Britain’s oldest striker is still banging in the goals for his local soccer team three times a week—at the grand old age of 90. Sprightly Mike Fisher—nicknamed ‘Ninja’ by teammates—averages three goals a game following an amateur footballing career that began 75 years ago in 1949. The former RAF veteran turns out every Tuesday‚ Wednesday‚ […] The post Britain’s Oldest Soccer Senior at 90-years-old Is Still the ‘Ninja’ of Goals–Playing 3x a Week appeared first on Good News Network.

Rereads and Rewatches The Wheel of Time Reading The Wheel of Time: Rand Surrenders to What Must Be in Winter’s Heart (Part 10) Rand’s bonds with Aviendha‚ Elayne‚ and Min deepen even further… By Sylas K Barrett | Published on March 5‚ 2024 icon-comment 1 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed This week in Reading The Wheel of Time‚ Min‚ Aviendha‚ Elayne and Rand are all finally in the same place at the same time. Rand tries to resist his fate‚ and everyone learns a bit more about how unconventional links and bonds can be troublesome things. It’s Chapter 12 of Winter’s Heart! With Aviendha and Min‚ Elayne stalks through the corridors of the palace‚ intent on finding and cornering Rand. As they walk‚ servants are startled out of their work by the sight of Elayne’s female guards and their impressive regalia. Elayne reminds her companions not to tell Rand about the attempt on her life‚ and privately wonders what to do about Min and Aviendha. Oh‚ they had agreed to everything—there really had been no choice‚ not when none of them could guess when they would all have the man at hand again—but she hoped they did not show one another again how skillfully they handled their knives. Very casually‚ not actually implying any threat‚ but very open about it‚ too. On the other hand‚ Aviendha had been quite impressed with the number of knives Min carried about her person. Elayne leaves her bodyguards‚ Caseille and Deni‚ on guard outside the door. She suspects the women believe Min has brought Elayne to meet a lover. Inside‚ she finds Nynaeve and Lan‚ but only has eyes for Rand. He leaps to his feet‚ then staggers‚ but waves Nynaeve off‚ telling her that it isn’t anything she can Heal‚ and that she wins their argument. He tells Min that it is time to go‚ and Elayne is incensed that he is trying to leave without even speaking to her. Rand responds by warning her not to trust any Asha’man except‚ maybe‚ for Flinn‚ Narishma and Hopwil. Elayne isn’t swayed by Rand’s warning‚ however‚ and pushes past his attempts to talk about other things‚ insisting that there is only one thing the four of them need to talk about. Defeated‚ Rand admits that he loves each of them. They each respond in turn‚ declaring their love for him. Nynaeve is disgusted‚ and Lan looks shocked‚ but Elayne is satisfied‚ and tells him that the rest of their discussion can continue in her rooms‚ in private. Rand changes his appearance‚ shocking Elayne and amusing Min and Aviendha. The bodyguards are also shocked when they emerge with such an unfortunate looking man. Once they are alone in Elayne’s apartments‚ she tells Rand that all three of them want to bond him as their Warder. “You really are mad‚” he growled. “You know what’s ahead of me. You know what it means for anyone I’m bonded to. Even if I don’t go insane‚ she has to live through me dying! And what do you mean‚ all three of you? Min can’t channel. Anyway‚ Alanna Mosvani got there ahead of you‚ and she didn’t bother asking.” Elayne is furious and horrified‚ and explains to Aviendha that Alanna has more toh to Rand than she could ever meet. But she also explains to Rand that it is possible for more than one woman to bond the same Warder‚ and that they all still want to share him. A little despairingly‚ Rand accuses Min of knowing what would happen if he laid eyes on them again. Min responds that she didn’t know about the bonding‚ but did hope for something like this. Rand relents‚ admitting that he does want this‚ but also begging them to think of the price they’ll all pay. Elayne did not need to think of the price. She had known it from the beginning‚ had discussed it with Aviendha to make sure she understands‚ too. She had explained it to Min. Take what you want‚ and pay for it‚ the old saying went. None of them had to think about the price; they knew‚ and they were willing to pay. Elayne links with Aviendha‚ and the two create the weaves that Elayne worked out for this after seeing how the Aiel adoption ceremony worked. Once she‚ Aviendha‚ and Min are all connected by a web of Spirit‚ Elayne uses a thread from each of them and connects them into one Warder bond.  When the weave settles into Rand‚ they all become aware of him. They’re struck by the horrible and unbearable pain he carries‚ and the hard knot of his emotions‚ held far too rigidly. But also by the strength of his love‚ which appears like threads of gold whenever he looks at any of them. Elayne knows that she’ll never have to doubt his feelings for her again. Rand declares that it’s time for him to go‚ and his pleasure at the fact that he will always know when the three of them are safe‚ but Elayne has one more thing she needs from him. Min and Aviendha hastily excuse themselves‚ leaving Rand and Elayne alone. She tells Rand that Min and Aviendha have had something from him that Elayne hasn’t‚ and instructs him to help her with the buttons of her dress. As she and Aviendha make their way down the hallway‚ Min ponders over the presence of Rand in her mind‚ how she knows so much more about him and how he must have the same knowledge of her. But the bundle of emotions and sensations changes as she walks‚ growing into a sort of inferno‚ and Min suddenly realizes what she’s sensing. Elayne has taught her how the Aes Sedai mask the bond by imagining a kerchief wrapped around the bundle of emotions in her mind‚ but it doesn’t help. Desperate to move her attention elsewhere she starts talking to Aviendha‚ mentioning her vision that Elayne will become pregnant with Rand’s twins from this encounter. She explains how her visions work to a curious Aviendha‚ and wonders if she should tell Aviendha about the quadruplets she sees the other woman having in the future. Noticing that Aviendha seems to be struggling the same way Min is‚ Min asks if the handkerchief trick isn’t working for her either. Aviendha admits that she forgot about it‚ and is able to mask the bond. Aviendha offers to get Min drunk‚ then spots a woman coming down the hall towards them. Min sees more visions around Elayne’s Captain-General than she’s ever seen around anyone when the woman‚ who appears flushed and shaky‚ angrily accuses Aviendha of helping Elayne do this. “You let me tell you‚ if she’s doing what I think she’s doing‚ I’ll kick her tickle-heart around the bloody Palace‚ and then I’ll flaming welt her till she can’t sit for a month—and you alongside her!—if I have to find forkroot to do it!” Aviendha insists that Birgitte needs to stop treating Elayne and Aviendha like children‚ and Min realizes that she’s looking at Birgitte Silverbow. Birgitte responds that Silverbow is dead‚ and that she is Birgitte Trahelion now. Min introduces herself and explains that she‚ Elayne‚ and Aviendha have just bonded a Warder‚ and Elayne has every right to celebrate a little. Birgitte realizes that Elayne must be with Rand. Still‚ Birgitte insists that Elayne has to stop what she is doing—she’s so wrapped up with Rand she clearly keeps forgetting to mask her bond with Birgitte. Min explains the handkerchief trick‚ but it doesn’t work for Birgitte any more than it did for Min. She tries to push past Min‚ but Aviendha‚ desperately‚ offers to get Birgitte drunk on oosquai‚ and even offers to pledge herself as Birgitte’s apprentice if only Birgitte will not shame Elayne by interrupting her. Birgitte pauses‚ thoughtfully‚ and then decides that Aviendha’s early assertion‚ to think of the whole situation as a funny joke‚ suddenly sounds more appealing. She instructs the two other women to lead her to the oosquai‚ and that she wants to get as drunk as a drowned mouse. The next morning‚ Elayne wakes to a cold‚ empty room. Rand is gone‚ but he has left a golden lily on her pillow‚ fully in bloom and still touched with dewdrops.  Where he could have gotten such a thing in the middle of winter she could not begin to imagine. But she wove a Keeping around it‚ and set it on a side table where she would see it every morning when she woke. The weave was Moghedien’s teaching‚ but it would hold the blossom fresh forever‚ the dewdrops never evaporating‚ a constant reminder of the man who had given her his heart. It’s reported to her that Alivia has disappeared during the night‚ and later that Nynaeve and Lan have also left the Palace without anyone seeing them go. Much later she finds out that several of the artifacts from the cache in Ebou Dar have also been taken‚ including the most powerful angreal. Some of those [items]‚ she was sure‚ were intended for a woman who expected to be attacked at any moment with the One Power. Which made the hastily scribbled note Nynaeve had left hidden among the remainder all the more disturbing. I’m so tickled by the title of this chapter. I had assumed that the name would be an elaborate metaphor about beauty and hidden strength in the face of hardship‚ probably describing Elayne‚ maybe someone else. But instead it’s literal‚ a gift Rand leaves for Elayne after they’ve spent the night (and part of the day) together. It’s lovely to see that little bit of the old Rand. Even though he can’t let anyone see it directly‚ and keeps trying to harden himself against the kindness and care he used to possess so abundantly‚ the fact that his impulse was to find (or maybe create?) such a gift shows that the original Rand is still in there somewhere. And one can imagine that having this bond with three people who love him deeply—a connection that remains‚ however thinned‚ over whatever physical distance may separate them—might also nurture that side of Rand that he has been trying to destroy. In the same way that he couldn’t resist their decision to attach themselves to him‚ he might not be able to resist the influence of their love‚ and might come to appreciate those parts of himself in a new light.When the bond connects them‚ Elayne is instantly aware that Rand’s emotions aren’t right. She perceives them as being too rigid “like a knot of hardened pine sap‚ almost stone.” And when he brings up the price they will pay for bonding him‚ she feels that knot grow a little bit harder as he steels himself against the knowledge. In a way‚ the bond allows those it connects to experience the metaphysical in a physical way—just as the weaves can be perceived as seen and felt by those with the ability. Rand’s feelings of love for Min‚ Aviendha‚ and Elayne—and‚ presumably‚ theirs for him—look like pulsing veins of gold. And the damage to Rand’s emotions‚ the ones he’s trying to harden‚ can instantly be perceived. We know from Cadsuane’s sections that she and Sorilea believe that it is vital to teach Rand the difference between being “hard” and being “strong.” This is no doubt the important lesson that Min’s viewing showed that Cadsuane is going to teach Rand and his Asha’man. But Cadsuane being instrumental in this lesson‚ according to the viewing‚ doesn’t necessarily mean that she will be the only teacher. I think that Aviendha‚ Elayne‚ and Min will all play their part as well in helping Rand understand that his emotions do not make him weak‚ and that hardening himself will bring disaster‚ not only to him and the people in his life‚ but to his quest to save the world and defeat the Dark One. Truly‚ nothing sounds quite so Darkfriend as the idea of turning off all your sympathetic‚ kind‚ and caring emotions in order to get a job done. But I can see how Rand ended up thinking that this was the only way. After all‚ who does he look to as a model of how to fashion himself into the leader he needs to be. Kings and generals‚ of course—and he saw what the weight of fear did to Ingtar—but also the Aes Sedai and the Aiel.The Aes Sedai put a great deal of energy into making the rest of the world think that they are always calm‚ detached‚ and unbothered by the difficult decisions required of world leaders. Or rather‚ they show the world that the decisions aren’t difficult‚ not for the Aes Sedai. The calm demeanor is supposed to suggest detachment and omnipotence‚ as though Aes Sedai are something other than merely people. No one who is not a full sister is privy to the emotions they have in private‚ the doubts they might express to a peer or a trusted friend. Even those limited by rank and status have to have confidants‚ which is one of the reasons the distrust the Black Ajah is sowing in Elaida’s Tower is so very damaging. But an outsider would never see that—even Moiriane didn’t show Rand when she had doubts or when the burden she carried was difficult for her.The Aiel don’t actually want to make others think they don’t have emotions; they just have a culture that is very strict about the proper way to handle one’s emotions‚ and about when and where it is appropriate to express them. But while an Aiel might be shamed by expressing their emotions in a culturally inappropriate way‚ the Aiel don’t expect people not to have emotions like fear or doubt. In some cases even the usual rules about ji’e’toh are different‚ such as among first siblings. But again‚ to an outsider‚ the harsh demands of Aiel society might very much make them seem cold and heartless‚ even to people who haven’t faced them in battle. Even Min has had the occasional difficulty with it‚ despite her friendship with the Wise Ones. She isn’t hostile to Aviendha‚ but she’s understandably a little on guard against interacting with Aiel customs‚ especially after what she saw the Maidens do to Rand. Rand knows a good deal more of Aiel customs and way of thinking that Min does‚ but he’s also their car’a’carn‚ prophesied to destroy them‚ and what he’s learned he uses to interact effectively‚ not to become a part of them. (This is one of Sorilea’s concerns about him.) Rand engages in the occasional performance of ji’e’toh‚ for example‚ to keep the Aiel happy‚ but he doesn’t find any pleasure or comfort in meeting his toh the way the Aiel do. The way Egwene did‚ when she confessed to lying about her status as Aes Sedai and asked her friends and teachers to help her meet her toh. Aviendha‚ Elayne and Min are all in different but excellent positions to aid Rand in the personal side of his journey. Aviendha is Aiel and a Wise One (apprentice)‚ who understands a lot about personal hardship‚ pain‚ and sacrifice. Although she also grieves for Rand when she feels the pain of his un-healing wounds‚ Aviendha also finds a kind of exaltation in seeing how much pain Rand is able to carry‚ exclaiming that the car’a’carn is as strong as the Three-fold Land itself. In her‚ Rand may have someone who can at least partly understand the physical pain he has to contend with‚ who he might be able to confide in without worry that he sounds weak or that the other person will be overwhelmed by their own feelings in the matter. Elayne is a leader‚ by temperament and by training‚ and as the (future) Queen of Andor and a powerful Aes Sedai‚ she can help him understand the difference between making a hard decision and being hard himself‚ how to balance the good of the many and the good of the few‚ and when it is necessary to allow others to help carry the burden. Elayne knows the pain of watching her people suffer and not necessarily being able to save everyone‚ but she is undaunted in her determination to make Andor flourish. She and Rand need to work on their communication skills—the bond will make this easier—but they actually have very similar dreams and ideas about the future. Min’s visions are very useful to Rand‚ but perhaps moreso is her attitude towards life‚ and towards him. Min sees herself as a simple person—she isn’t nobility‚ or a channeler‚ and she comes from a family of miners and seamstresses. Her background is much closer to Rand’s own‚ and in her he has a tether to ordinary people‚ to the sort of person he himself was before his identity was revealed to him. Min is even from Baerlon‚ which is comparatively quite close to the Two Rivers. Min’s playfulness is also more accessible to Rand than Aviendha’s‚ due to the cultural differences. Jordan isn’t the best at writing how people fall in love‚ but I can’t help but think there might be more to this tangle of romances than the author leaving a lot of things to develop “off screen” so to speak. The fact that each woman seems so significant to Rand’s personal journey‚ the fact that the three of them also fit together so well as friends and sister-wives‚ and the fact that Min viewed their connection to Rand so strongly all suggest that there might be a little bit of the Pattern at work here‚ as well. Min’s viewing came before she had even fallen in love with Rand‚ after all‚ and all three were guided by it to start working on their relationship with each other. It’s possible that Rand’s ta’veren nature is partly at work here‚ on all four of them‚ just as it is partly at work on his connection with Perrin and Mat. Even the prediction of children supports this idea—you would want such a powerful channeler to pass his genetics on to future generations‚ especially with all the culling the Aes Sedai have been doing. In the previous chapter‚ upon seeing that Lan had ended up with Nynaeve after all‚ that the man hadn’t taken his own advice‚ Lan answered that “Sometimes‚ she is stronger than you.” How true that also ended up being for Rand‚ just one chapter later. And how important the message‚ from these women to him—that he is lovable‚ that loving him is worth sacrifice and even great loss‚ and that he does not have the right to dictate to other people what risks they decide to take with their own emotions. Of course‚ Rand is aware that he will also suffer if he loses any of the people he lets get close to him. But his primary concern has always been not for the pain he might experience losing someone but for the guilt and responsibility he feels for causing suffering in others. Which makes a lot of sense for his character. He has already decided that suffering and death is what his life is made for‚ what his life is. While he certainly fears losing Aviendha‚ Elayne‚ and/or Min‚ I think he is much more afraid of the guilt of being responsible than he is of the pain of the loss for his own sake. He is more afraid for them than for himself.  The whole thing about Min (and Birgitte‚ when Elayne forgets herself) being able to feel what’s going on in Elayne’s bedroom was really quite funny. It also raised some interesting questions about how the Warder bond works. Elayne was able to establish that link between Min and Rand‚ despite Min not being a channeler‚ but she doesn’t have the same ability to muffle it that Aviendha and Elayne do. There are a few possibilities for this‚ I think. The first is simply that only a channeler can affect the bond—that the visualization of the kerchief is simply a trick to help someone do the necessary channeling. That seems unlikely‚ however—Elayne would know whether she was actually interacting with saidar or not‚ and certainly would ​​have made the distinction. However‚ if it were a trick using the One Power‚ one wonders if Rand would be able to mask a bond from his end. Not using the same technique‚ of course‚ but possibly. More likely‚ the kerchief visualization is like the not-sweating trick—something that doesn’t actually require the One Power to do‚ but that utilizes a similar mental discipline that non-channelers don’t have. For Min‚ picturing the kerchief is just imaging something in her mind’s eye‚ but she’s not actually doing anything. It might also have something to do with who made the bond. Although Elayne was the one to pull the cords from each of them and attach them to Rand‚ Aviendha was also involved in spinning the web between Min‚ Elayne‚ and herself. Perhaps the bond can only be muted at the source‚ so to speak‚ by the person or persons who made it. This would fit with the way many bonds—the Warder bond‚ the bond created by the a’dam—flow in one direction more strongly than the other. An Aes Sedai or sul’dam can compel through the bond‚ but it can’t be done the other way around‚ just as a Warder can’t mask the bond the way his Aes Sedai can‚ despite having some sense of her through their shared connection. Before we wrap up‚ I leave you with the following thoughts: – I loved the way that Aviendha and Min kept mirroring each other without meaning to. It was a really neat way to show that they have a lot in common with each other‚ and to foreshadow their friendship becoming as strong as the ones they each share with Elayne. Also they’re both knife girls‚ and I respect it. – It always amuses me that women in genre fiction are always getting pregnant the very first time they sleep with the Important Man. Sure‚ it’s possible‚ and I guess we can blame the Pattern and ta’veren stuff again‚ but it really comes off as silly. I am a little concerned for Elayne‚ though‚ that she’s going to get pregnant and have to deal with that while also trying to secure her throne‚ prepare for the Last Battle‚ and maybe even participate in the Last Battle. That timing is not ideal‚ though I suppose if Rand does die during Tarmon Gai’don then his ladies will have to get pregnant before then. Still‚ it feels a little weird. – Did Nynaeve take Alivia with her for some reason? That would be a big change in attitude from their earlier encounter‚ but maybe Nynaeve wanted some backup‚ and preferred the unknown of Alivia to dealing with one of the Kin. Alivia is quite strong in the One Power‚ after all. Also‚ if Alivia is truly so happy to be free‚ she might have respect for Rand‚ or even feel she’s in his debt. That could make her a powerful ally to him‚ one who is not only an impressive channeler but might also know some helpful things about Seanchan culture. Next week we’re tackling the very interesting and somewhat complicated Chapter 13‚ which is a Cadsuane chapter. There will be a lot to talk about there‚ that’s for sure. [end-mark] The post Reading The Wheel of Time: Rand Surrenders to What Must Be in <;i>;Winter’s Heart<;/i>; (Part 10) appeared first on Reactor.

Featured Essays LOCUS magazine Locus Is a Lifeline for Writers in the Margins “Locus” plays an essential role in the SFF community‚ connecting writers and fans from all over the world. By Eugenia Triantafyllou | Published on March 5‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed It was 2010 when I first started writing fiction in my native language‚ Greek. There weren’t a whole lot of opportunities for artists in Greece‚ although many talented people exceled in various artistic mediums‚ so I decided to try writing in English. This came with an array of challenges to overcome‚ such as improving my reading and writing skills in English. Those were obstacles I had anticipated. But others‚ such as the lack of peers who wrote in English (with a few exceptions) or a sense of belonging to the US writing community‚ I had not. That’s where Locus comes in. There are many writers like me out there. Not just writers who live far away from North American conventions‚ but even those who live in small US towns‚ those who can’t afford to travel to a convention‚ those that face accessibility issues‚ those who have many obligations and can’t carve more time to become actively involved in the science fiction and fantasy community. For all of us out there‚ Locus provides an insider’s eye into the happenings of the community: It covers a wide array of books and magazines as well as many industry events‚ both in-person and online. I remember looking at the Locus website and reading reviews of stories that would blow my mind. I too have dreamt of having my stories reviewed there. Locus helped me find the magazines that published stories similar to what I would later end up writing—stories that shaped my taste in anglophone fiction. It helped me better understand the markets‚ and was my guide as I was navigating the chaotic adjustment period from being a complete outsider to slowly getting my bearings in the anglophone writing community. Some of my favorite columns were‚ and still are‚ the reports from various conventions and events. When‚ as an aspiring writer‚ I glanced through the photos from gatherings‚ I saw people who I admired and thought of as being almost inaccessible hanging out with new writers and fans like it was the most natural thing in the world. This gave me hope. Even if I couldn’t be there‚ at least I knew these authors were welcoming to fresh faces and very approachable. Most of all‚ it showed me that they were regular people like me and you. It helped me to feel a closeness to the community. It also set an example for how to behave among people who were more advanced in their career and authors who were just starting out. I became less afraid to approach the former and aware of the importance of being welcoming to the latter (even as an introvert). Things seem to be working out for me. A lot of my dreams have come true. I’ve had my stories reviewed by Locus and even made it on the Locus Recommended Reading List. I love seeing stories by other marginalized authors featured and recommended by different reviewers. It makes us feel seen. It matters so much to us. When in 2019 I attended Clarion West‚ I got to be a part of those reports I was reading about. I was also at the Locus Awards: There was so much concentrated joy. I saw enthusiastic faces‚ met many writers new to me‚ and picked up lots of books. It was a true and unapologetic SFF celebration. Locus made that possible. I don’t take these things for granted. The pandemic has taught me as much. I don’t believe I will be at many upcoming physical conventions (and maybe not too many online ones). Life gets in the way. But I do know that I will not feel like an outsider because I will be able to see new and familiar faces in Locus reports and know that there is a world out there and I am part of it. And I will still be able to discover new and diverse stories by writers I don’t know because of the conscious effort of the Locus reviewers. And by the way‚ the Locus Awards voting is open to everyone who wants to add a story they loved but didn’t get to see in the initial list. Everyone can nominate and everyone can vote for the stories. That’s how open and inclusive Locus has made its awards and its philosophy in general. When Locus asks for the community’s help it is important for us to show up and support their efforts. Locus needs to exist for all the writers and fans out there who wouldn’t otherwise have access to the information‚ the reviews‚ and the institutions‚ but still want to stay connected. It needs to exist for all the writers that do have access and want to create a community larger than a city or a country. A community that will encompass as much of the world as possible. I ask you to support Locus’s crowdfunding campaign for the generations of writers and readers who will find a lifeline keeping them connected to the SFF history‚ as well as its current beating heart.[end-mark] The post <;i>;Locus<;/i>; Is a Lifeline for Writers in the Margins appeared first on Reactor.

Death Shepherds are one of the most difficult enemies you face in Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 1. There are a few ways to beat or avoid them‚ but I’ll leave it up to you to choose how you want to engage. Best combat strategies to beat Death Shepherds in Baldur’s Gate 3 After combing Reddit‚ the best strategy I found for defeating Death Shepherds is to pick up the bodies of dead Ghouls. Watch out for being encumbered‚ but by picking up the Ghouls‚ the Death Shepherds can’t resurrect them over and over again which makes them a lot easier to defeat. It won’t matter if you have the Enemy of Justice status effect or not since the Death Shepherds attack on sight. I didn’t know about the body pickup strategy when I beat the Death Shepherds. Instead‚ I used AoE spells like Fireball to deal high damage to the groups of Ghouls. Get your high single-target damage dealers‚ like the best Shadowheart build‚ up close to the Death Shepherds. Use Radiant damage to de...

Be ready to fight your way through deadly demonic enemies and get the highest score possible. Here is how to enter The Gauntlet dungeon in Diablo 4. Diablo 4: How to enter The Gauntlet dungeon Now that the Mid-Season update is here – along with several class balance changes -‚ players will finally be able to compete to be immortalized in the pantheon of The Gauntlet. For all of you who haven’t heard about this new game mode‚ The Gauntlet is a weekly dungeon that will pit players against Level 100+ enemies to determine who performs the best via an in-game score system. How can you partake in the Gauntlet Dungeon in Diablo 4? Well‚ first of all‚ you need to reach World Tier 4 for it to appear. Moreover‚ you will probably need to level up to Level 100 for your character to be able to survive the hordes of enemies. Once you do‚ travel to Gea Kul‚ a town in Kehjistan right at the southwestern most of Sanctuary. Image: PC Invasion You will have to travel to the longes...

There are a lot of great Illithid Powers to choose from in Baldur’s Gate 3. However‚ one of them‚ Survival Instinct‚ can only be acquired through a quest — and it’s one you won’t want to miss. What is Survival Instinct in Baldur’s Gate 3? Screenshot: PC Invasion Survival Instinct is a condition that lasts for three turns. If the player with Survival Instinct applied would hit zero hit points‚ they instead restore three to 12 health. It can‚ unfortunately‚ only be cast on ally party members instead of any ally in a fight. Since this action is so powerful‚ it requires a Short Rest to get back. Survival Instinct is an incredible Illithid Power that keeps your party in the fight. Since it only lasts for three turns‚ remember to use it only when you think one of your allies could become Unconscious during that time. Baldur’s Gate 3 Survival Instinct: How to get it Screenshot: PC Invasion Survival Instinct isn’t acquired via the Illi...

Red XIII might not be the ideal romantic partner for many‚ but a select subset of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players (you know who you are) want nothing more than to take Nanaki on the Skywheel date at the Gold Saucer. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has greatly expanded the Gold Saucer date from the original game‚ even going so far as to include characters that were not romanceable in the 1997 classic. Red XIII wasn’t an eligible bachelor for the Gold Saucer date in the original FF7‚ but you can absolutely date him in Rebirth if you play your cards right. Since the game gives you more opportunities to romance other characters‚ however‚ you’ll need to make use of every possible chance you get to deepen your bond with him. Red XIII Dialogue Answers Red XIII Relationship Side Quests Missable Red XIII Relationship Moments How to Romance Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth To romance Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‚ you need to raise his relationship level higher t...

Cait Sith is tough to get the hang of‚ but once you understand how to utilize his Folio tree‚ he can become a top-party member. This guide will cover the best Folio upgrades for Cait Sith in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Best Folio upgrades for Cait Sith Before we get into the best Folio upgrades for Cait Sith in FF7 Rebirth‚ it’s important to know that players must unlock early Folios to reach some mentioned in this guide. You can tell which ones you need to unlock first by following the line on the Folio tree. Without further ado‚ here are the Folio upgrades that make Cait Sith extremely powerful. Lucky Jockey Screenshot: PC Invasion Since Cait Sith is a luck-based character‚ so you will want to increase the Luck stat as much as possible. You can do this through accessories and equipment‚ but the best way is through the Lucky Jockey stat boost Folio upgrade. Unlocking Lucky Jockey will increase Cait Sith’s Luck stat by 100 when riding th...

For the second year in a row‚ the Biden administration plans to reduce payments to Medicare’s private health plans. This comes as Medicare Advantage—the system of private‚ competing health plans—enrolls more than 33 million people‚ well over half of the entire Medicare population. Private health plans now dominate Medicare coverage.   The Left is relentlessly hostile to private health coverage‚ and that includes Medicare Advantage. For example‚ Dr. Donald Berwick‚ then-President Barack Obama’s CMS administrator‚ sees Medicare Advantage’s growing popularity as a threat to the viability of traditional Medicare‚ and recently remarked‚  “I would like to see Medicare Advantage slowed or stopped right now‚ or at least forced to have better carriers.” That’s rich. While running Medicare‚ Berwick praised Britain’s “single-payer” National Health Service‚ a government national insurance program‚ as a “global treasure.” Last year‚ that “global treasure”  left 7.2 million British citizens on waiting lists‚ or almost 11% of the entire British population.   Payment Cut: Earlier this year‚ the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)‚ the agency that runs the Medicare program‚ issued an “advance notice” of Medicare Advantage’s payment rates for 2025. The changes include a series of technical adjustments to several key components of the system’s mind-numbingly complex payment system‚ such as how the government’s annual “benchmark” payments to plans are to be set‚ how the agency will adjustment payments for beneficiaries’ health risks‚ and how the agency will allocate bonuses to plans based on their performance on health care quality measures. CMS says that the proposed changes will increase overall Medicare Advantage payment by 3.7% in 2025 over 2024‚ amounting to $16 billion in revenues. The Biden administration is also saying that the proposed changes will ensure the payments are accurate‚ protect beneficiaries‚ and maintain a stable market. But take a closer look. The Berkeley Research Group recently conducted a detailed analysis of the data in a report commissioned by the Better Medicare Alliance‚ a coalition of more than 200 allied organizations. The authors concluded that the CMS changes in 2025‚ taking all of the technical adjustments into account‚  would result in a 1%  Medicare Advantage  payment cut “per month per beneficiary.” Team Biden is‚ among other things‚ ignoring the persistent impact of inflation. For the first nine months of 2023‚ according to the Berkeley Research Group analysis‚ Medicare Advantage  medical costs “per member per month” grew by 7.3%. For  2025‚ medical inflation is projected to be between 4% and 6%. In any case‚ it’s a sure bet that medical inflation will swamp CMS’ vaunted Medicare Advantage payment “increase.”   Patients Pay: When rising medical costs collide headlong into falling Medicare payments‚ the patients get squeezed by higher premiums or out-of-pocket costs or less access to the extra benefits  and services they want. The authors of the Berkeley Research Group report have quantified the effects of that squeeze on patients and conclude that “… the value of supplemental benefit reductions to premiums and cost sharing could fall by $33 or more per beneficiary per month on average.” The damage to Medicare patients‚ of course‚ is never uniform. Looking at the data‚ the authors of the Berkeley Research Group report estimate that for Medicare patients in Kansas‚ Nebraska‚ Nevada‚ and Texas‚ the potential damage would be greatest: “The value of supplemental benefits or reductions to premiums and cost sharing for these four states could fall by $60 or more per beneficiary per month‚ on average‚ which beneficiaries would experience as an increase in their health care costs.” An Old Game: The Left’s game plan‚ as Berwick says‚ is to stop the growth of Medicare Advantage. The Left would like to drive seniors back into traditional Medicare. During the 2008 presidential election‚ Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama promised to cut $150 billion out of Medicare Advantage over several years and transfer the funding to expand the outdated and disjointed traditional Medicare “fee-for-service” program.   In 2009‚ then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid‚ D-Nev.‚ proposed to cut  $110 billion from Medicare Advantage  over 10 years and to reduce Medicare’s private plan enrollment by 33%. With enactment of Obamacare in 2010‚ the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the law would cut Medicare Advantage  by $136 billion‚ and the CMS  Office of the Actuary projected that Medicare Advantage enrollment would be cut in half  by 2017. In 2011‚ Team Obama got cold feet and used funds from Medicare’s “quality-based bonus program” to blunt the cuts before the 2012 election‚ and the program continued to grow. Note‚ too‚ that more than half of House Democrats and 15 Democratic senators  are co-sponsors of legislation (“Medicare for All”) that would abolish virtually all private health plans‚ including Medicare Advantage plans.   Fixing Medicare Advantage Payments: While Medicare Advantage has been providing affordable‚ high-quality care to an ever-larger number of senior citizens‚ the Medicare Advantage payment and risk adjustment systems are nevertheless broken. They are not going to be fixed by periodic‚ piecemeal bureaucratic adjustments. Two key policy changes are necessary. First‚ instead of relying upon traditional Medicare’s declining and outdated system of administrative pricing and price controls as the basis for annual Medicare Advantage payments‚ Congress should base the government’s contribution to health plans on a straight competitive market-based bidding system among the plans to provide the standard Medicare benefits. The popular and successful Federal Employee Health Benefits Program‚ for example‚ has been using this method for federal workers and retirees for more than six decades. Such an approach would ensure that the government contribution to plans reflects the real market price of coverage‚ and drive more intense price competition among plans and providers. Also‚ such competitive bidding should be undertaken on a regional basis‚ rather than today’s narrow countywide basis. Second‚ instead of trying to “risk-adjust” health plan payments on prospective plan estimates of enrollees’ future health-related costs‚ as is the case today‚ Congress should establish a retrospective (look-back) system to reimburse plans annually for the actual costs of enrolling high-cost Medicare patients. As outlined by Heritage Foundation analyst Edmund Haislmaier in Chapter 9 of “Modernizing Medicare: Harnessing the Power of Consumer Choice and Market Competition” (Johns Hopkins University Press‚ 2023)‚ such risk-adjusted reimbursement to the plans would come from a common pool. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) All Medicare Advantage  plans would participate and share the costs of expensive patients. The pools could be organized on a state or regional basis‚ funded from all participating Medicare Advantage  plans‚ and supervised by state insurance regulators. Such a retrospective system would not only guarantee protection for vulnerable patients and stabilize the market‚ but it would also eliminate the guesswork of estimating patients’ future risk and prevent any insurance company from “gaming” the system at the expense of the taxpayers. Medicare Advantage is a major health policy success. That’s because more and more seniors are deciding that it offers them real value for their money. But the program will only have a bright future if Congress undertakes discrete‚ well-crafted legislative solutions to fix those features that are clearly broken. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post The Left’s Relentless War Against Medicare’s Private Health Plans appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Attorney General Merrick Garland‚ in an address Sunday at a church in Selma‚ Alabama‚ characterized state election laws designed to verify mail-in ballots‚ restrict drop boxes‚ and require voter ID as “discriminatory‚ burdensome‚ and unnecessary.” Experts say the attorney general’s comments don’t line up with the views of a supermajority of Americans‚ and that the Biden administration intentionally is undermining election reform efforts ahead of the November elections. During his appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris at Selma’s Tabernacle Baptist Church marking the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights marchers‚ Garland declared that his Justice Department is ramping up its “fight” against states and local jurisdictions to challenge laws designed to strengthen the integrity of elections. Garland said some states have placed “discriminatory‚ burdensome‚ and unnecessary restrictions on access to the ballot‚ including those related to mail-in voting‚ the use of drop boxes‚ and voter ID requirements.” Garland went on to assert that voter ID laws make it “more difficult” for “millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect the representatives of their choice.” He said the Justice Department is “fighting back” by doubling the number of attorneys in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division and filing a series of legal challenges in states and jurisdictions that have enacted election reforms. However‚ recent surveys on the topic indicate that the American public’s views are largely not in line with the attorney general’s. Polls have consistently shown that a strong majority of Americans support requiring some form of photo ID in order to vote‚ with some polls showing 80% in favor‚ including 60% of Democrats. Currently‚ 36 states have some form of voter ID laws. Evidence also shows that Garland’s claims—that election reforms make it harder‚ particularly for minorities‚ to vote—are not true in practice. Following the “Jim Crow 2.0” uproar surrounding Georgia’s election integrity laws enacted in 2021‚ the state’s voters set an all-time record for midterm election turnout in 2022‚ with 0% of black Georgians reporting a “poor” voting experience. In addition‚ while Garland contended that state reforms to the mail-in ballot system are “unnecessary‚” a December 2023 survey found that 1 in 5 mail-in voters in the 2020 election admitted to committing fraudulent activity in violation of federal law‚ including filling out a ballot for a friend or family member and submitting a ballot for a state they no longer live in. Alongside efforts to scuttle election integrity efforts via Garland’s Justice Department‚ the Biden administration is also carrying out a simultaneous campaign to use taxpayer funds via the Department of Agriculture to work with a left-wing group known as Demos to conduct get-out-the-vote campaigns‚ which experts say is in violation of federal law. “Sadly‚ Attorney General Garland’s efforts to undermine election integrity policies are just business as usual for this administration‚” Jason Snead‚ executive director of the Honest Elections Project‚ told The Washington Stand. “From the recent announcement that the Biden administration will be using tax dollars to pay college students—a key liberal demographic—to do get-out-the-vote work‚ to persistent attacks on effective and commonsense election laws‚ this administration is using every lever of government to push a left-wing voting agenda.” “There is not a shred of evidence to suggest the laws targeted by the Biden Justice Department do anything other than improve elections and bolster public confidence in voting‚” Snead added. “That’s why voter ID enjoys huge‚ bipartisan support from the American public.” Originally published by The Washington Stand Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Garland Calls Election Reforms ‘Discriminatory‚ Burdensome‚ and Unnecessary’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.