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 – The Central Virginian

What The Witcher 4 Can Learn From Cyberpunk 2077 – The Elkhart Truth

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Character Joins GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- In Historic Collaboration – InvenGlobal

Hilary Swank’s Most Underrated Role Is in This Bold Netflix Cyberpunk Thriller – Collider

Israel Meteorological Service issues warnings of high seas, heavy heat stress around the country – The Times of Israel

I cruised through two of the worlds most dangerous seasis it as bad as people say? – Cruise Blog

The High Seas by Olive Heffernan: An experts enthralling view of the oceans is short on hope – The Irish Times

CION Investment : 8K-Fifth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank – Marketscreener.com

Amit Shah assures NE tribal council to resolve issues through 125th Constitution Amendment Bill – The Shillong Times

Crew Who Spent a Year in Simulated NASA Mars Base Say They Spent a Lot of Time Watching TV – Futurism

The Prometheus League

Breaking News and Updates

Prometheism

Forbidden Fruit

The Evolutionary Perspective

Transtopia Menu

Library Updates

Library Books

Future Euvolution

Lucid Dreams from Childhood

Genetic Revolution

Speciation + Self-Directed Evolution